The Phoenix Suns were among the most discussed teams leading up to the NBA trade deadline but failed to secure another star player. Reports suggested they were eager to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. However, they couldn’t trade Bradley Beal due to his no-trade clause, which prevented them from landing Butler, who ultimately joined the Golden State Warriors.
Kevin Durant was also mentioned in trade rumors, with both the Warriors and Heat expressing interest, but Phoenix opted to retain their star forward despite considering offers. Instead, they focused on strengthening their depth. In late January, they acquired Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets to bolster their frontcourt rotation. Around the deadline, they made additional moves, trading their 2031 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for three first-round selections. They then used one of those picks to include Jusuf Nurkić in a trade with the Hornets, offloading his contract and acquiring Cody Martin and Vasilije Micić.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes gave Phoenix a C+ grade for their trade deadline moves. “Getting off Nurkić’s guaranteed $19.4 million in 2025-26 is a legitimate plus, and the 2026 second Phoenix got from the Hornets might not be all that far behind the first going to Charlotte,” Hughes explained. “Unless all of the Suns, Grizzlies, and Magic fall apart, it’ll probably be in the mid-to-late 20s.”
Despite shedding Nurkić’s contract, Phoenix failed to address key concerns. They did not add another center, nor were they able to move Beal’s large contract. Entering the second half of the season, the Suns sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, making the upcoming offseason particularly crucial if they fail to make a deep playoff run.
