The Phoenix Suns Are Definitely Up To Something After Loading Up On First Round Picks Right Before The Trade Deadline

Issac Baldizon. Getty Images.

With the NBA trade deadline just 15 days away, we may have gotten our first big trade domino in what could ultimately be the end of the Jimmy Butler trade saga.

First and foremost, a trade like this demands that I bring back to life one of my favorite Danny Ainge memes. I can't think of a more perfect use than this

As someone who has experienced these types of trades from Ainge for nearly 20 years, I believe this is the most Danny Ainge trade of all time. This certainly isn't the first time he's made a future bet that a team is going to absolutely stink in a few years (see: the BKN trade), and given how many picks the Jazz have over the next 7 years, this is a no brainer move for that franchise. Three middling picks simply do not matter when you're talking where the Jaz are and the potential of an unprotected 2031 pick whether that ends up staying in UTA or being dealt for more assets down the road. The value around that pick is worth it.

So we know why UTA did a deal like this. Danny Ainge quite literally cannot help himself when an opportunity like this comes around.

But why does PHX do it? What's coming? Is this the first step to something bigger?

You know the drill, hit it!

Man that still makes me chuckle to this day, it's too perfect.

OK, so why do the Suns need this trade? Easy. They needed assets. We all know they want to trade for Jimmy Butler right? Well, their problem was the lack of draft capital. When you're looking to pull off a deal like this, you need picks and you need 1st round picks. Before this trade, the Suns didn't really have any. Now? They have more ammo to pull something off, whether that's a straight up deal with MIA or a larger deal with a 3rd team. Why is that significant?

Add in the next piece of the puzzle, which is these reports out of MIL

The Milwaukee Bucks have been searching for ways to cut salary. Such a move would get Milwaukee under the second apron. That would free up their ability to aggregate player salaries in a trade. That trade plan seems focused on adding a high-salary veteran to the roster.

Alright, one more time. Hit it!

Pretty obvious what's going on or at least what is being attempted. In order for the Suns to bring in Butler, they need to offload Bradley Beal. The thing is, he has a no trade clause, so it has to be somewhere he wants to go. Let's not forget what Beal himself said about a potential move to the Bucks earlier this season

A lot can happen since October, and there are reports floating out there that Beal would be willing to waive his NTC for the right situation and a team that has a chance to win. If you're Beal, do you see the Bucks in 4th in the East and get over that supposed "loyalty" issue? Because make no mistake, Khris Middleton's salary would have to be included in something like this most likely. 

If there's one thing MIL has shown us during this Giannis Era, it's that they will "go for it" if they have a chance. They traded for Jrue Holiday, they traded for Dame. Sure their GM fumbled their depth and the use of their 2nd round picks, but as a franchise they've been willing to take the big swings. This is also probably why PHX needed more picks. Some had to go to MIA, and some had to go to MIL to make it worth it for them. It all just makes too much sense when you lay it all out.

The one question I would have for MIL is why they would trade the scenario of having Khris Middleton on an expiring with having to deal with Beal's high salary in future years plus his NTC, but that's their problem not mine.

OK, so why does MIA participate in this? For starters, they have no leverage. Anything you can get for Jimmy Butler right now is a bonus. If that's picks, expirings, young players, whatever. They just need to get the deal done and move on. If they can land a couple of 1sts and a 2nd or some combination of that combined with an expiring Middleton salary, there are worse situations moving forward. You can use those assets and space to retool, plus you get the addition by subtraction of a very obvious locker room distraction that is doing more harm than good.

So while that Shams tweet may have seemed like a nothing burger at face value, the closer you look at everything else happening right now, you see it's more like Step 2 of this entire process. Step 1 was the Suns benching Beal. That's how you plant the seed of him being OK with waiving his no trade clause for a different situation. Step 2 is accumulating picks. Step 3 is figuring out if this is a 2 or 3 team trade. Step 4 is pulling the trigger and calling it into the league ahead of the Feb 6th trade deadline.

My advice would be to brace yourself, because all the signs are telling us things are about to heat up (no pun intended but intended)