Suns May Be Presented With Opportunity To Add 6-Time All-Star

The Phoenix Suns have unfortunately become a cautionary tale for the NBA world when it comes to making moves to going all-in on contending - especially in the era of the first/second apron.

Perhaps the most scathing move was none other than making a trade for Bradley Beal, who was unceremoniously let go by Phoenix after two seasons as a pairing. The mindset of franchise governor Mat Ishbia and GM Brian Gregory has been quite the opposite in the aftermath, as the front office is looking to organically grow a contender before making a major move. 

One potential option to improve the roster without making wholesale changes rests in current Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan, who is widely expected to be released in the near future.

Could the Suns be an option on the open market for a player that has scored over 26,000 points in his career?

While the possibility is out there, it's not entirely a certainty that the two sides would be a quality match. 

DeRozan would in theory provide a stable floor as a scorer, extra playmaking value, and a player that can play multiple positions - he is simply still an impact player despite playing for one of the worst teams in basketball over the last two campaigns.

The 2009 first-round pick is far from being finished career-wise, but there are many reasons that the Suns can point to when debating against targeting him.

The most glaring of all of the reasons resides in the principle that head coach Jordan Ott needs to prioritize giving the rookie-contract players room to grow, particularly through in-game regular season reps. DeRozen would theoretically join Royce O'Neale, Grayson Allen, and Dillon Brooks as vets that would cut into that effort. Rasheer Fleming, Koa Peat, and even Ryan Dunn need opportunities to develop - it wouldn't be that simple in the event that Los Angeles native DeRozan is added.

Tactically, the addition of DeRozan would de-emphasize the offensive philosophies that Ott has installed over the last year. Over half of DeRozan's shot attempts per game last season were pull-up jumpers, while the 18-year veteran barely utilizes a three-point shot nor pressures the rim at a commensurate rate. He simply doesn't appear to be a strong fit in what Ott seeks to do. 

Even if DeRozan proved to be a cost-effective option that could raise Phoenix's floor in the season ahead, the franchise should be wary to make a move of that degree.

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Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable. He can be reached on X @khicks_21.