Report: Suns trade 3 players to Detroit for picks, clear cap space for Aldridge
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The Phoenix Suns are proceeding as if they have a strong chance at landing LaMarcus Aldridge.
The Suns have traded Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock, and Danny Granger to the Detroit Pistons for a 2020 second-round pick, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
It's likely a move designed to clear cap space for a potential maximum contract offer to Aldridge. The Suns could maneuver into more than $20 million in cap space, enough to offer Aldridge the four-year, $80.8-million maximum or on a four-year, $84.2-million maximum through a sign-and-trade.
Suns need to get off Markieff Morris/PJ Tucker in sign-and-trades or dumps to get closer to space needed for Chandler and Aldridge.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2015
The Portland Trail Blazers would have to be willing to play ball on a sign-and-trade for Aldridge to get the maximum raise only they can offer, but they may be willing since they've all but conceded he's leaving. The Dallas Mavericks may also have to play ball on a sign-and-trade of Tyson Chandler, as the Suns can't carve out the requisite cap space for both as strictly free-agent signings.
The question is no longer whether the Suns can get the room for Aldridge - they have paths to getting there, and valuable players they can continue to unload - but if he'll come. While the San Antonio Spurs have been considered a front-runner, and Aldridge wasn't set to conclude his meetings until sometime Thursday, the Suns impressed Aldridge with their surprise signing of Chandler immediately ahead of their Wednesday meeting.
Suns have no assurance that Aldridge will sign, but the fact that he's suddenly so intrigued has motivated them to push hard.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2015
The trade is a risky move for Phoenix, as they've jettisoned three assets for a chance at Aldridge. The deal cleared $8.4 million in guaranteed salary, but if they fail to land Aldridge, they could be rendered thin with wasted cap flexibility.
By the same token, this is a smart use of cap space with most of the impact free agents having flown off the board.
Morris is the type of shooting power forward head coach Stan Van Gundy loves, and while he's the lesser of the Morris twins - they must be devastated - he's hit 36.3 percent of career 3-point attempts and averaged 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds last season. He's a quality rotation piece and still has upside at age 25.
Bullock was acquired in what amounted to a salary dump from the Los Angeles Clippers in January, and he barely saw the floor for Phoenix. Still, the 24-year-old has some 3-and-D potential on the wing. Granger, meanwhile, exercised his player option for 2015-16 but hasn't played since early February, and it's unclear what he may be able to contribute once healthy.