The Phoenix Suns have hit rock bottom this season with turmoil at the front office and losses on the court.
The franchise may need a full reset, but that may be easier said than done as they have long-term contracts. However, they could trade them for a player with an expiring contract.
Aside from Kobe Bryant, the player with the biggest expiring contract is Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets. A former Phoenix Sun himself, his $ 25 million salary will be off the books at year's end and he can sign with any team (definitely for a significantly reduced amount).
This is the basis for a trade suggested by Hoops Habit in naming the Suns as a trade destination for Johnson.
The trade has Johnson and either Rondae Hollis Jefferson or Chris McCullough going to Phoenix in exchange for center Tyson Chandler and Markieff Morris.
The rationale is clear for the Suns. "With Eric Bledsoe sidelined and the Suns sitting at 13-27, Phoenix's playoff aspirations have morphed into dreams of a top-five pick," HH reasoned. "It might be time to blow up the frontcourt and focus on acquiring a young talent like RHJ (or McCullough) in addition to a future draft pick."
However, for the Nets, they already have a center in Brook Lopez. Which is why the trade would not be too beneficial for them unless they plan to trade Lopez for future assets (and make Chandler their center) and they are willing to gamble on Markieff Morris-a high risk-high reward player.
Basketball Insiders notes that the Nets are taking a cautioned stance with Johnson and they might just let him finish out his contract. Also, they do not have a clear decision maker as yet after re-assigning former GM Billy King.
"Sources close to the process say that there isn't a lot of urgency to make a deal before the deadline. Instead, the priority is to get new leadership in place and let the future of the team take shape that way."
