It has been one strange season for the Phoenix Suns who sometime ago looked as if they were a lock for a Play-In spot out West who have now gone on a record 10 game losing streak among the bottom feeders out West, which was the worst case scenario for the team. There seems to be anger and disappointment from both staff and players with record numbers asking for a ship out of this failing town. The team seems devoid of the small hope it had earlier in the year with multiple players having down years and wishing to be traded.
In no place is this more evident than Alen Smailagic who has cratered his trade value and relationship with the Suns front office with his play. Lows in all stats across the board from last season has helped to add to the Suns poor form and lots of anger from fans and himself over the play. Smailagic could not be reached for comment, but members of his inner circle have confirmed he is looking to leave the Suns and we could see a deal materialize soon. This speaks to just where this season has gone as it was expected that Cade and Smailagic would be the tandem that ran Phoenix for years.
It seems the light of the beginning of the season has begun to fade from the team as everyone seems to want out. The team has sent out feelers to multiple teams and seeks to be done with at least 2 players right now.
The team has to make drastic changes and that came in the form of a trade with the Toronto Raptors.
Official now;
The Phoenix Suns send
Kelan Martin
Ayo Dosunmu
Mikal Bridges
Alen Smailagic
The Tornoto Raptors send
Trevon Duval
Jaylen Hoard
Justin Patton
Milwaukee 2036 1st Round Pick
Golden State 2034 2nd Round Pick
Chicago 2036 2nd Round Pick
The big move sees Alen Smailagic shipped up North along so Kelan Martin, Mikal Bridges and Ayo Dosunmu. Snail is a well loved member of the team since he was grabbed in the blockbuster Tatum trade to the Wizards a few years back and now he is sent to the North and another team that is trying to rebuild. Hurts to see the Snail not in the valley as many fans see it as a misunderstanding. Alongside that Ayo is out after loudly complaining due to lack of playing time and not being able to sense the trust in the locker room. Martin and Bridges were trade chips who were never really going to be anything here.
Phoenix instead looks to life without the Snail at the 5 and will miss the 20 points a game and 10 rebounds that Snail would be counted onto provide almost nightly. With the Snail gone, Cade Cunningham now has free reign over the offense and will be looked to in order to just shoot as much as possible for the team. The bevy of picks will certainly help the team in the future and also be a necessary piece to surrounding this team with talent.
In return the Suns get something they really wanted with highly touted playmaker, Trevon Duval whop similar to Dosunmu was not playing lots of minutes for his team. A gifted passer who will be a mentoring figure to Luka Asceric on the team as the Suns prepare for another season of drafting.
Jaylen Hoard is the big coup of this trade; a 3&D player who will excel in Phoenix's new relaxed offense; he should expect to put up numbers that could seal him with the team long-term or land him with a contender next year. Hoard has only played around 24 minutes and impressed in his shooting while doing so, making sure to be an instant upgrade to the Suns. The suns hope that Hoard is able to contribute a big part to the team as it looks to the future this season.
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