While most other Western Conference teams are placing their bids in the Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes, the Phoenix Suns won't be one of them. Although they possess the single most valuable asset in this year's draft, the Suns won't trade him for Leonard, given the high risk of him potentially leaving after playing out the 2018-19 season, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 Radio.
There are a few other reasons why the Suns won't pull this off, among them is a decade-long rule between the Spurs organization not to trade with other Western Conference teams, especially since a protested Pau Gasol trade in 2007 that broke the tide in favor of the Los Angeles Lakers, one that made coach Gregg Popovich irate.
The other is the Suns' unequivocal belief of growing through their youth, hoping the likes of Josh Jackson can evolve into a player like Leonard over time, already possessing the defensive instincts and the athletic build that made him a strong defensive presence at Kansas.
Any team trading for Leonard (much like Paul George last season) will have to have some sort of verbal reassurance that he is committed to staying, or else they'd risk giving up some precious assets for a one-year rental — a position the Oklahoma City Thunder took, hoping they could convince George to stay.
Phoenix is slowly putting pieces in place and hometown kid DeAndre Ayton could signify the big man presence they have missed for the past few years, giving their roster a much different look moving forward.
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