The Phoenix Suns are finalizing a blockbuster trade for Oklahoma City Thunder star point guard Chris Paul, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Woj says the deal includes Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick going to Oklahoma City. The draft pick has these protections on it:
Sources: Suns‘ future first to the Thunder is protected 1-12 in 2022, 1-10 in 2023, 1-8 in 2024 and unprotected in 2025. https://t.co/e4AFUN3OfD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 16, 2020
Abdel Nader will also be going to Phoenix along with Paul.
The Suns had been rumored to be in on Paul last week, and the two sides quickly finalized a trade agreement shortly after the moratorium ended on Monday. Phoenix is looking to take a major step forward in 2020-21 after ending 2019-20 on a high note by going 8-0 in the bubble.
With Paul and Devin Booker together in the backcourt and Deandre Ayton manning the middle, the Suns have a formidable roster that should be able to make some noise in a loaded Western Conference. While the club might not project as a legitimate title contender just yet, this should be a playoff team.
Furthermore, keeping the No. 10 pick in this draft is a plus. There's also an opportunity for the Suns improve even more in free agency:
One direction that Phoenix can go is to hold off on the trade until the moratorium is lifted on 11/22.
That would allow them to use cap space first (up to $18M) and circle back acting like a team over the cap. https://t.co/52Z11HXSiw
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 16, 2020
Meanwhile, the Thunder just continue to add to their asset base as they embark on a rebuild. OKC has added a bunch of draft assets with trades of Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroder and now Paul in the last two years. Guys like Rubio and Oubre could also be flipped, with Steven Adams another trade candidate.
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