On January 16th, Beijing time, as the NBA season progresses and the trade deadline approaches, the Phoenix Suns have announced a significant trade that has been relatively quiet until now. The Suns have completed a 4-for-2 trade, sending away one of their key players to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for a star center, further strengthening their frontline capabilities. This move leaves other teams wondering how they will compete.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Suns have traded Dario Saric and three second-round picks to the Hornets for Mason Plumlee and a second-round pick. Notably, after the trade was finalized, Saric did not express any dissatisfaction with the Suns' management. Instead, he posted a farewell message on social media, using a crying laughing emoji to bid adieu to his teammates, including Kevin Durant, as if leaving were a form of liberation.
Returning to the main point, as the Hornets' core center, Plumlee was also a long-time target for reinforcement by the Lakers before joining the Suns through the trade. This season, he played 21 games for the Hornets, averaging 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in 21 minutes per game, with a shooting percentage of 56%. It's worth noting that Plumlee's annual salary is only $5 million, making him a cost-effective blue-collar player.
In contrast, Saric played 25 regular-season games for the Suns this season, averaging 6 points and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes per game, with a shooting percentage of 49% and an impressive three-point shooting rate of 38%. Although it was difficult for the Suns' management to part with Saric, considering the savings of 20millioninluxurytaxbymatchingPlumlee′s5 million salary with Saric's $8.3 million, the team not only saves money but also upgrades its frontline strength. This two-for-one deal is hard to refuse.
Moreover, fans familiar with the Suns know that at the beginning of the season, the Suns indeed demonstrated a strong dominance in the Western Conference, but this was achieved by overworking Kevin Durant. After Durant's injury and the loss of their foundation, the Suns quickly fell from first place in the West to the bottom, which is closely related to the flaws in the Suns' lineup structure.
As a team with a strong offense but weak defense, the Suns' frontline strength has significantly declined this season. Saric's performance dropped, leading to him being demoted to the bench, while the promoted "smart center" Jock Landale's performance was even worse than expected. Therefore, to balance the team's lineup, the Suns decided to part ways with Saric, Durant, and the three superstars. With the addition of Plumlee, the Suns' defensive end is expected to show new vitality. After all, Plumlee's toughness ranks among the top blue-collar centers in the league. Without defensive concerns, the three superstars can focus more on scoring, making it challenging for other teams to compete. It seems the Suns are setting the pace for a grand finale in the West.