The Phoenix Suns, owners of a bit of cap space and in need of young talent, are interested in big man Al Jefferson and swingman Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz, according to The Arizona Republic. The team would likely need one or both of Jared Dudley and Marcin Gortat to make such a deal work.
NBA trade rumors: Suns eyeing Al Jefferson, Gordon Hayward, according to report
The Phoenix Suns have shown interest in making moves with the Utah Jazz, who have a few trade chips reportedly available.
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
How easily they'll be able to pry either of those players from Utah is hard to say. ESPN's Ric Bucher reports that the Jazz are leaning toward keeping Jefferson and would rather shop power forward Paul Millsap. Sources are also telling Bucher that Utah's thinking in keeping the older Jefferson goes along with hanging onto Hayward, a versatile 22-year-old wing who the Jazz see as part of their long-term success.
It’s also a wonder how willing the Suns would be to take on Jefferson’s contract worth approximately $14 million, especially considering he brings a limited skillset to the table as a pure post-up player, as Bright Side of the Sun’s Seth Pollack notes.
Jefferson is averaging 17.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while Hayward is averaging 13.5 points in just 26.6 minutes per game.
For Phoenix, Dudley has appeared in rumors as a trade piece everywhere from the early Rudy Gay trade chatter to a more recent deal where the Suns would acquire Iman Shumpert from the New York Knicks. The 27-year-old is averaging 11.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game this season.
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