Okogie trade could save millions, spark Phoenix Suns roster enhancements

The Phoenix Suns are approaching the 20-game mark, a significant early checkpoint in evaluating an NBA team’s performance, viability, and championship potential. At roughly 25% of the season, many believe this is enough time to assess roster construction, chemistry, and areas for improvement.

Sitting at 11–8, the Suns remain something of an enigma, largely due to injuries disrupting their lineup. What’s clear is their dependency on the Big Three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Without at least two of them on the floor, the Suns are winless at 0-5.

There’s no shortage of areas for improvement. Reducing their league-high $221.3 million payroll, which is $32.8 million over the second apron, is one challenge. Adding size in the interior, bolstering defense across positions, and finding players who can contribute offensively are also crucial.

Trade options are limited, but with December 15 — the date when most off-season acquisitions become eligible for trade — on the horizon, it’s worth exploring potential moves.

The Suns’ payroll currently stands at $221.3 million, placing them $50.5 million over the luxury tax threshold and into the 10th tax bracket. What does this mean? Each luxury tax bracket increases the penalty per dollar spent, and being in the 10th bracket results in the Suns paying $244.7 million in luxury tax alone. Trading Josh Okogie’s contract or replacing it with a veteran minimum deal, for instance, would drop the team into the 9th bracket, saving them $28.9 million in luxury tax penalties.

The contracts of Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen are the Suns’ most tradable assets. Nurkic, earning $18.1 million this year and $19.2 million next year, has provided valuable size and production, even if he’s occasionally played off the court. His price-to-performance ratio makes him hard to part with.

Allen, meanwhile, is on the first year of a four-year, $70 million contract with a $15.6 million cap hit this season. While his deal is tradeable, its length might deter potential suitors. Allen’s production has dipped compared to last year, which isn’t entirely unexpected. Few would’ve predicted him leading the league in three-point shooting for consecutive seasons.

With limited flexibility and mounting needs, the Suns face tough decisions as they aim to solidify their roster and improve their chances at contention.

The most tradeable contract on the Suns’ roster is arguably Josh Okogie’s. With a $16 million deal spanning two years and $8.3 million due this season, his contract is well-suited for the trade market. As it becomes an expiring contract next year, it holds strong appeal for teams looking to clear future payroll.

Pairing Okogie’s contract with a first-round pick could sweeten the deal, potentially yielding a return that addresses the Suns’ needs. This flexibility makes Okogie’s contract a valuable asset as Phoenix explores ways to strengthen its roster.

Josh Okogie has performed admirably in limited action this season. Through 10 games, he’s averaging 8.5 points in 15.8 minutes while posting career highs in field goal percentage (53.4%) and three-point shooting (52.6%). Any scout reviewing recent footage might see the potential of a high-energy player who has elevated his offensive production.

While a closer look at his career suggests these numbers may not be sustainable, Okogie’s age — just 26 — offers reason to believe he could develop into a more consistent contributor. At the very least, teams might view his contract as an opportunity to gain long-term financial flexibility while adding a player with undeniable hustle and energy.

With the second apron tax restrictions in play, the Suns face significant limitations in trade flexibility. They cannot take back even a penny more than Josh Okogie’s current salary, meaning their search must focus on players making less than he does. However, the Suns do have an open roster spot, which allows them to receive two players in return, a potential avenue for stacking veteran minimum deals.

Let’s explore some players on the market who meet the criteria for a trade to Phoenix, going position by position. There are numerous players available, and you can review the point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center lists by clicking the links provided. I am choosing player who I believe could be available.

Guard

I’m not sure how much additional depth this team needs at the guard position. Tyus Jones is starting, with Monte Morris providing more than capable backup minutes. Colin Gillespie, the two-way player out of Villanova, is currently sidelined with an ankle fracture but could offer depth later in the season if needed.

At shooting guard, the team already has Devin Booker and Bradley Beal sharing the position. Josh Okogie, Damion Lee, and Grayson Allen are technically shooting guards as well, so they could also fit into this category. While the need for guards might not be pressing, here are some potential options currently available in an Okogie trade scenario:

• Ayo Dosunmu, PG, Chicago Bulls: $7 million ($7.5 million in 2025-26, UFA after that)
• Cam Payne, PG, New York Knicks: $2.1 million (UFA at the end of this season)
• Chris Duarte, SG, Chicago Bulls: $5.8 million (UFA at the end of this season)
• Davion Mitchell, PG, Toronto Raptors: $6.5 million (UFA at the end of this season)
• Jevon Carter, PG, Chicago Bulls: $6.5 million (Player Option in 2025-26 for $6.8 million)
• Johnny Juzang, SG, Utah Jazz: $3.1 million (3 years, $8.3 million left after this season)
• Vasilye Micic, PG, Charlotte Hornets: $7.7 million (Team Option in 2025-26 for $8.1 million)

I’m fully on board with the idea of bringing back either Jevon Carter or Cam Payne. Both bring an undeniable spark off the bench, and while the player acquired in a deal like this wouldn’t log significant minutes, their energy and familiarity with the Suns’ system make them highly appealing.

Beyond former Suns players, Johnny Juzang is an intriguing option. Trading Okogie for Juzang would save the Suns $5.2 million in salary, which translates to over $30 million in savings when factoring in luxury tax penalties. At 6’6”, Juzang would add valuable wing depth while giving the Jazz the opportunity to move off the remaining three years of his contract.

Forward

Forward depth could present some opportunities for improvement. Currently, Devin Booker is the starting small forward when Bradley Beal is healthy. However, the roster also includes Kevin Durant, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn, Bol Bol, and Oso Ighodaro.

If you’re aiming to strengthen your wing depth — which is always a priority for most teams, as you can never have too many wings — here are the players to consider:

• Cody Martin, SF, Charlotte Hornets: $8.1 million ($8.9 million in 2025-26, UFA after that)
• Jake LaRavia, SF, Memphis Grizzlies: $3.4 million (Team Option in 2025-26 for $5.2 million)
• Jonathan Mogbo, PF, Toronto Raptors: $1.9 million ($2.0 million next year, Team Option for $2.3 million in 2026-27)
• Orlando Robinson, PF/C, Sacramento Kings: $2.1 million (UFA at the end of this season)
• Simone Fontecchio, SF, Detroit Pistons: $7.7 million ($8.3 million in 2025-26, UFA after that)
• Toumani Camara, PF, Portland Trail Blazers: $1.9 million ($2.2 million next year, Team Option for $2.4 million in 2026-27)
• Ziaire Williams, SF, Brooklyn Nets: $6.1 million (UFA at the end of this season)

Yeah, I snuck Toumani in this list. I can’t imagine a young Portland team in the middle of a rebuild would give away the steal of the Deandre Ayton trade, but hey, a guy can hope, can’t he?

Center

Ah, the center position. The subject of much debate this season. Behind Jusuf Nurkic is Mason Plumlee. While you could consider Bol Bol in this category, he doesn’t truly belong there. If you play him as a center, he’ll likely be played right off the court, regardless of whether you’re running five out or not.

Oso Ighodaro has also filled in as a backup center, but he would be more effective as a power forward, especially if the team had a center who could stretch the floor alongside him.

Now, if you’re among those discussing the possibility of trading Jusuf Nurkic, here’s a look at who might be available in trade if you decide to move off of Okogie and bolster your depth:

• James Wiseman, C, Indiana Pacers: $2.2 million (Team Option in 2025-26 for $2.6 million)
• Jock Landale, C, Houston Rockets: $8.0 million (2 years, $16.0 million left after this season with a Team Option in 2026-27)
• Kevin Love, PF/C, Miami Heat: $3.9 million ($4.2 million in 2025-26, UFA after that)
• Paul Reed, C, Detroit Pistons: $7.7 million ($8.1 million in 2025-26, UFA after that)
• Thomas Bryant, C, Miami Heat: $2.1 million (UFA at the end of this season)
• Walker Kessler, C, Utah Jazz: $2.9 million (Team Option in 2025-26 for $5.2 million)

The Walker Kessler option stands out as particularly intriguing. Danny Ainge’s well-known affinity for accumulating draft picks could make a deal involving Kessler and Okogie feasible, unlocking a range of possibilities for the Suns.

Not only would such a move drop the Suns out of the 10th luxury tax bracket, but it could also render Jusuf Nurkic expendable, setting up a potential 4-D chess maneuver. Trading Okogie for a player who could effectively replace Nurkic would open the door to even more significant roster adjustments.

However, the challenge with moving Nurkic remains: finding a team willing to take him.

The key challenge with trading for players who are unrestricted free agents at the end of the season is providing the opposing team with enough incentive to make the deal. Without attaching a draft pick, there’s little motivation for those teams to part with a player who might leave in the offseason anyway. While you could argue that trading for Okogie offers value in exchange for a potential departing asset, it’s the inclusion of a pick that would ultimately make the trade worthwhile for the other side.

Trade activity may see an uptick starting December 15, but history suggests that teams often hold off until after the New Year to seriously engage in negotiations. Whenever it happens, the Suns’ most tradeable asset is Okogie’s contract, and it seems likely they’ll move it before the February 6 trade deadline.