The Phoenix Suns made three moves that resulted in the exchange of backup point guard Cameron Payne for free-agent big man Bol Bol, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Here are the three moves that Phoenix made:
- They acquired three second-round picks from the Orlando Magic in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick swap. The Suns had already swapped their 2026 pick with the Wizards, so now the Magic can swap their own 2026 pick with either the Wizards’ or Suns’ pick, with the Suns receiving the worst of the three.
- They traded Payne, a second-round pick, and cash to the San Antonio Spurs in order to clear cap space.
- They used the cleared roster spot to sign former Magic reserve Bol to a one-year, minimum-salary deal.
This move allowed Phoenix to save over $26 million in luxury taxes this season. However, there are potential on-court consequences to consider. With Payne and Chris Paul gone, the Suns lack an experienced traditional point guard on their roster. They now have Saben Lee and Jordan Goodwin, who have limited NBA experience, as their closest options. While the Suns have talented scorers in Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant, there may be nights when they are short-handed and lack shot creation.
Additionally, there are trade implications. While Payne’s salary was a burden for tax purposes, his $6.5 million expiring contract could have been used at the trade deadline to absorb salary from other teams. In this deal, the Suns will receive a trade exception worth Payne’s salary, but they cannot combine it with other salaries like they could with Payne. Unless they plan to trade Deandre Ayton, the Suns may have difficulty making trades in February.
Nevertheless, the Suns may not anticipate the need for trades in February. With Beal, Booker, Durant, and Ayton, they arguably have one of the most talented quartets in the NBA. Bol Bol represents a high-upside addition to their roster. Standing at 7-2, Bol is a versatile offensive player with shooting and ball-handling skills. He made significant progress with the Magic last season, and the Suns hope he will continue to develop in Phoenix. Even if he doesn’t, the Suns are still considered contenders regardless of their smaller moves.
