NBA Trade Grades: Impact of Royce O’Neale on the Suns’ Big Three
The Phoenix Suns have been searching for the right role players to complement their star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. In a three-team trade, they have acquired Royce O’Neale from the Brooklyn Nets, providing a boost to their wing position. The Suns have long needed a player who can knock down 3-point shots and provide solid defense on the wing, and O’Neale fits the bill perfectly.
O’Neale was initially traded to the Nets to support Kevin Durant on the wing. Now, he finds himself being moved to the Suns to play alongside Durant once again. While O’Neale may not be a lockdown defender or one of the best shooters in the league, he is solid in both aspects. He can defend well on-ball and is effective in a help concept off the ball. With a career 3-point shooting percentage of 38.1%, the Suns can trust O’Neale to deliver in crucial moments.
The Suns have previously experimented with players like Josh Okogie, Keita Bates-Diop, and Nassir Little on the wings, but none of them provided the complete package of being reliable 3-and-D players. O’Neale fills this role better than anyone else on the roster and should be able to provide support similar to what Grayson Allen has done. Although he may not possess Allen’s accuracy from beyond the arc, O’Neale’s overall skill set makes him a valuable addition to the Suns.
As part of the trade, the Suns also acquired David Roddy. However, Roddy’s limitations prevent him from being a significant contributor. Standing at just 6-foot-4, he is too short to play as big as teams would need him to be on the court. Furthermore, his shooting and finishing around the rim are subpar, and he is not a strong rebounder. Roddy may have thrived in the NBA a few decades ago, but without substantial improvement in his outside shooting, his future in the league looks uncertain.
With the addition of O’Neale and Roddy, the Suns now have two open roster spots. This suggests that they will be proactive in pursuing players who become available in the buyout market. The Suns are expected to be active and aggressive in their search for additional pieces to bolster their postseason rotation.
Overall, this trade receives a grade of A-. The Suns address their need for a wing player who can shoot 3-pointers and play solid defense with the acquisition of O’Neale. While Roddy may not have a significant impact, the Suns now have the opportunity to explore other options to fill their roster.
The Memphis Grizzlies also made moves in this three-team trade. They traded away their 2022 first-round draft pick, which did not pan out as expected. In return, they acquired a pick swap with the Suns, giving them hope for better prospects in the future. Additionally, they added Yuta Watanabe and Chimezie Metu to their roster.
Watanabe is not only a good basketball move but also a fan favorite. He brings size and athleticism to the wing position. Despite his shooting struggles this season, he has a reliable outside shot based on his career shooting percentages. The Grizzlies should consider retaining him after free agency due to his ability to contribute as a role player. Metu provides the Grizzlies with some much-needed size, which they have recently lost in previous trades.
The Grizzlies’ trade receives a grade of B+. While they may have missed out on better prospects by selecting Roddy in the 2022 draft, they have managed to acquire assets through the pick swap and add quality role players to their roster.
Lastly, the Brooklyn Nets’ trade of O’Neale has resulted in a less favorable return. They gave up a 2023 first-round pick and received three second-round picks and a combination of minimum-salary role players in return. This trade reflects the challenges faced by the Nets when their star players, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, decide to leave the franchise. The focus of this trade seems to be on the acquisition of second-round picks rather than immediate impact.
Keita Bates-Diop and Jordan Goodwin are the role players acquired by the Nets. Bates-Diop is a solid contributor in limited minutes and can be seen as an upgraded version of Kessler Edwards. Goodwin shows promise as a guard and has the potential to develop into a rotation player. However, the Nets may struggle to find sufficient minutes for Goodwin unless injuries occur.
The trade for the Nets receives a grade of C+. While they may have acquired assets in the form of second-round picks and role players, the return does not match the value of O’Neale, indicating the challenges faced by the Nets in the aftermath of losing key players.
In conclusion, the Suns’ acquisition of Royce O’Neale provides a significant boost to their wing position, fulfilling their need for a reliable 3-and-D player. The Grizzlies manage to offload their misfired draft pick and acquire assets for the future while adding quality role players to their roster. Meanwhile, the Nets face challenges in finding adequate returns for their traded player. The impact of this three-team trade will become clearer as the season progresses, but it seems that the Suns have made a positive move to strengthen their playoff chances.