Grade the Trade: Mavericks form elite big three with bargain trade

Grading the trade for the Phoenix Suns

This trade gives the Suns desperately needed depth and will likely be the type of trade a team makes for Deandre Ayton.

Ayton has been someone that has had his ups and downs in Phoenix, and the team seems done with him. The Suns' former head coach, Monty Williams, didn't like Ayton, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports.

Gambadoro also said that Williams wanted Ayton traded, and he didn't like coaching him. Although the Suns hired Frank Vogel as their new head coach, the past drama with Ayton and the organization might be too much.

The Suns get to move on from a contract they probably consider a "bad" contract while gaining Tim Hardaway Jr., Davis Bertans, and JaVale McGee. All three of those players could play valuable minutes for the Suns and would bolster their depth.

Hardaway Jr. would have the chance to be a spark plug off the bench for the Suns. He is a streaky shooter but can get scorching hot from downtown. Phoenix wouldn't have been able to find a player of his caliber on the open market to sign for the MLE or veteran's minimum, and he'd be a great pickup for them.

Bertans could also be a player that comes in as a shooter for Phoenix but likely wouldn't play much. He was mostly just a throw-in to help make the money match.

McGee, on the other hand, is a big piece in this trade for the Suns. He didn't play much for the Mavs, but he'd be the second-string center for the Suns (behind Jock Landale, as it looks like he'll return). He would give them depth at that position and played for the Suns in the 2021-2022 season. He averaged 9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in one season with them.

McGee could potentially reach those numbers again, and Phoenix would benefit from him being in the trade.

Potential starting lineup: Cameron Payne, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, JaVale McGee (if Landale leaves)

Phoenix gets a B for this trade as they gain valuable bench pieces and turn their team into more of a championship-ready squad. It seems they could get more for Ayton, but his contract isn't the best, and teams know that the Suns need to trade him. They probably won't have much leverage in commanding more assets than this proposed package.