The Phoenix Suns exceeded all expectations in the 2025-26 season by making the playoffs. Although the Oklahoma City Thunder swept them, conversations immediately brewed about Aaron Gordon possibly being traded to the Suns.
Now, Phoenix desperately needs size and a legitimate power forward, but is it worth sacrificing quality assets for a win-now move?
The temptation is there and enticing, but they should steer far away from any possible trade.
An Aaron Gordon trade would halt the Suns’ chemistry
Gordon joining Phoenix isn’t an indicator that he’ll destroy the team. It’s the furthest thing from it. However, a team that went from 26 to 45 wins– and some major leaps from first and second-year players– might not want it to combust.
Guys like Rasheer Fleming and Oso Ighodaro are both prime examples of the budding future. Not to mention Jalen Green, who is only 24.
Lastly, the duo of Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks showed the ultimate competitive and tangible yin and yang effect. With the latter being the trash-talking, expressive one, Booker is the silent assassin.
To complete a Gordon trade, either Brooks or Green would have to be in the trade. Both players contributed in their individual ways and helped the Suns reach that 45-win total.
For a team that sought continuity, trading Gordon and ridding itself of key pieces could be taking two steps backwards instead of forward.
The Suns have someone to fill Aaron Gordon’s position
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This is certainly a stretch, but Fleming showed major promise for the Suns as a versatile defender and capable 3-point shooter.
His 6’9 and 7’4 wingspan make him more than an ideal candidate to play the power forward. He had multiple stints guarding some of the top players in the league. LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Jaylen Brown, just to name a few.
The potential is extremely evident, and something the franchise isn’t willing to risk. They saw it with Toumani Camara after trading him for Jusuf Nurkic before the 2023-24 season.
Also, they have Ryan Dunn if Fleming isn’t available. The second-year player out of Virginia doesn’t have the offensive upside that Fleming has, but he has experience, similar athleticism, and an understanding of playing with Booker.
The Suns have a trio that can score the ball at will. Now, it’s all about putting the surrounding pieces around those three, and they have guys who can do that.
Phoenix doesn’t necessarily need to win now
If you look at the current Western Conference, there is a clear separation of Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and then the remaining teams.
From a front office perspective, it might not be wise to pull the trigger on a move that can keep them exactly where they are. The Suns had a major culture change, and it’s something to keep an eye on.
Both Brooks and head coach Jordan Ott helped spearhead that campaign. Adding Gordon wouldn’t change that, but it would disrupt the current momentum that’s been constructed.
Sometimes, less is more, and this is the case for the current Nuggets forward. Plenty of teams will be after him, which will entice Denver to demand more for its power forward.
Running it back is cliché, but it’s a cliché for a reason. Obtaining Gordon will come at the expense of some budding stars, and Phoenix has already learned its lesson the first time.
The Phoenix Suns exceeded all expectations in the 2025-26 season by making the playoffs. Although the Oklahoma City Thunder swept them, conversations immediately brewed about Aaron Gordon possibly being traded to the Suns. Now, Phoenix desperately needs size and a legitimate power forward, but is it worth sacrificing quality assets for a win-now move?