Rumblings. Sometimes they spark excitement, a flicker of what could be. Other times, they light the fuse of frustration.

Take Jonathan Kuminga. His name’s been floating around all summer, and I can’t say it’s a sound that thrills me. Why overpay for an unproven player whose archetype and attitude tilt away from the roster you’ve built? That’s not intrigue. That’s redundancy with a side of headache.

But then there are the other rumblings, the rare ones that make you lean forward. The ones that feel like they might actually fit the Suns’ roster puzzle. They’re scarce these days, and for good reason. The math of the NBA is cruel. Free agency’s fading as a talent pipeline because smart teams don’t let their guys hit the open market anymore. Even if a player isn’t part of the long-term plan, you extend him, then flip him later for something you actually want.

Which is why the name Trae Young doesn’t just land. It reverberates. One guaranteed season left at $46 million. A $49 million player option in 2026–27 he’s unlikely to touch, because he’s hunting for the longer-term payday Atlanta hasn’t offered its two-time All-Star.

Then came the tweet. Trae responding to the Micah Parsons/Dallas Cowboys drama, sliding in a little manifesto about locking players in early.

And if that wasn’t enough smoke, ESPN’s Mark J. Spears dropped his own thoughts on NBA Today, pushing the conversation further into the “what if?” zone:

“What I’m hearing now at this point, and you can tell by Trae’s tweet, and I saw him during the Finals…I think he’s disappointed that it hasn’t come, it hasn’t been offered. So don’t be surprised if he plays this out and sees what happens next summer.”

Does this mean the relationship is fractured? That Young will be leaving Atlanta soon? Probably not. The Hawks and Young can work out an extension at any point next season. The fact it hasn’t happened yet, likely because the Hawks aren’t eager to hand him a max deal, creates a bit of a stalemate. And that stalemate? Intriguing for us here in Phoenix.

Young, while far from an elite defender by any metric, would be an ideal fit next to Devin Booker. This roster has been built with a defensive identity at the wing and center positions, giving a player like Young the perfect environment to thrive. Picture Trae Young throwing lobs to Mark Williams, fully unlocking that acquisition’s potential. That’s the dream. A true floor general.

Booker off the ball is the best version of Booker. Sure, he’s shown he can run point and handle primary duties, but that’s not where he’s at his most dangerous. Surround him with someone like Young and you’re fortifying his strengths, not diluting them.

Realistically, it’s unlikely Young reaches a breaking point with Atlanta. He’ll probably ink something in the De’Aaron Fox neighborhood. Maybe four years, $229 million. But until pen meets paper, there’s room for speculation. And speculating about Trae Young in a Suns uniform? That’s the kind of harmless basketball daydream that makes me smile…even if I know it’s a long shot.

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