Phoenix Suns Urged to Trade for Eastern Conference Star

The Phoenix Suns are entering the 2025-26 NBA season without a star player to pair with Devin Booker, following the departures of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. In response, the team has focused on acquiring younger talent and defensive-minded players to build around Booker, aiming to strengthen their roster for the competitive Western Conference.

Amid this strategy, Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz has identified New York Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns as a potential ambitious trade target for the Suns, noting that Towns and Booker were college teammates at Kentucky in the 2014-15 season. Swartz proposed a hypothetical three-team trade scenario where the Suns would acquire Towns, while other assets like Jalen Green, Ryan Dunn, Khaman Maluach, Mark Williams, and draft picks would go to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a larger deal involving Giannis Antetokounmpo moving to the Knicks.

Although the Knicks reportedly engaged in discussions with the Bucks for Antetokounmpo this offseason, they did not make a formal offer. Meanwhile, the Suns have already enhanced their frontcourt by adding players such as Williams and Maluach, but Towns would represent a significant upgrade in talent. However, the Suns may exercise caution due to past experiences, as previous high-profile trades for Durant and Beal failed to yield playoff success, with the team not winning a single playoff game over two seasons with that trio.

As the new-look Suns roster has yet to play a regular-season game, their biggest need remains unclear, and the team is focused on establishing a new identity. While pursuing another star player like Towns does not currently appear to be a guaranteed path to success, the dynamic nature of the NBA means situations can change rapidly.