According to Ian Begley on SNY and Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype, the Phoenix Suns have made scoring forward T.J. Warren available in trade discussions and are receiving ample interest.
Warren, 25, averaged 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game during 43 games with the Suns this year. Warren drastically improved his three point shot last year, shooting 42.8% from three in his fifth season after shooting 28.3% for the first four years of his career. The scoring forward is under contract for three more seasons at a salary between $10.8 and $12.7 million per season.
At 6’8 and with scoring versatility, Warren is the type of player that should interest the Nuggets at the right price. His contract fits into traded player exceptions Denver created last offseason from the Kenneth Faried and Wilson Chandler trades, and he has the size and skill set to provide an interesting complementary option for Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Gary Harris.
In addition, the Pacers have shown interest in Will Barton in past seasons, reportedly offering Barton a four year, $57 million deal to play for Indiana last offseason. Barton re-signed with the Nuggets for slightly less money, and the Pacers pivoted to Tyreke Evans for a season. Evans has been banned from the NBA for two seasons after a drug related incident though, so the the Pacers may still be willing to add Barton to the roster. A three-way trade centered around Warren to the Nuggets, Barton to the Pacers, and the Pacers owned 18th overall pick to the Suns would make sense for all parties.
