Suns, hoping to make a deal for Butler, acquire draft picks from Jazz
Searching for ways to improve their roster ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns acquired three first-round picks from the Utah Jazz for a first-round pick.
With a roster that includes Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Phoenix is 21-21 and in 10th place in the Western Conference. They are competing with eight other teams for a spot in the postseason – whether it’s the play-in game or a guaranteed spot in the playoffs
By acquiring three first-rounders, the Suns now have immediate first-round picks they can trade. Before this deal, the only first-round pick Phoenix had available to trade was a 2031 first-rounder because of an NBA rule that prevents teams from going consecutive seasons without a first-round pick on the books.
Now, the Suns acquired first-rounders from Utah in 2025, 2027 and 2029, according to ESPN, that they can now use to sweeten the pot in a trade for a star such as Jimmy Butler or another player who can improve Phoenix’s roster. Suns owner Mat Ishbia is intent on contending for a title with Durant and Booker and is willing to spend to make that happen.
ESPN first reported details of the trade.
What draft picks did the Phoenix Suns acquire?
The Suns acquired three draft picks from the Utah Jazz. Here are the specifics:
2025 least favorable first-round pick (Cleveland, Minnesota, or Utah (protected))
2027 least favorable first-round pick (Cleveland, Minnesota, or Utah)
2029 least favorable first-round pick (Cleveland, Minnesota (protected), or Utah)
How the Phoenix Suns could trade for Jimmy Butler
To make a deal for Butler work, it likely would involve multiple teams. A person with knowledge of the Suns-Jazz deal indicated to USA TODAY Sports this is the beginning of a process that sends Butler to Phoenix, and the Suns likely would sign him to a longer deal when he can become a free agent this summer. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about Phoenix’s intentions.
Beal has a no-trade clause in his contract so that limits what Phoenix can do with him a trade. However, if Beal waives his no-trade clause, Phoenix has the draft capital to make a deal palatable for another team, even if it means taking on the two years and $110.7 million left on Beal’s contract after this season.
One team to watch as this unfolds is the Milwaukee Bucks who have scanned the market for perimeter help. As USA TODAY Sports noted in a story on a potential trades, Zach LaVine to the Bucks makes sense, and the Bucks have shown interest in the Chicago Bulls guard who is having a great shooting season.
If Beal waived his no-trade clause for a move to Milwaukee, that could open the door for Butler to Phoenix. The Bucks would need to make another trade first to get under the second apron so they can aggregate salaries in a larger trade.
What did the Utah Jazz get in the trade with the Phoenix Suns?
Utah gets Phoenix’s 2031 unprotected first-round pick which is aiming to be a valuable lottery-type pick especially if the Suns are in rebuild mode post-Durant and post-Booker. The Jazz have at least 11 first-round picks in the next seven drafts.
(This story was updated with new information.)
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