Suns Must Trade for Dejounte Murray for Playoff Push Amid Jalen Green, NBA Rumors

The Phoenix Suns currently sit eleventh in the Western Conference at 5-6 and could be preparing to trade one of their stars.

Chris Haynes, during an appearance on NBA on Prime, reported that the team has made guard Jalen Green available in trade discussions.

Sam Amick of The Athletic reported, "The outside belief is that they are motivated to swap Green for a proven point guard. The Suns, according to a team source, insist that they'll remain patient with their roster and don't plan to truly engage in trade talks, potentially, until later in the season."

Regardless of when they talk trades, the team's front office appears ready to part ways with Green if the right deal presents itself.

Enter Dejounte Murray, the star guard for the New Orleans Pelicans, who ESPN's Shams Charania reported has requested a trade from his own team.

Murray is a high-motor playmaker and can create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He is also a pesky defender when necessary. He is currently averaging 31.3 minutes, 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.

The 30-year-old is a more complete player than Green, someone who can be an asset to the Suns on both ends of the floor. While he is older than Phoenix's current star at the position, his defense would help a team that allows 111.7 points per game, according to StatMuse.

Best of all, for the Suns, Murray wants to be there.

The Athletic's NBA Staff reported during a live blog Friday:

"According to a league source with knowledge of Dejounte Murray's situation, the Pelicans' guard has strong interest in joining the Phoenix Suns. His camp has been hopeful that a deal would materialize in which he would be swapped for Suns guard Jalen Green."

They added, "Team sources on both sides recently insisted there had not been any talks between the teams about that deal. But that certainly could change."

Murray's trade value was hurt after he missed all of last season, but he has tools that could help a team in Phoenix with playoff aspirations that does not appear poised to realize them with its current roster.

With the Suns already looking to shop Green, and Murray wanting out of an increasingly frustrating situation in New Orleans, it now feels like the opportune time to make a deal that can right the ship in Phoenix before things get too far out of hand in a loaded Western Conference.