Phoenix Suns: Can Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat Save Phoenix?

After Saturday's blockbuster three-team trade between the Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards, and Orlando Magic, neither team will be the same.

Phoenix sent Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark to Orlando in exchange for Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, a draft pick and cash considerations.

Washington shipped troubled star Gilbert Arenas to Orlando and acquired sharpshooter Rashard Lewis in return.

The first huge deal of the season saw Turkoglu return to the Magic team he helped lead to the NBA Finals in 2009.

It also saw the Suns ridding themselves of that same Turkoglu who had struggled immensely in just 25 games in Phoenix's offense.

Also, Phoenix lost arguably its best player in Richardson, who lead the Suns in scoring prior to the trade.

Now the Suns look to incorporate three new faces into a team that has already waved good bye to one.

So they question becomes, does trading for Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus at the expense of Jason Richardson make the Suns a contender?

Only time will tell. But who wants to wait for that?

As a devoted follower of the Phoenix Suns for years, I have my own thoughts about the immediate future of this Phoenix franchise.

It all goes back to losing Amar'e Stoudemire this past offseason. The void Stoudemire left is much too big to fill with role players or past-their-prime all stars.

The Suns' front office went after Hakim Warrick over the summer to make up for what Phoenix lost in the pick-and-roll game.

Then they went after Hedo Turkoglu in an attempt to acquire a scorer at power forward.

Though I will admit that Warrick has played well and also consistently in the pick and roll this season with Steve Nash.

However, Turkoglu's services were hardly seen in his 25 appearances in purple and orange. Turkoglu averaged just over nine points per game and a sickly four rebounds per contest.

So plan B clearly flopped for the Suns (plan A was resigning Amar'e Stoudemire), and now plan C is effect.

When all else fails, make waves with a trade that doesn't necessarily add anything to the team, so long as it shakes up the league and changes the roster.

Yes, that seems to be the Phoenix front office's way of doing things, at least in the Nash era.

Steve Kerr, anyone?

But it is a little early for me to think so lowly of the recent trade yet.

Vince Carter has wowed us before (though that was several years ago).

Mickael Pietrus is a decent wing player who should excel in Phoenix's offense, and Marcin Gortat should provide a huge rebounding lift as well as an admirable pick-and-roll partner for Nash.

If all of those aspects pan out as they should I see the Suns playing in late April this season as a potential first round reject.

That's not to bash the Suns. No one supports what they do more than this guy. Unfortunately, the roster has been overhauled twice now in less than a season, and the on-court production is where it counts.

Back to the question asked earlier, does this trade make Phoenix a contender?

Honestly, no it does not.

Phoenix will be tough to beat night in and night out, but they are lacking the edge they had last season (whether it was Stoudemire or Lou Amundson).

They should sneak into the postseason, but a return to the Western Conference Finals is likely a stretch at this point.

Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.