Phoenix Suns Could Gun For Atlanta Hawks Starter With Jae Crowder Package

The Phoenix Suns and veteran forward Jae Crowder are working together to find a suitable trade partner for both parties and the Atlanta Hawks have emerged once again.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the two franchises have been speaking with each other in "recent weeks and months" as the Hawks hope to create a formidable supporting cast around their core.

Hawks fans know all too well that Trae Young and John Collins are not enough to compete in the Eastern Conference, which led to the organization going after Dejounte Murray in the offseason.

For the Suns, their once-vaunted bench depth that saw a surprising 2021 NBA Finals trip has since been put into question ahead of the October 18 start of the 2022-23 season.

The franchise is on the lookout for immediate contributors in the Crowder deal.

The Suns have a bit of leverage in potential trades since they own all of their first and second-rounders until the 2029 season, and if the Hawks are adamant about getting Crowder, the following could serve as the foundation of a deal via Fanspo's trade machine.

Phoenix Suns receive:

• C Frank Kaminsky
• G Aaron Holiday
• SF/SG De'Andre Hunter

Atlanta Hawks receive:

• F Jae Crowder
• G Cameron Payne
• 2023 and 2025 first-round picks

With this trade, the Suns get to welcome back former players in the form of Kaminsky and Holiday while getting a blossoming wing player in Hunter.

Hunter was just limited to 53 games last season due to injury, but his career averages of 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.7 steals could prove to be an important piece for the Suns.

The Virginia product, age 24, will likely be coming off the bench as a backup to Mikal Bridges and will act as the designated three-point marksman alongside Landry Shamet in the second unit while also playing exceptional defense.

Suns fans would do well to revisit his performance in the 2022 playoffs as well as he proved his value to the Hawks during their first-round battle with the Miami Heat, which featured him dropping a career-high 35 points in Game 5.

The Hawks are expected to demand more picks from the Suns if Hunter truly is on the table since they will be getting two proven veterans in the deal in exchange for a talent-laden youngster.

Swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic is also a possible candidate for Phoenix, but the remaining two-year, $36 million deal is a considerably trickier route to go with since the Suns are cash-strapped as it is.

If NBA insider Marc Stein's report is to be believed about the Suns searching for a player that they can plug into their system, gunning for Hunter over the more expensive Bogdanovic could just be what they need to become title favorites again.