NBA Trade Rumors: Phoenix Suns eyeing a move for Jalen McDaniels?

Charlotte Hornets Jalen McDaniels (Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
Charlotte Hornets Jalen McDaniels (Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)

NBA Trade Rumors: In an attempt to improve the roster ahead of the trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns may be eyeing a move for Jalen McDaniels.

Less than a month out from the NBA Trade Deadline, there are many contending teams that are scrambling to get a handle on what the true trade market is. And one of those teams has to be the Phoenix Suns, who continue to fade down the Western Conference standings.

The Suns are just 5-15 in their last 20 games and have fallen to seventh in the West standings with a 21-22 record. It’s clear that they gave missed Devin Booker but there may be also something off with the team. And perhaps making a move at the trade deadline could go a long way in catapulting this team back on track during the second half of the season.

One player, according to a recent report, that the Suns appear interested in is Jalen McDaniels, a versatile forward who is currently with the Charlotte Hornets.

McDaniels is in his fourth season in the league and is averaging 11 points and five rebounds per game on 46 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range. In what has been the best season of his career thus far, McDaniels is slated to be a free agent during the offseason, and with how bad the Hornets have been this season there remain many questions for this team heading into the offseason. McDaniels may be one of them.

How will the Charlotte Hornets operate at the NBA Trade Deadline?

Even though everything points to the Hornets being big sellers at the trade deadline, there’s no actual guarantee that will happen. Right now, the Hornets are in last place in the Eastern Conference and have one of the three worst records in the league.

This is a team that could lean into full tank mode by hitting the reset button at the deadline. However, I’m not sure how low this franchise is willing to go. PJ Washington is another big name that will likely garner trade interest at the deadline, and he’s a player that could help a contending team as well.

But is this ownership willing to bottom out once again? Especially with no guarantee that they will land the No. 1 overall pick? It’s hard to say but the Hornets are certainly a team to watch that could end up dictating how chaotic the NBA Trade Deadline is next month.

And the Suns, among other teams, will likely be keeping a close watch.