The Phoenix Suns were one of the worst teams in the NBA last season while dealing with the fallout from the Steve Nash trade to the Lakers and now that the team has traded forward Luis Scola to the Indiana Pacers, it's clear that the franchise is building for the future and that means a Marcin Gortat trade could be next.
According to ESPN.com, the Suns traded Scola to the Indiana Pacers for forward Gerald Green, center Miles Plumlee and a lottery-protected first-round draft pick, giving the team another solid player up front after losing Tyler Hansbrough to the Raptors. The Pacers signed David West to a new deal and needed to add another frontcourt player after losing Hansbrough and now the Pacers feel that they have the size and firepower to take on the Heat in the East this season.
The Suns acquired Scola after the Rockets used the amnesty clause on him and the team and general manager Ryan McDonough knew that he would be traded eventually and now that deal has come through. Scola was durable and played in all 82 games last season while averaging 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Suns and now he brings that consistency to the Pacers. Scola has played in all 82 games five different times and the Pacers now get a player they have been interested in since back when he was with the Rockets and he brings career averages of 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds.
The Suns went just 25-57 last season and now add Green and Plumlee and another first round pick in the future. The Green contract helped make the money work and now he is with his sixth team since coming into the league and Plumlee moves after being selected 26th in the first round last season and appearing in just 14 games. The Suns wanted the first round pick and now they can add another player in the future to work alongside new stars Alex Len and Archie Goodwin.
Channing Frye was out all last season with a heart issue, but after the Scola trade, Pro Basketball Talk reports that the Suns are optimistic that Frye will be back this season. Gortat still could be moved, but the Suns likely will wait until the season starts to make a deal. The center was solid last season and averaged 11 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Suns and rumors said that the Spurs were interested at various points and could make a move to deal for him in the future.
