Stephon Marbury recently shared his thoughts with Scoop B. Robinson on how the Phoenix Suns can elevate their roster and become serious contenders for the NBA title. According to Marbury, the Suns are in need of a scoring point guard who can not only facilitate but also score effectively. He believes Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers could be the perfect fit for Phoenix, particularly because of his versatile skill set and potential to grow into a dominant player.
"They need a scoring point guard. They need a guy that can get them going but can really go too. Like the kid that plays for the Indiana Pacers? Tyrese. He didn’t play in the Olympics that much this year."
"But if he gets stronger? Oh my God, he will be off the hook! He got a big heart but sometimes he seems like his heart don’t beat just as big as the other guys whose heart beats big too."
"It’s like, he lets other hearts beat him out. But I think that he’s still young and I think once he gets stronger — he needs about 15-20 more pounds of solid muscle on him. I like him with Phoenix."
"If he plays with Phoenix, I think he’d definitely be different because he’s definitely DIFFERENT because he runs the ball up the court, he knows how to handle the ball."
"Sometimes he jumps in the air too much but he’ll get out of that habit because he’ll learn everybody’s habits where he’ll see who knows how to play defense, who can steal the ball, who doesn’t steal the ball."
He specifically pointed to Haliburton as an ideal candidate, noting that while the young guard didn't get much playing time during the Olympics, he has the potential to become a key figure if he adds strength and maturity to his game.
Marbury suggested that Haliburton could take his game to the next level by adding 15-20 pounds of solid muscle, which would help him compete against the league’s tougher, more physical players. Despite some tendencies to jump in the air too much, Marbury believes Haliburton will overcome this with more experience and a deeper understanding of his opponent’s defensive habits.
Phoenix, with a star-studded lineup that includes Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, struggled to find consistency in their 2023-24 season, ultimately being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. Marbury sees Haliburton as the missing piece that could provide balance to their offense and help them go deeper in the postseason. His ability to both score and distribute would be invaluable to a team that already boasts incredible scoring talent.
With Tyrese Haliburton in the mix, Stephon Marbury believes Phoenix could become a "different" team, transforming into a genuine title contender.
It's Impossible For The Suns To Get Tyrese Haliburton And Keep The Current Big 3
Acquiring Tyrese Haliburton while keeping the Phoenix Suns ' current "Big 3" of Kevin Durant , Devin Booker , and Bradley Beal is virtually impossible. The Suns are already facing significant salary cap constraints, making a deal for a player of Haliburton's caliber extremely difficult.
Phoenix has the highest payroll in the NBA, with total costs expected to exceed $420 million for the 2024-25 season . Their salary cap is set at $198 million, while they are projected to pay a staggering $223 million in luxury tax.
As a second-apron team, Phoenix is limited in its ability to make trades, especially when it comes to aggregating players for a bigger deal. This means that the Suns cannot combine multiple contracts in a trade to match Haliburton’s salary, making it extremely difficult to match his contract without giving up one of their key stars.
In addition to these financial challenges, convincing the Indiana Pacers to part with Haliburton would be an uphill battle. Haliburton is viewed as a franchise cornerstone for Indiana, and the Pacers have made it clear that he is a vital part of their long-term plans. His combination of elite playmaking, scoring ability, and leadership at such a young age makes him one of the most promising players in the league. It would take a significant package to pry him away from Indiana.
The Suns simply do not have the necessary draft assets or the depth of talent beyond their Big 3 to entice Indiana. With their future picks already tied up in previous deals, and most of their remaining players being role players, Phoenix lacks the necessary resources to make a competitive offer for Haliburton.
In short, unless the Suns are willing to part with one of their star players—Durant, Booker, or Beal—landing Haliburton is a financial and logistical impossibility. The salary cap constraints, combined with Indiana’s reluctance to trade their rising star, make this a highly improbable scenario.
Related: Ranking Phoenix Suns Players Into 14 Different Categories Ahead Of 2024-25 Season
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