(Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)
For the last few weeks, there has been a lot of interest in Royce O’Neale of the Brooklyn Nets.
Multiple teams were reportedly interested in signing the 30-year-old forward and he was seen as a hot commodity on the trade market.
Now, his next destination in the league has been set as Shams Charania is reporting that the Nets are finalizing a trade that sends O’Neale to the Phoenix Suns for salaries and three second-round picks.
Brooklyn is finalizing a trade sending Royce O’Neale to Phoenix for salaries and three second-round picks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/sSSXacDYVz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2024
With the Nets, O’Neale has averaged 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists and has become known as a strong perimeter defender.
He will definitely bring his defensive skills to the Suns and will also be reunited with his old Brooklyn teammate, Kevin Durant.
The Suns have a robust roster but they have wanted to improve the number of wing players and strong defenders and O’Neale could assist them with that.
This will be O’Neale’s third team since joining the NBA back in 2017.
He first played for the Utah Jazz before moving to the Nets at the start of last season.
O’Neale’s output in Brooklyn has dipped a bit from the numbers he produced in Utah but he is still seen as a great acquisition for the Suns and will definitely improve their wing defense.
His career average of 36.6% from the three-point line might also make Phoenix very happy.
With this trade, the Suns have become stronger and the Nets have landed some draft capital in exchange for a player they didn’t plan to re-sign.
The Nets are expected to keep making moves before the trade deadline and they could be one of the busiest teams in the Eastern Conference.
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