The Phoenix Suns don’t have much need for Miles Plumlee anymore considering the improvement of Alex Len and the acquiring of Brandan Wright, putting him on the trading block, hoping that some team might actually be gullible enough to give up a first round pick for him.
Why Gullible? Because Plumlee, into his third NBA season, seems to have lost his place in the Suns rotation, or at least got demoted. He is averaging only 13.5 minutes a game during January compared to a peak 23.5 minutes a night in November and 24.6 minutes per game while starting 79 times last season.
He’s averaging 4.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, but his per minute numbers have dropped significantly as well, scoring 3.3 points less and grabbing 1.6 rebounds fewer per 36 minutes compared to last season. Rumors suggest the Suns are hoping they can get a late first round pick for him. Plumlee was taken 26th overall in the 2012 draft by the Pacers and was traded a season later along with Gerald Green for Luis Scola.
So a first round pick? Hard to believe that will happen. Plumlee is a solid rebounder and a pretty decent defend in the low post, but that’s about it. He has no range and can hardly do anything off the dribble. Big men who can rebound, defend and score some second chance points are always in need, but teams are not that desperate. Considering he also has a $2.1 million contract for next season, it’s hard to believe the Suns can get anything more than two second round picks for him at best.