Phoenix Hasn't Contacted New Orleans: Insider Downplays Suns Trade Rumors Involving Jalen Green, Dejounte Murray

Murray speculation meets a denial

Trade talk around Suns guard Jalen Green grew after Phoenix’s rocky start. It intensified Friday, when Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray requested a trade and reports described mutual interest between Murray and the Suns.

Gambadoro reported that Phoenix had not contacted New Orleans about Murray. He said the Suns had neither checked in with the Pelicans nor called around about a deal.

Booker and the team’s needs

Gambadoro said interest in acquiring a point guard had been tied to helping Devin Booker reach his best level. Booker has played some of his best basketball in years over the past four or five games, and Phoenix has won four of five.

He said defensive rebounding is the team’s biggest problem right now, not point guard. If Phoenix changed its lineup, Collin Gillespie would likely start unless the team acquired a proven veteran, Gambadoro said.

Green’s role remains unsettled

Gambadoro said a future Green trade is possible, but he would expect it to be down the road. Green has struggled to fit his role, and the trade speculation could further affect his confidence, the report said.

The Suns are 5-6 after 11 games, and the story said Phoenix may consider moving Green to the bench in favor of Gillespie or Jordan Goodwin. Both guards had starting experience last season, when Green appeared in 32 games because of injuries.

Sabonis also ruled out

Those options include Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, with Mark Williams expected to return eventually. Whether Green is traded remains uncertain; the story said a bench role could be an interim change to the rotation.