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The first big deal of the NBA trade deadline is here, as the Bucks have snagged P.J. Tucker from Houston. As part of the trade, the Suns will acquire Torrey Craig for cash considerations. The trade was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
No player back from Suns in the Craig deal, sources tell ESPN. Bucks signed him as a free agent from Denver in offseason, but he was never able to find a rotational role. Suns pick up a playoff-tested bench player.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 17, 2021
While not the most exciting acquisition to change hands in this trade and not someone likely to be a huge difference-maker for the Suns, Craig is a serviceable NBA veteran. In his time with Denver, he frequently drew the opposing team’s top scorer and has the size and length you want in the NBA.
However, Craig is shooting just 39 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep this season and appeared in only 18 of Milwaukee’s 39 games before the trade.
This move also leaves the Suns without an open roster spot, meaning if they want to keep adding at the trade deadline or on the buyout market, they will need to either trade or cut a player currently on the roster. Damian Jones was a built-in open roster spot because his contract was not guaranteed, but there are no other obvious candidates to move on from should the Suns look to add more talent in the coming weeks.
Still, Craig gives them depth at the most valuable position in the NBA, and could see the floor right away as the Suns continue to play without the services of Cam Johnson and Abdel Nader. Seeing as how the Suns play the Lakers next Monday, we could be in for some heavy Craig minutes soon.