A distraught Jayson Tatum looks on to another losing Suns season
The Phoenix Suns have been under .500 for another season in the Champion Sim League; a far cry from the title contender they were before the Wisconsin based ownership moved into the owners role. Jayson Tatum is a superstar Small Forward in the CSL and some would say is a unquestioned top 10 player within the league. The Suns however are into a top 5-10 team nor are they close to either; rather settling into a under .500, but not good enough for a Play-In spot. Enough was enough for Tatum who apparently requested a trade or else he would forgo signing with the Suns and would threaten to sit out Training Camp.
With the #2 in the draft coming up; this decision to trade Tatum has been made easier for the Suns who have agreed to find a partner for a sign and trade for Tatum. What team will come for him remains to be seen, but Tatum is expected to have a veto on which team it will be. Tatum has been with Phoenix since the 2028 season with a shock trade with Denver sending the core of a title roster to Denver and Tatum to Phoenix. The highlight of this time in the valley has been going 7 games in a 1st round series with the Kings; trades have backfired and so have signings for the Suns. Many within the organization expected a rebuild when the team got the 2nd overall pick.
Tatum expects to demand a high price from Suns management with them looking for multiple 1sts and a promising young player locked up under contract or multiple, decent ones. A durable player; it seems ripe for the Suns to move on from Tatum as the team seemed to hit a ceiling. A fan has commented with "Finally; we can rebuild'. This seems to be the common consensus around the team with many expecting this to occur last season. What it seems now is finding that dance partner for Tatum and looking at the front office to get the best possible value for him.
A representative from Jayson Tatum's camp had reached out to offer the following. "We are at a great place with Suns management as Jayson has come to them and asked out. While Jayson was excited for the Suns project they have failed to live up to their promises that they made upon trading for my client and that is unacceptable." When the Suns were reached for comment; a press office gave the following rebuttal. "While we would have loved to keep Jayson here in the Valley; it was obvious it was a toxic relationship. We have given the thought and planning to finding a trade for Jayson and wish to thank him for the 3 great seasons spent in a Suns uniform."
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