*to satisfy the 2nd apron rules for the Suns, these are 2 seperate trades, not a 3 team trade

Suns - Phoenix has looked great to start the year, large in part to upgrading their areas of need being PG with Tyus Jones and Monte Morris, and wing defense with Ryan Dunn. the next order of business should be upgrading center, while also improving the defense. Coach Bud has traditionally liked his big men to shoot 3s, and Isaiah Stewart does just that. defensively he’s not a crazy rim protector being that he’s only 6’8, but his defensive malleability is much more valuable than Nurkic’s. Phoenix also makes a 2nd trade to off load Nurkic to acquire more wing defense in Finney-Smith. DFS is a prototypical big 3 and D wing who can play off stars like KD and Book. the Suns also acquire a first round pick (the lowest of Brooklyns 4 2025 firsts) to potentially flip in another trade, or to add a win-now rookie next year.

Pistons - Detroit has looked much better this year after surrounding Cade with actual spacing. sure they already have Hardaway and Beasley, but Grayson Allen is much better than both of them. not only was Allen the best 3pt% shooter last year, he’s also solid defensively and adds some secondary playmaking. Detroit already has Paul Reed as a backup center so Stewart is expendable.

Nets - this is iffy for Brooklyn, but they potentially add a very valuable 1st round pick in 2031 that is very lightly protected. by then, KD will be long gone and Booker might even be on another team. taking on Nurkic’s 2 year deal stings, but shouldn’t matter much for a rebuilding team, they could always flip him next year when he’s an expiring contract. Note* - the Nets are giving up the lowest of their 4 2025 picks (swap via OKC, Houston, Clippers, Bucks top 4 protected, own, and Knicks)