Why Nassir Little’s contract will be a hard one to trade

There aren’t a plethora of roster-based options for the Phoenix Suns this offseason. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve begun an article by saying that. Why? Because it’s reality. sigh

The Suns have what many won’t want. Example? The contract of 24-year-old wing Nassir Little. I’ve been vocal throughout the season on how I believe it is one of the worst contracts the Suns possess. Now that we are looking to see what it is worth on the open market, you can understand why.

You’ve certainly heard an expression I use quite frequently, especially regarding player production and the value of their contract: “price for value paid”. It’s important to me, at least as a fan. Does what a player is being compensated for equate to the performance occurring on the court? It was one of the issues I had with Deandre Ayton and why I believe the Nurkic trade was a success.

Is this an issue I have with Little? His contract is a total of $21.6 million. But over the next three years. It’s not the worst number out there. The length of the contract, however, is a killer. Three years. It might not seem like a long time, but in the world of NBA trade leverage, it’s Jason Vorhees.

Who would be willing not only absorb the length of the contract but also the lack of production? Nassir is an upside play and has been his entire career. In his first season with the Suns, in which he was paid $6.25 million, he averaged 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds. He shot 30% from three-point range. Price, but not value paid. I know it’s a bad baseline, but essentially he was paid $41,118.42 per point (he scored a total of 152). Devin Booker was paid $19,563.39 and Kevin Durant was paid $23,449.52.

Little brought energy — which was needed on an unmotivated team — yet lacked consistency. He was oft injured, which has been an issue that has plagued him his entire career. He played in 45 games this season, which is about average for him. After playing in 23 of the Suns' first 30 games, an injury occurred, and he never truly rebounded. He averaged just 1.5 points in 4.5 minutes in his final 22 games, which was 589 games for Phoenix.

Upside, yes. Production, no. He is a player who isn’t great at any one thing. He’s barely good.

So how do you sell that to another team? When you begin to look around and see what options exist, the landscape becomes barren rather quickly. The only thing brave enough to cross the terrain is a one-armed Furisoa.

We discussed a couple of possibilities on the most recent episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast. But none of them were truly plausible.

Why? Because unless you’re attaching a pick — which I don’t think you should do — there is no incentive for an opposing team to bite. No team is going to want to take on his contract. Because of the lack of price for value paid. Because of the length of the deal.

Perhaps the addition of the G League team will assist with the development of Nassir Little. Perhaps we’ll have a $6.7 million-a-year player dominating the Valley Suns. Perhaps he’ll grow into a productive rotational piece, not for the postseason, but to help Phoenix navigate the regular season. I’m not setting the bar crazy high here.

Next offseason, if the Suns do not move off of his contract this summer, might see more of a market for Little. The price will go up, but the length will drop. This could be appealing to those looking to dump their three-year deal guy...which would put the Suns right back in the same conundrum.