Suns possibly targeting Chris Paul's replacement in three-team trade scenario

The Phoenix Suns continue "to explore trade scenarios regarding reserve guard Cam Payne" as the team seeks to upgrade the backcourt, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer.

Fischer reported that Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell is on the Suns' radar as a possible trade candidate and could possibly be packaged in a three-team deal. The New York Knicks were one team Fischer floated that could get in on the action. The club continues to seek scenarios to offload veteran sharpshooter Evan Fournier. 

By position alone, acquiring McConnell would help pick up some of the slack left behind at point guard when the Suns opted to trade future Hall of Famer Chris Paul this offseason. However, McConnell is almost certainly not the end-all, be-all answer to Phoenix's need for a prominent facilitator. 

McConnell averages a reputable five assists per game over his career. He also knocked down a career-best 44.1% of his threes this past season for good measure. Yet, he profiles better as a second-unit player, starting just 24 games since 2017-2018. Still, he'd be a slight upgrade over Payne, who will be a free agent after this year. 

By most accounts, the Suns appear content with using three-time All-Star Devin Booker as their main ball-handler in 2023-24. The Kentucky product flashed in this role previously, averaging 6.5-plus assists per game in back-to-back seasons prior to Paul's arrival in 2020.