The Phoenix Suns made just one move at this year’s trade deadline, but it wasn’t for lack of options. Before finalizing their deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Suns were linked to several names-one of the more intriguing being Guerschon Yabusele, a versatile forward who had been with the New York Knicks and was clearly in need of a fresh start.
It turns out Yabusele did get that change of scenery-just not in the desert. Instead, it was the Chicago Bulls who swooped in, not only landing the French forward but also getting involved in the Suns-Bucks deal to bring in Nick Richards as backup. That’s a savvy bit of maneuvering from a Bulls front office looking to quietly pivot away from the Nikola Vucevic era without tying up major cap space at the center spot.
Yabusele, now 30, isn’t just filling minutes-he’s making the most of them. He’s already started a game for Chicago and is logging close to 30 minutes per night, putting up career-best numbers in both scoring (13.5 points) and rebounding (6.5 boards).
The sample size is still small, but the energy and effort are unmistakable. He’s playing like a guy who knows he’s auditioning for his next contract, and it shows.
What’s particularly interesting here is how well Yabusele is fitting into the Bulls’ system. Despite giving up some size when slotted in at the five, he brings a defensive intensity that meshes well with players like Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie.
That kind of edge would’ve looked pretty good in Phoenix, especially in a recent cold-shooting loss to the 76ers where the Suns struggled to generate offense from deep. Devin Booker’s frustration was visible-and understandable.
And here’s where the comparison gets even more direct: Chicago now has both Yabusele and Richards on the roster. Yet it’s Yabusele who’s getting the starting nod, with Richards coming off the bench.
That alone says a lot about how the Bulls view their respective impacts. It also begs the question-could Phoenix have pulled off a similar move?
From a trade value standpoint, it wouldn’t have taken much. Reports suggest the Knicks could’ve been open to a straight swap for Richards.
Maybe a second-round pick sweetens the deal, but it’s not as if Yabusele was commanding a high price tag. It feels like one of those low-risk, high-reward moves that playoff hopefuls should be all over.
Still, the Suns did what they set out to do at the deadline: they got under the luxury tax and opened up a roster spot, presumably for Jamaree Bouyea. That’s not insignificant. But if the goal is to make a real playoff push this season, adding a player like Yabusele-who can give you 20 solid minutes off the bench-feels like the kind of marginal upgrade that could matter come April.
It’s not a front office blunder by any means, but it’s a reminder that there are players out there-guys like Yabusele-who are ready to contribute and just need the right opportunity. The Bulls found him. The Suns might’ve missed one.