The New York Knicks and the Phoenix Suns have hooked up for a seven-player minor league trade, per the Westchester Knicks.
“The Westchester Knicks have acquired the returning player rights to Moses Wood, Mamadi Diakite, Cassius Stanley, Didi Louzada and Quinndary Weatherspoon, along with a first and second round pick (via VAL) in the 2026 NBA G League Draft and a 2026 NBA G League International Draft pick (via VAL) from the Valley Suns, in exchange for the returning player rights to Damion Baugh and David Duke Jr.”– via the Westchester Knicks X account.
Knicks and Suns Hook Up For 7-Player Minor Deal; What Does the Trade Mean For Each Franchise?
While the trade appears to be a lopsided deal for New York due to the volume of players, it was more significant for Phoenix. The Suns have inked Baugh and Duke Jr. to training camp deals. While neither player is expected to make the Suns’ 18-man roster, Phoenix must like both to keep them around the organization.
Baugh has spent most of the last two seasons in the G-League after going undrafted in 2023. The 25-year-old point guard joined Westchester before last season, but joined Charlotte on a two-way contract in February. The Hornets waived him at the end of July, and he signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Suns on September 19.
Baugh is an elite-level facilitator who has some defensive upside. However, the 6-4 guard struggles with turnovers and shooting the ball. He appeared in 15 games for the Hornets last season, averaging 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals. He also registered 3.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 32.7/21.4/86.7.
Duke Jr. has spent parts of all four seasons in the NBA since going undrafted in 2021. The 25-year-old guard has spent two seasons each with Brooklyn and San Antonio. He compiled 2.7 points over six minutes in six games while shooting 42.9/50.0/50 with the Spurs last season.
Duke is a tough-nosed, versatile guard who can guard four positions. He is a willing facilitator but struggles with decision-making and is not a good shooter. He is at his best when slashing to the basket.
Valley Suns
Valley Suns went 30-20 in its first season in the G-League. In addition to Baugh and Duke Jr., Tyrese Samuel is expected to join Valley once the Suns waive the 6-10 power forward. The 25-year-old had a solid G-League season with the Suns and then joined Brooklyn’s Summer League squad. He averaged 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in three Vegas summer league contests while shooting 77.8% from the field.
Valley’s 2025-26 roster is far from complete. But all three of Phoenix’s two-way players should see time in the minor leagues. Kobe Brea and CJ Huntley are projected to see the most time among the three two-way players with Valley.
What Does the Trade Mean for the Knicks?
The Knicks organization is unlikely to benefit from this trade this year. Wood (Alba Berlin), Diakite (Baskonia), Louzada (Japan), and Weatherspoon (China) are all playing overseas during the 2025-26 season. At least one of those players may join Westchester at some point this season, though it is less than a 50-50 chance. The more likely scenario is a few players (Weatherspoon, Diakite and Wood) could join Westchester next season.
Stanley is the most likely player of the bunch to start the season in Westchester. Stanley, a 2020 second-round pick by Indiana, was expected to play in Lithuania, but he failed his physical. There is no word on the nature of Stanley’s injury, but it makes joining Westchester a legitimate possibility.
So, while the trade will likely never benefit the Knicks, Westchester could get an interesting player with Valley’s first-round selection next season. Westchester’s trade with Valley is the seventh trade for the organization.
In those six previous trades, Westchester added Dibaji Walker, Dink Pate, Ibrahima Diallo, Zavier Simpson, Bryson Warren, and Romeo Langford. Warren and Pate are the most likely of the players to suit up for Westchester this season. Warren and Pate have both signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks, though both players have since been waived. Therefore, if those two spend at least 60 days with Westchester, they will receive a $85,300 bonus.
Walker and Diallo may also join Westchester this season, as both players are free agents. Meanwhile, Simpson has signed with the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association.
New York’s two-way players, Tosan Evbuomwan, Trey Jemison, and Kevin McCullar Jr., could spend time with Westchester this season. Of the three, McCullar Jr. projects to see the most time in the G-League. The Knicks have 10 players, including Mohammad Diawara, Matt Ryan, and Garrison Matthews, who could also end up in Westchester.
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