Jordan Ott’s primary focus as a first-year head coach has been on present, not the past or future.
So the way he first answered a question about the Feb. 5 trade deadline wasn’t surprising.
“I’m trying to win a game tonight,” a smiling Ott said during pregame availability Jan. 27, as the Phoenix Suns (27-19) face the Brooklyn Nets (12-32) at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Suns are seventh in the Western Conference and are playing above preseason predictions, but they’ve made trade deadline moves before under team owner Mat Ishbia starting with the blockbuster Kevin Durant deal in 2023.
However, Ott said the Suns “love” the team currently constructed as they’re eyeing the return of Jalen Green moving forward.
Suns coach Jordan Ott on Feb. 5 trade deadline: "We have people in place in leadership to take care of a lot of that stuff. We know it's right around the corner, but we love our group. We continue to say that. Our group growing internally. Our big piece we're going to get back is… pic.twitter.com/X7MkHgKaMG
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 28, 2026
“We have people in place in leadership to take care of a lot of that stuff,” Ott said. "We know it's right around the corner, but we love our group. We love our group. We continue to say that. Our group is growing internally. Our big piece we're going to get back is Jalen Green and that's what we're excited about.”
Phoenix can’t trade any first-round picks through 2032. The Suns can move their 2033 first-round pick the night of the 2026 draft.
Green missed a second straight game after tweaking his right hamstring in the first quarter of Friday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks to end six-game road trip.
That was Green’s second game back after missing 33 consecutive games with what the Suns called a right hamstring strain. He’s only played four games in his first season with the Suns, who acquired him from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade.
The Suns had an MRI on Green after the Atlanta game that revealed no new damage. Green has had two workouts since with the latest one after Tuesday’s morning shootaround.
“Everything seems to be good,” Ott said. “We'll continue to reassess. Get him back on the court when he's ready to go."
Ott has said Green is day-to-day, adding Tuesday that Green doesn’t need to do 5-on-5 to return to the court. Green had multiple 5-on-5 runs with teammates, coaches and staff before returning Jan. 20 against Philadelphia during the six-game road trip after missing 33 consecutive games.
“He had enough before he came back the last time,” Ott said. “It's more just, feel good. We're right there. It's nothing new. That was helpful. Just ease the mind. He's been out two months so some of that is expected. It's a new era for him, too. He's never had something like this. When he feels right, he'll be back out there. Dying to get back out there. We're dying to have him out there, but we want to have him right."
Green is averaging a career-low 11.8 points in his four games with the Suns.
Phoenix is also down Devin Booker (right ankle sprain), Collin Gillespie (right hand sprain) and two-way player Isaiah Livers (illness).
Ott said Gillespie hurt his hand when falling to the floor in Sunday’s loss to the Miami Heat and that it’s a “short-term” injury. Booker sprained his right ankle in the third quarter of the Atlanta loss. The Suns announced Sunday, Jan. 25, that Booker would be re-evaluated in a week.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns 'excited' about Jalen Green's return as NBA trade deadline nears
