Best Suns Deals Over the Years
1 / 17May 8, 1969 – traded Gary Gregor to Atlanta for Paul Silas Statistically, Gregor was actually the better player in the 1968-69 campaign for the expansion Suns. He averaged 11.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per contest as a 23-year-old rookie and eighth-round draft pick. Silas had been in the league for five seasons, and appeared in danger of an early decline following a (for him) subpar ’69 season (8.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg). Phoenix’s gamble in swapping Gregor for Silas paid off in spades. The latter turned into one of the best and consistent rebounding forwards in the league, an identity that took off in a Suns uniform. In his three seasons in the Valley, Silas averaged 14.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists while teaming with Connie Hawkins to lead the Suns to their first-ever playoff appearance (1970).