The National Basketball Association trade deadline was at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday.  As the deadline came and went, the Phoenix Suns were one of many teams who decided not to make any moves.

The NBA deadline can be a busy week for a lot of NBA GMs, coaches, and players. Some teams are making trades to put them into the championship picture and some teams are making trades to free up cap space in anticipation of signing free agents during the offseason.

It seemed like the Suns, who are still in playoff contention, would have been one of those teams that went out and got one, or more key players to help them make a final push for the postseason.

After Friday morning’s practice, at Talking Stick Resort Arena, General Manager James Jones was asked what the Suns tried to accomplish before the trade deadline.

“We just tried to see where we stand and got a good sense of where our group is when healthy and that was exciting for us.  That was reassuring,” Jones said.  “When we are a healthy team we play well.  Our focus now is to get healthy and healed during All-Star break and finish the last 30 something games playing at a high level,” Jones said.

Kelly Oubre is a key Suns player who was rumored to be in trade talks.

Oubre is having a career year, averaging 18.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

That same morning, Jones commented about the trade rumors which involved Oubre.

“We love Kelly…and at this point in time names are rumored all the time — but what I do know, and what our guys know, is that we don’t talk about our players.  Anything people put out — that’s external,” Jones said.

Oubre commented on what it means to him to be appreciated and playing for Phoenix.

“It feels great!  I’m here to do a job and to put on for the city and I’m going to continue to do that as long as I’m here,” Oubre said.

The Suns are a young team, and when healthy, could be a threat in the Western Conference.  Suns coaches, players and ownership all seem anxious to see what the team looks like fully intact.

With Deandre Ayton missing the first 25 games of the season and Ricky Rubio and Devin Booker both having been out at different times this season, the team seems to be struggling to gain any real chemistry.

The Suns are still missing Aron Baynes (hip), Tyler Johnson (knee), Frank Kaminsky (knee) and Dario Saric (ankle).  Johnson and Saric are questionable for today’s game against Denver.  Kaminsky, reportedly, could return in mid-February and Baynes is listed as out indefinitely.