Even though the Phoenix Suns are having a successful season, the looming regret of trading for Kevin Durant still weighs heavily on the fanbase.
The Suns were a pleasant surprise this season as they battled for a playoff spot, but it was a far cry from expectations when Durant arrived in Phoenix. Not only did the Suns trade away key members of a proven team in 2023, but they also mortgaged their future.
Trading for Kevin Durant was a disaster
In exchange for the huge haul they sent to acquire Durant — Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder and four unprotected first-round picks — the Suns got just three years with him and one playoff series win. Durant was dominant individually, but it was clear the Suns gave up too much for him.
Ironically, the clearest reminder of the Suns’ earlier mistake is their success this season. Phoenix is putting together a solid campaign by playing strong defense with a well-rounded roster. It’s in direct contrast to their battle with multiple megastars last season.
The Suns now see that the best way to succeed in today’s NBA is to surround their lone key player (Devin Booker) with great supporting pieces. That’s exactly what the Suns were going for until they made a bold move for Durant. Over the past few seasons, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson have both proven themselves to be capable starters on high-level playoff teams. Had they stayed in Phoenix, the Suns could still have been extremely competitive in the West.
Additionally, the Suns would have options to add talent through the draft. Yes, they are unlikely to draft very high with a deep team. But late in the first round, they would still have some opportunities for young talent. They could also use these picks to upgrade marginally with smaller transactions.
Even now, the Suns are unlikely to become title contenders in the near future. They are a fun, scrappy team this season, but can’t compete with the real powerhouses in the West. There aren’t really any good options to reach that status while Booker is still in his prime.
Unfortunately, the Suns will look back on their trade for Durant as a waste of Booker’s peak. Instead of continuing to build the perfect team around Booker, they threw it all away in one impatient move. Their short-sightedness has come back to haunt them many times.
After being embarrassed by Luka Doncic and the Mavericks in the 2022 playoffs, the Suns were desperate to make a big splash for a star. Unfortunately, they made the wrong one and it cost them the core elements of their winning team. Now they hope to one day recover from the aftermath of that trade.
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