Kevin Durant tried to do things his way, and it didn't work. So he's going back to his old ways: Durant will join a star-studded contender after the Nets and Suns agreed to a blockbuster trade before the trade deadline.
Follow Us
The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns shocked the NBA world with a blockbuster transaction shortly after 10 p.m. PT (1 a.m. ET). The Brooklyn Nets have dealt Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who cited sources late Wednesday night. In exchange for Durant and T.J. Warren, the Nets will allegedly receive Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round draught selections, and a pick swap.
The Suns, with new owner Matt Ishbia, flipped the NBA landscape upside down on the eve of the trade deadline by adding Durant to the explosive tandem of Chris Paul and Devin Booker. The Suns (30-26) are now seventh in the Western Conference and must be regarded as a favorite to win the NBA title whenever Durant returns to form. With a damaged MCL, the two-time NBA Finals MVP is sidelined until the All-Star break.
The Warriors and Kings must now compete in a drastically altered West. Durant’s signing by the Suns comes a day after the Dallas Mavericks officially acquired Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets. Earlier on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers made a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves to acquire D’Angelo Russell, Jarrett Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley.
Durant helped the Warriors win two NBA championships in 2017 and 2018, and he will now be part of a Phoenix squad that is attempting to prevent Golden State from repeating as champs. The former second-round selection has three years left on his four-year, $194 million contract, which he signed in August 2021.
The Nets’ most recent deal completes their roster deconstruction. The big three of Durant, Irving, and James Harden never lived up to their potential. Durant will not be available for the Suns’ home game against the Kings on Feb. 14, but he should be ready for the games against the Kings in Phoenix on March 11 and the Warriors on March 13. Durant departed the Bay Area in the summer of 2019 to follow Irving to Brooklyn, and less than four years later, both were moved on the same day.
READ MORE: As LeBron James passes Kareem to become NBA’s all-time lead scorer
With Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren joining the Suns. The potential lineup is crazy for the Suns. A potential lineup could be:
All the players have qualities to boost other players’ game quality. Also, If this trade and this lineup come along perfectly, the Suns could be the most potential team to win this year’s NBA championship in a dominant fashion.
Kevin Durant would make any NBA team better, if not better. In Phoenix, the Suns have a real title challenger in Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton. Durant is now sidelined with a sprained right MCL. Prior to his untimely accident, he was having another MVP-caliber season. He averaged 29.7 points per game while shooting 55.9% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc.
Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton are the NBA’s top four-man bunch. They have playmaking, shooting, defense, and playoff experience, though Mikal Bridges, who will join the Brooklyn Nets, may be missed.
Torrey Craig, who could be moved into the starting lineup to replace Bridges, would be a decent replacement. In 53 games, Craig has averaged 7.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. More significantly, he is shooting 40.9% from beyond the arc, which will only make the Suns’ starting lineup more dangerous from the outside. Monty Williams’ starters, with the exception of Deandre Ayton, can be depended on to punish opponents from long range. The lineup provides plenty of room for Kevin Durant and Devin Booker to work their magic.
On most nights, Durant is a walking mismatch. A coach’s fantasy would be to have Booker with KD and let Chris Paul run the plays. Monty Williams’ role will be to ensure that the bench has enough juice to allow the starters to rest.
However, when rotations are limited, as they would be in any postseason series, the Phoenix Suns, with the addition of Durant, will be difficult to beat. Kevin Durant has the potential to transform the team’s title chances. The Phoenix Suns were at least +1800 to win the NBA title in 2023. This statistic is set to alter dramatically when oddsmakers adjust for the implications of Durant’s move to the Suns.
Get the latest from Sportslumo.com by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
