Kevin Durant’s trade request from the Brooklyn Nets has sent the NBA world into meltdown, with the Phoenix Suns front-and-center of discussions as one of his preferred destinations.
Given his standing as a consensus top five player in the league, hypothetical Durant trades have been a constant across NBA media since the news broke two weeks ago.
Phoenix and Miami are among two of the teams that Kevin Durant has on his wish list, sources tell ESPN, but the Nets plan to move Durant where they can get the best possible deal. With four years on his contract, there's no shortage of teams willing to unload assets for Durant.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022
Now, ESPN’s NBA front office insider, Bobby Marks, has proposed a monumental four-team trade centered around Durant’s arrival at the Suns.
Speaking on NBA Today, the former Nets assistant general manager discussed the following seven-player deal.
"Phoenix receive:Kevin DurantBrooklyn receive:Donovan Mitchell, Mikal Bridges, Myles TurnerIndiana receive:Deandre AytonUtah receive:Ben Simmons, Cameron Thomas, five first-round picks (four from Phoenix, one from Cleveland via Indiana), three swap rights from Phoenix"
.@BobbyMarks42 with a wild four-team hypothetical trade 😳 pic.twitter.com/S3RmU7YENO
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 13, 2022
Therefore, in this hypothetical deal, the Suns are getting Durant in exchange for two starters (Bridges and Ayton), their sixth man (Johnson), four first round picks and three pick swaps.
Would general manager James Jones approve of this deal? It would likely depend on what free agent signings or other trade acquisitions he could procure.
Losing Ayton, which may very well happen regardless of any Durant deal, would leave a large hole at the center position. Having to start one of their backup centers, Bismack Biyombo, Dario Saric or Jock Landale, would be a less than ideal position heading into next season.
The potential loss of Johnson would be a massive hit to Phoenix’s bench rotation. The 26-year-old averaged 12.5 points on 42.5% from three during the 2021-22 regular season.
Durant would undoubtedly be an upgrade at the small forward position, even if the Suns defense was weakened by the loss of Bridges. It would really come down to whether the inclusion of Durant could entice a couple of remaining free agents into making the move to The Valley.
What we do know is that there’ll be no shortage of suitors for the two-time Finals MVP, with a trade unlikely to be imminent as Brooklyn scour the league for the best possible deal.