Phoenix Suns’ ability to land Kevin Durant hinges on player empowerment
By Matt Escobar
Kevin Durant’s power in the league could aid the Phoenix Suns’ ability to acquire the two-time Finals MVP.
Durant is a different kind of superstar than those previously mentioned. He is one of the faces of the league, and holds more power than maybe everybody outside of LeBron James. Like it or not, he has a say over where he gets to play, because if the Nets don’t honor that, it could legitimately hurt their chances of landing future free agents.
That brings us back to the Suns. With Ayton now signed, the Suns don’t have a blue chip player they can trade for Durant. However, they do have all their future first-rounders, assets that not every team in the hunt for Durant possess.
Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson aren’t slouches either, and if they’re included with as many picks as the Suns can offer, it’ll be a tantalizing package. Still though, it’s hard to see any team beating the Celtics offer if they were to include Jaylen Brown, who is a star in his own right.
That’s where Durant forcing himself to the Suns would come in. Reputable sources such as Adrian Wojnarowski, Chris Haynes and Brian Windhorst have all tabbed the Suns as one of, if not Durant’s only preferred destination.
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If that is truly the case, and Durant makes it known to not just the Nets, but other teams trying to acquire him that he wants to play for the Suns, that would pave the way for a trade to get done.