The best and worst landing spots for Kevin Durant from a Phoenix Suns’ perspective
Even at 33 years of age, Durant is arguably the best pure scorer, and certainly remains considered a definite top five player in the league. Every team in the league wants him, but realistically, there are only a handful of teams with the capacity to do so.
If/when Durant gets dealt, it will go down in history as one of the biggest blockbuster moves in NBA history. With four years still left on his contract, the team who acquires him will instantly become championship contenders for the foreseeable future.
Best Case: Acquired by Phoenix themselves or remains in the East
The Suns have been consistently linked with Durant since it was reported he labelled them as a preferred destination. However, the Suns ability to acquire him and serve up the necessary value remains a problem that may not be overcome. Obviously the best case for Phoenix is to acquire him, particularly if they can put Durant next to Chris Paul, Devin Booker and even potentially Deandre Ayton.
Durant being traded to an Eastern Conference contender, say the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers, wouldn’t be ideal for Phoenix, but it may be preferable to the alternative.
Worst Case: Traded to Western Conference rival
The alternative is that Durant heads back to the Western Conference, a position he held for the entirety of his career before moving to Brooklyn in the 2019 offseason. A trade to a conference rival would be a major blow to the Suns, particularly given they’re still considered a top two or three team in the West.
A trade to his former team, the Golden State Warriors, wouldn’t be the absolute worst given they’ll be a contender with or without him. However, a move to a developing team like the New Orleans Pelicans would have a major negative impact on the Suns’ championship aspirations.