The Phoenix Suns pulled off a midseason blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant, but they did not have time to build out the rest of their roster. Phoenix crashed out in the second round of the playoffs for the second straight year, and their lack of depth was a massive issue, especially in the postseason.
The Suns must improve their roster this summer, and they have massive questions to answer. Phoenix has just seven players under contract for next season, but $165.6 million committed in salaries. Will they trade Chris Paul or Deandre Ayton? Who do they get in return? Could the Suns pull off a sign-and-trade to add depth and reconfigure their roster?
The franchise will be hoping they can convince some talented veterans to come to the Valley of the Sun in free agency, and what better players to target than ones familiar with KD?
Potential Phoenix Suns free agent targets with ties to Kevin Durant
12. Reggie Jackson
Chris Paul and Cameron Payne are both on partially guaranteed contracts for next season. CP3 has $15.8 of his $30.8 million set in stone, according to Spotrac, and Payne has just $2 million of $6.5 million. Will Phoenix look to shake things up in the backcourt? They may be able to release Payne and sign someone on a veteran minimum to save a bit of money.
Jackson is a veteran point guard with tons of experience. He played a key role in the Clippers’ 2021 run to the conference finals, including averaging 17.8 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 32.7 minutes per game during the postseason. Jackson has played in the playoffs for seven years, including playing a minimal bench role in Denver this season.
The 33-year-old spent three and a half years with Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City. The Thunder drafted Jackson 24th overall in 2011, and he backed up Russell Westbrook before being traded to the Pistons at the 2015 deadline.
There were rumors that Reggie Jackson wanted to join the Phoenix Suns after his buyout this season, but he ended up in Denver. Could the 6’2 guard find his way to the desert this summer? Do not rule it out.
11. Blake Griffin
Griffin is long removed from his All-Star days, but the 34-year-old continues to find a role on a contending team. He is hungry for a championship as his team has never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. How much does the six-time All-Star have left in the tank?
Griffin teamed with Kevin Durant on the Nets after his buyout in 2021, and he stayed for a second season before departing in the 2022 offseason for Boston. The 6’9 big man was primarily a reserve in Brooklyn, and he played a key role in their run to the second round in 2021. Griffin averaged 9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game during that playoff run.
Would Blake Griffin return to the Western Conference to team with KD in Phoenix? He has plenty of history with Chris Paul from their days together on the Clippers, and the Suns currently have zero big men signed beyond starters Deandre Ayton and Kevin Durant.
The 34-year-old will be looking for a veteran minimum contract if he decides to continue playing next season. The Suns offer a fantastic opportunity to get minutes and compete for a championship. Do not be surprised to see the two sides link up this summer.
10. Markieff Morris
Morris started his NBA career with the Suns after being the 13th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The 6’9 forward worked his way into the starting lineup, but Phoenix struggled. Morris was traded to the Wizards in 2016 for a first-round draft pick. He has bounced around the league since, including teaming up with Kevin Durant to begin the 2022-23 season.
Morris struggled to crack the rotation in Brooklyn, and he played just 285 total minutes before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the Kyrie Irving deal. The 33-year-old did not play much in Dallas either, but he did help the Lakers win a championship in 2020 inside the bubble.
How much does Markieff Morris have left? The veteran forward has shot 35.5 percent from 3-point range over the last four seasons combined, and he could give a contender around floor spacing power forward option off their bench.
Morris and KD made headlines earlier this season after a handshake went viral. Morris would certainly have an interest in reuniting with the all-time great as he looks to chase a second ring. The 33-year-old is nearing the end of his playing career, and he will be looking for a minimum contract in free agency. Could he end up in Phoenix? Do not rule it out.
9. Deandre Jordan
Fans may remember that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving took less money when they signed with the Nets, so the franchise could sign Jordan. The three-time All-NBA big man’s play had begun to slip, but they wanted to play with their friend.
Jordan averaged 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.0 block in his 21.9 minutes per game during his two years in Brooklyn. The 6’11 big man was not the same force in the paint, and he slipped out of the rotation in the 2021 playoffs.
That was not the first time Durant and Jordan were teammates as they played together on Team USA’s 2016 Olympic squad. KD was the team’s leading scorer and best player. Jordan started three games in Rio as he averaged 7.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game during their gold medal run.
Could Deandre Jordan reunite with Kevin Durant in Phoenix? DJ has played for six different teams over the last five seasons, and he struggled to stay in the team’s playoff rotation. The 34-year-old could head to Phoenix to be the third-string center this offseason. He is past his prime, but the 6’11 big man is still a strong rebounder and reserve big man.
Does Phoenix want him as one of their backup big men? If not, do they sign him because of his bond with KD? Stay tuned to find out.
8. Derrick Rose
D-Rose and KD have not linked up during their NBA careers, but they were teammates at the 2010 World Cup. Team USA played a two-point game against Brazil in the group stage, but dominated the knockout portion to bring home the gold medal. Durant scored 22.8 points per game during the competition, which made him the event’s third-leading scorer.
Rose and KD both made their first NBA All-Star teams in 2010, and they were unquestionably two of the brightest stars in basketball. D-Rose would win NBA MVP the following season, but a torn ACL in 2012 forever altered the 6’3 guard’s career.
Rose was far from done when he came back, but he did not have the same burst and ability to get to the rim. He still had plenty of productive seasons, but he was not an All-Star or All-NBA figure like he was in his early days.
The 34-year-old has a $15.6 million team option for next season, but he slipped out of the Knicks rotation this season. It appears Derrick Rose will have to move on if he wants to continue playing, but where does he end up? Reuniting with KD in Phoenix to be the Suns’ backup point guard could be intriguing for the legend.
7. Yuta Watanabe
The Suns need depth pieces on minimum contracts, and one of KD’s former teammates from the Nets is a perfect candidate. Watanabe averaged 5.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game in Brooklyn this season, including making 44.4 percent on his 3-point attempts. The 6’9 forward is a comfortable catch-and-shoot option that will certainly help space the floor wherever he lands next season.
Whether or not Chris Paul returns, the Suns will want the ball in the hands of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and whoever plays point guard next season. They will have two elite scorers and would love to have spot-up shooters around them, which they desperately lacked in the playoffs.
Watanabe shot 45.7 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers this season, and Durant assisted on 15 of his triples when he was still in Brooklyn. The two had a connection, and the 13-time All-Star heaped praise on the 28-year-old on his podcast.
"“I think I might have to tell him at this point, relax a bit. He flying around everywhere. I look up, and Yuta’s on the floor. He flipped over somebody, he’ll try to chase a rebound, fall, and hop back up so quick. I’m about to start telling him, yo, we need you on the floor bro. I know you’re playing so hard, but some of these possessions, you might just have to jab at it a little bit and wait for the next opportunity. That’s probably something he’ll ignore me on because he plays extremely hard on every possession.”"
Durant also praised his jumper and made it clear that the 6’9 forward should have plenty of interest around the league. Fans can hear all the KD had to say about Watanabe at the link below.
Could the legend convince Yuta Watanabe to take less to join him in Phoenix? Expect Kevin Durant to try this summer as the Suns would love to have his shooting, energy, and play coming off the bench next season.
6. Jeff Green
Durant and Green were teammates from day one in the NBA. KD was the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, and Green went fifth overall. The Sonics drafted Durant and traded Ray Allen for Green just before their final season in Seattle. The duo’s friendship goes back further than their NBA days, though. The two top-five picks got to know each other as teenagers and remain close.
They spent three and half seasons playing with each other before Green was traded to Boston in 2011 for Kendrick Perkins. Green averaged 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 34.5 minutes per game playing next to KD in Seattle/Oklahoma City. The 6’8 forward has bounced around the league, including playing for the 2018 Cavaliers, who lost to the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Green reunited with Durant in Brooklyn for the 2020-21 season. He averaged 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 27.0 minutes per game. Green scored 27 points in the Nets Game 5 win over the Bucks that put them up 3-2 in the second-round series. Giannis Antetokounmpo led his team to two straight wins to knock out the Nets, but Green again made an impact next to Durant.
Both parties will have interest in a reunion this summer, but will Jeff Green leave the Denver Nuggets to join his friend and former teammate on the Phoenix Suns? It is something to watch this summer.
5. Seth Curry
Curry is unquestionably one of the league’s best shooters, but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. The 6’2 guard has not played more than 64 games in a season since 2019, and he has played over 70 just twice in his ten NBA seasons. Will that limit his market?
The 32-year-old guard needs to decide what to prioritize as an unrestricted free agent this summer. He just finished a four-year $32 million contract, and Curry could easily get a similar deal on the open market.
The teams with cap space are all in various stages of a rebuild. The 6’2 guard could look to get a mid-level exception from a contender and try to win his first championship. Does he want to be on a winning team or make the maximum amount of money?
Seth Curry joined Kevin Durant in Brooklyn in the James Harden trade. During his 80 games with the Nets over the last year and a half, he averaged 10.6 points and 1.9 assists in 22.3 minutes per game on 42.7 percent shooting from 3-point range. Curry is going to hit shots and defenders have to respect him, which only opens more space for KD and Devin Booker to attack.
Could Curry join the Phoenix Suns this offseason? He will have plenty of suitors in free agency, and it will all depend on where the 32-year-old wants to play next season.
4. Kevin Love
Love signed with the Miami Heat in February after being bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers. That makes him an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the five-time All-Star will have to choose his next home. Does he stay in Miami after their postseason run? Will Love look to get a larger contract or join another contender? The decision rests with the 34-year-old big man.
Love played with Kevin Durant on Team USA at the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Olympics. The Americans won gold medals in both events, and both men played key roles on the squad. KD reportedly wanted Love back on the team in Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics, but a calf injury prevented him from taking part.
Could Durant recruit Love to Phoenix? Fans have seen the 6’8 big man make a significant impact for the Heat in the playoffs. He will not be in All-Star consideration, and Love should be limited to 20 to 25 minutes per game. The 34-year-old will be impactful in that role, and he could be a difference-maker in a deep playoff run for the Phoenix Suns.
Kevin Love will have his choice of contending teams this summer, and fans can be sure that Kevin Durant will be recruiting him to Phoenix.
3. Khris Middleton
Could two teams in need of a shakeup swap key pieces? The Milwaukee Bucks had the best regular season record in the NBA before being dispatched in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat. They have since fired their head coach, and two key pieces on their roster are soon-to-be unrestricted free agents. Can the Bucks bring back both Middleton and Brook Lopez and just run it back?
One avenue would be swapping Middleton in a sign-and-trade for another key piece. The Suns are a realistic partner because they have both Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton making a lot of money. Could Phoenix swap Ayton for Middleton to give them three All-Star wings? It may be the best offer they get for the 24-year-old because he is set to make north of $100 million over the next three seasons.
Middleton was limited by injuries to just 33 games this season, and his production dipped. The 6’7 wing bounced back in the playoffs, but the Bucks were eliminated in five games. Is the 31-year-old on the decline? That is something the Suns will have to assess before making this trade.
Kevin Durant and Khris Middleton were teammates at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo as Team USA won the gold medal, and the 13-time All-Star called the current Bucks wing “one of the best players in the NBA” back in 2018. Fans can bet KD would welcome playing with the 6’7 wing again.
2. Draymond Green
Green has a $27.5 million player option for next season, so the ball is in his court. Does he run it back with the Dubs for another shot at a championship with the only NBA team that he has ever played for or is an opt-out coming? The 33-year-old forward could look to lock in long-term before his play begins to decline.
The Warriors are facing a difficult offseason. They have over $236 million in committed salaries already and Golden State has to trim their payroll at some point. Next season’s team will cost nearly $500 million when factoring in luxury tax penalties. Who stays and who goes will be a massive question mark.
Draymond Green won his second Olympic gold medal in 2020 playing next to Kevin Durant on Team USA. The duo also spent three years together in Golden State, and their verbal altercation was a factor in KD leaving for Brooklyn in 2019.
Durant won both his rings playing alongside Green. Yes, the two have feuded, but they cleared the air and a reunion is not out of the question. New Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia played college basketball at Michigan State, which is Draymond’s alma mater.
1. Kyrie Irving
Durant and Irving certainly have a long history together, including the 2016 Olympics where Team USA won the gold medal. Most famously, they paired together in Brooklyn for three and half seasons where there was more drama than on-court wins. The Nets briefly had a “Big 3”, but they could not hold it together and ended up winning just one playoff series with the two superstars on their roster.
Kyrie was dealt to Dallas just days before Durant ended up in Phoenix. The duo’s status is a question mark at this point. There were rumors of them not speaking since leaving Brooklyn. Fans saw their lack of engagement during their lone regular-season meeting as foes, and Durant’s latest comments made it seem like maybe even he does not know where he stands with Kyrie.
Still, talent trumps all in the NBA, and few players are as talented as Irving. If the Suns want a point guard upgrade over Chris Paul, Kyrie is likely the best player available. Would KD welcome a reunion in Phoenix after everything that happened with the Nets? Irving could be looking to leave Dallas after their abysmal end to the season, and the Suns were rumored to be interested before the Mavs traded for the 6’2 guard.
How will the Phoenix Suns improve their roster this summer? They have limited assets but will be eager to add talent and depth. Stay tuned to see what they can get done.