Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Ranking the Phoenix Suns top 5 trade assets for 2023-24

By Luke Duffy

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 26: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against Grayson Allen #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Fiserv Forum on February 26, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 26: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against Grayson Allen #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Fiserv Forum on February 26, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 01: Rich Kleiman and Kevin Durant. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 01: Rich Kleiman and Kevin Durant. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

1. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is still Kevin Durant – and with Booker not available under any circumstances – he remains the Suns’ best trade asset going into this season. He might just have turned 35, and the injury history is well established at this point.

It is also true that his experiment with the Brooklyn Nets was a failure, never making it to a Conference Finals alongside Harden and Kyrie Irving. But any time you can trade for one of the 20 best players of all-time, and we’re being loose with where Durant is on that list, you do it and figure the rest out later. That’s what the Suns did in getting Durant.

Next. Grade the trade: Suns move Ayton for... Nurkic?. dark

If the Suns made him available, there would be a long queue of teams who would enquire about him. He has three years remaining on his deal, and although the money gets up there in Beal territory throughout, three years is not as long as you think in today’s league. In two years, Durant will basically be an expiring contract.

Not that any team trading for Durant would think that way. If this roster isn’t working for the Suns, and they want to take a step back to recoup some picks and young players and go again with Booker and Beal in a couple of years, they would still get a pretty return for Durant. If they think they’re close to winning, they could also swap him for another star. Giannis anybody?

Home/Suns News