The Phoenix Suns are going to look different when they return for the 2025-26 regular season. Just how different depends on a number of factors, and the franchise have to pray that the most nuclear one - Devin Booker demanding out of The Valley - does not come to fruition. There has been nothing to suggest that this is the case, although hearing stories like this never helps.
The tier below player movement in how different this group will look revolves around a new head coach, and we know that the Suns are going to have one of those. Their process in finding the right candidate exhaustive - as it should be given the missteps of the last two hires - although it was surprising to see this name make it to what has been dubbed the "Elite 8" phase.
This Kevin Durant/Bradley Beal trade would fix everything.
Amidst all this uncertainty is the altogether more likely fact that Kevin Durant has played his last game in Phoenix. His time here has not gone as planned, but he remains one of the best pure scorers in the game today. You only need to look at the struggles of so many top level players in this season's playoffs to see how having Durant on their roster could have made a massive difference.
Bill Simmons was on his own podcast on Spotify after the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a Game 7 win over the Denver Nuggets - and with that game being the beatdown that it was - it was unsurprising to see him turn his attention to his beloved Boston Celtics. His hometown team are in need of some fixing, which caused him to throw this trade idea out.
That's a lot to take in, and is also the kind of pre-silly season/classic Simmons trade idea that we have come to expect from him. But if you look a little deeper - and also assume that the likes of Luke Kornet would immediately be brought back on a new deal as he is soon to be a free agent - there's a lot to like here from the perspective of the Suns.
We won't comment on why the Celtics would want to get involved in all of this - effectively gut half their team and have Beal and his no-trade clause to show at the end of it - Simmons seems cool with at least entertaining the idea if it means getting Durant. Returning to Kornet of all players, and we've already looked into what an excellent addition he'd be in Phoenix.
Yes it is fair to point out that Holiday is probably past his best as an elite defender, and he's making over $30 million for the next three seasons after this one. But when the alternative is Beal, that doesn't seem so bad. The Suns would also get White - who at this point is not only probably the best role player on a contender in the league (sorry Aaron Gordon) - but is a top 60 player as well.
Then there is Jaylen Brown, who everybody appears to forget has won the Finals MVP award. When Jayson Tatum is not around - and he's not going to be next season which is another reason why this idea is more puzzling from the perspective of the Celtics - he's proven he can carry some of the offensive load.
Can he dribble with both hands properly all of the time? Probably safer not to answer that one, but he remains a top 20 player himself. Best of all though, every individual coming to The Valley would compliment Booker in a better way than Durant or Beal ever have. It would also be the perfect re-tooling move to go again around Booker next season. A hard yes if you're the Suns.