The Phoenix Suns are about to make a franchise-altering move in the coming days, with Kevin Durant heading for the exit door. Where he is going next and what the franchise get back for him are still to be decided, although when all is said and done Durant might just find that he has repeated some of the same mistakes of the past.
With Bradley Beal not going anywhere - and Durant might just have had a hand in that as well - it is hard to see how the Suns can reshape their roster in such a way as to be competitive in the Western Conference next season. If they're looking for a known name - who can both start and come off the bench - who has led other teams through transition periods before, there is somebody to call.
The Phoenix Suns should bring in Russell Westbrook next season.
We know, crazy right? Irresponsible even. But hard as it has been to talk about the Suns without mentioning Durant since the season ended, there might actually be something here. A few days back Gautam Varier of Yahoo Sports - who admittedly got the idea from a far less reputable source - put out a piece claiming both Westbrook and Chris Paul want to make their way to The Valley.
Even if that part isn't true - again it is hard at this time of year to verify anything without going for lesser known outlets - the Suns should still have interest in Westbrook. He did his own reputation the world of good with the Denver Nuggets, and has proven in the last couple of seasons that he can both start and come off the bench to help his team.
Prior to that, his exploits willed the Washington Wizards to the playoffs in his lone season there too. He might now be the same age as Durant at 36, but that doesn't mean he plays like that. There's still a burst to how he attacks the basket - and while those 3-point attempts never quite look like they're going in - Westbrook possessions the most critical ingredient of all. He looks like he cares out there.
People get in their feelings every time they talk about Russell Westbrook's Lakers tenure, all I got to say is the man needed help. He could have done this on a nightly basis if he had a team built just for him. https://t.co/tvvSCfVcIk
— Opthomas Supreme (@OpTh0masSupreme) June 17, 2025
That hasn't been true of a Suns team in at least the last two seasons, and Westbrook would change all of that. There's every chance he could be gotten on the minimum - that's what he's been playing on the last few years anyway - while he could prop up a second unit while Beal and Devin Booker start once again in the back court.
The spacing might be ugly, but a future Hall of Fame point guard playing next to Ryan Dunn, Collin Gillespie and Oso Ighodaro would do wonders for their own desire to play at a high level each night. Purely from a financial/exposure standpoint, Westbrook would also sell jerseys and tickets as well.
The Suns aren't winning a championship next season, so the next best thing they can do is have some fun while they're bad. Westbrook would bring that, plus there's the added juice of the rivalry he once had with Durant. He would be as motivated as ever to come in and do what Durant never could in leading the Suns on a deep playoff run. It won't happen, but you won't fault the effort either.