The Phoenix Suns have finally parted ways with both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, and not a moment too soon. Although the franchise is now clearly going to take a step back from contending - if we're being real here - they never got close to contention even with those two All-Star level players on their roster.
Instead the organization is going to re-tool around Devin Booker, and they've done a nice job of that so far this offseason. There will be growing pains for their rookies - and this has been on display at Summer League - but thanks to getting off Beal's contract the Suns are now below both the first and second aprons.
Suns right to move on from Durant after social media comment.
In the wake of Beal's buyout from the Suns becoming official - he is reportedly set to sign with the L.A. Clippers on a two year, $11 million deal - the 32-year-old took to social media to post a goodbye of sorts from The Valley. Using the peace emoji can be interpreted in different ways, but there can be no doubting Durant's motives once he quickly got involved.
Tyus Jones, Trae Young, Bam Adebayo, Josh Okogie, Monte Morris, Andre Drummond, Theo Pinson and Kevin Durant react to Bradley Beal’s “✌🏾” post on IG: https://t.co/iP9JFs7X6J pic.twitter.com/wbC8jQ3bfR
— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) July 17, 2025
Durant simply reacting by laughing at what Beal posted gives you some idea of what was going on behind the scenes for the last two seasons. Whereas Devin Booker turned up each night to play basketball - if this is the approach by the other two stars on the team - then it is no surprise that they only won 36 games last season.
The 36-year-old has a well documented history of taking to social media to interact with literally everybody - and when you're one of the best to ever do it - then you can do what you want. Only in Durant's two full seasons in Phoenix they didn't so much as win a single playoff game, despite being expensively assembled to compete for a championship.
Going online in your spare time and your performance on the court are not linked, but this is the kind of nonsense, for the public behavior that the Suns need to get away from. They appear to have done just that with the young players they have drafted, while Dillon Brooks is most certainly going to do his talking on the court.
But when the Durant era is remembered as much for moments like this one - and not a signature playoff win - then you know it was time to move on. Granted he wasn't the only one to get involved - but given his relationship with Phoenix and Beal - was it really necessary? This won't be missed next season and beyond.