The Phoenix Suns will regret trading Kevin Durant to the Rockets from opening night throughout a rough season. KD makes Houston a serious title contender. The one thing the Rockets were missing was a go-to scorer. In return, the Suns got Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach, and a handful of second-round draft picks. The Suns plan on having Green be their primary ball-handler, which will go downhill quickly.
The 22-year-old is a bucket, but has never averaged more than 3.7 assists per game. Durant and Beal each put up more in their time with the Suns. The franchise can’t expect Green to suddenly blossom into an elite playmaker. He is a secondary option. If Phoenix wants him to lead, their offense will stagnate, and the losses will pile up.
The Suns did not maximize their return for Durant, but that isn’t the worst part. Phoenix created floor spacing, playmaking, and defense issues for themselves. The Suns don’t control their own picks, so things will get uglier before they improve.
Suns will instantly regret the Kevin Durant trade
Phoenix will have to watch KD make another All-NBA team as the Rockets finish in the top three in the loaded Western Conference. That will be painful, but fans can explain it away as necessary after their disaster season. The regret will come from the players they acquired.
Khaman Maluach struggled in summer league, and his hands are a serious question. He is expected to back up Mark Williams, but will be thrust into a larger role when Williams misses time. Maluach is not ready and will struggle to make an impact.
Suns fans will get frustrated by Green’s decision-making and shoot-first nature. They will be pulling their hair out as the losses mount with him in the primary playmaking role.
Brooks is a subpar shooter. Green and Maluach fall into the same bucket. How are the Suns going to space the floor if they all become starters around Devin Booker? The importance of shooting and space in the modern NBA makes this virtually impossible.
All the Suns' issues could spiral and turn this into a nightmare season as the Rockets thrive. Phoenix had to do better in the KD trade. After this season, fans may be praying a second-round pick pops to give them any hope of this deal working out.
The Suns still owe draft picks from acquiring Durant. Now, the future Hall of Famer is gone, and the talent return is on their roster. Phoenix has just two second-round draft picks left to make for this trade. They are banking on Green, Brooks, and Maluach to be difference-makers, but all they will do is create headaches.
The Phoenix Suns will instantly regret trading Kevin Durant, and things will only get worse as the season progresses. They had one of the all-time greats. In return, the franchise got a handful of role players who must take significant leaps to be part of their next contending roster. It was a gamble, and just like the others in the Mat Ishbia era, it will go bust.