5 Unpopular trades the Suns should explore this summer
By Tyler Watts
1. What can the Suns get for KD?
Kevin Durant is an all-time great and future Hall of Famer. He has made 14 All-Star appearances and is a two-time champion and Finals MVP. Durant needs no introduction, and the Suns gave up a massive package to acquire him. Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, four first-round draft picks, two first-round swaps, and a 2028 second-rounder were the price to land KD. If they flame out quickly in the playoffs, do the Suns try to recoup some of that value?
Durant turns 36 in September and has a history of injuries. He missed the entire 2019-20 season recovering from a torn Achilles. Before this year, he played just 137 games in three seasons since that devastating injury. Durant should appear in 70-plus contests for the first time since 2019, but how much longer can he handle that massive workload?
Does Durant retire a Sun? If not, Phoenix should try to get some value in return for their superstar. They are unlikely to get the massive package they paid, but KD was an All-Star this season and remains near the top of his game. Does the front office explore his market in hopes of building a true title contender around Devin Booker? It would certainly be unpopular but may be best for the long-term health of the franchise.
The Phoenix Suns will have difficult decisions to make this summer. They will likely run it back and hope things are better in year two, but it could be a mistake. Stay tuned to see how it all shakes out.