Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns are on the verge of going their separate ways, a break up that has seemed inevitable since at least February. The most painful part of it all? Their partnership would never have reached this breaking point...if not for the Bradley Beal trade.
Writing for The Stein Line, NBA Insider Jake Fischer reports that "Phoenix, in all likelihood, would currently be working to reshape its roster around the tandem of Devin Booker and Durant if the franchise could find a trade suitor for Bradley Beal." Talk about a major bummer.
Hindsight is 20/20. It is easy to criticize the Suns for acquiring Beal, and his no-trade clause, with the benefit of having seen two years into the future. But that deal was considered a risk in real-time.
The Bradley Beal trade paved the way for Kevin Durant’s exit
Acquiring Beal exhausted what was left of Phoenix's assets, contributed to the roster becoming ultra-expensive, and saddled the team with a contract that is unappealing for both its remaining balance (two years, $110.8 million), and the right of refusal it gives to the soon-to-be 32-year-old on the wrong side of his heyday.
The no-trade clause itself is more damning than anything, including Beal’s rickety fit. As Fischer notes, there is basically no market for his services.
Teams that Beal would waive his no-trade clause to join want no part of the contract. That will likely remain true even if he agrees to ditch said no-trade clause as part of any deal. Teams open to taking on Beal, meanwhile, will have little interest in him. They might offer a more prominent role, but they almost assuredly won’t be in position to contend.
With the Suns in need of a clear overhaul, this has left them to move KD. And despite hoping to get a return comparable to what they gave up for him (four unprotected firsts, one swap, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson), they seem to be fielding offers that aren’t even close to inside that ballpark, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Accepting a terrible package just for change’s sake would be a massive error by the Suns’ Brian Gregory-led front office. They are better off holding onto him if that’s the case.
Then again, because of the Beal trade, moving Durant is the only chance Phoenix has of making consequential changes. The team will by no means get better at the top of the roster, but he is, in theory, someone you can flip for multiple players and picks who extend the rotation, gussy up the cap sheet, and arm you with assets to make other moves.
Phoenix has no choice but to trade KD
Keeping Durant if you can’t check at least a couple of those boxes is the responsible course…in theory. Practically speaking, though, the Suns have to get rid of him. He knows they tried trading him to the Golden State Warriors in February, because he stopped it. There is no going back for Phoenix, not when KD is entering the final year of his contract, and has the ability to leave for nothing next summer.
The Suns are essentially stuck. They have to move Durant. When they do, it will almost assuredly be for a mediocre return. No Suns fan should be happy about it. KD and Booker haven’t exactly developed juggernaut-level synergy, but pushing forward with them sure as anything beats figuring out how to contend without Durant.
Worst of all, once everything is said and done, the Suns will be left with the crippling knowledge that things could have been different, been better, been more hopeful, had they never traded for Bradley Beal.