Suns fans ready to say goodbye to failed sharpshooter after Kevin Durant trade

The Phoenix Suns recently waved goodbye to the Kevin Durant era, as they finally gave up on the 36-year-old for a return that was as underwhelming as fans feared it would be. Jalen Green the headliner coming back from the Houston Rockets, as well as Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in this year's NBA Draft, as well as five second-rounders in future.

Now that Durant has officially left town - and with Bradley Beal still on the roster for now - the Suns have some work to do in order to remake the team around Devin Booker. That is no easy task, especially as the franchise is somehow even deeper into the second apron even after the trade, having taken back Green and Brooks' large contracts.

Durant's exit means it is the end of the line for Damion Lee.

One player who certainly will not be back next season - and it does tie into Durant's departure - is 3-point sharpshooter Damion Lee. The 32-year-old in theory was the ideal teammate to have next to one of the best scorers of all time, thanks to his ability to stretch the floor and also outplay his expectations on the defensive end as well.

Lee missed all of Durant's first full season in Phoenix with a meniscus tear - and by the time he returned last season - his chance had passed him by. He found himself struggling for game time thanks to the arrival of Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale while he was out, plus point guards Tyus Jones and Monte Morris battling it out for some run. Remember this though? Fun times.

Lee was brought back on a minimum deal last summer, and that felt like a gesture of goodwill more than anything else. He managed just 25 appearances, with the 5.8 minutes of game time he saw often garbage time or in contests that were long over and which is team was usually losing. Compare that with the year before he went down, when he averaged just over 20 minutes a night in 74 games.

That campaign he also shot a sizzling 44.5 percent from 3-point range, compared to a miserable 24.3 last season. With the Suns needing both roster spots thanks to their pair of first round draft picks - as well as only having the minimum to again entice players to come to The Valley - there is no longer any room for Lee.

We never quite got to see what he could be like next to Durant, and sadly for him there's every chance he's out of the league altogether next season. He looked like he had recovered from the knee injury in the small glimpses we did see of him, but there's also no doubt he is no longer the player that Suns fans loved in his first two seasons with the team.

Durant's departure is sure to signal an end to the careers of some other Suns, as they are no longer viewed as contenders and so need to remake their roster. A beloved teammate and a big hit with the fans, Damion Lee is going to be missed. Should the Suns manage to nail their upcoming picks - plus a free agent signing this summer - he will also be quickly forgotten.