The Phoenix Suns have hit something of a purple patch to close out their regular season - and although the Boston Celtics recently exposed the fact they're not a true contender - it has been a better end to the campaign than many could have imagined. Making the play-in tournament should still be viewed as a failure, but right now it is better than not being there at all.
Kevin Durant has been the key to the upturn in fortunes for the franchise, with the 36-year-old seemingly putting up 30 a night with ease. Even better - and which has not been the case for much of the season - these big performances had been powering the Suns to some much needed wins, before the Jayson Tatum-less Celtics came to town to end that streak.
They should also be taken seriously as a threat to trade for Durant.
This was a rumor that seemingly came out of nowhere the day before the two sides met in The Valley, and the thinking was that - with this being one of the quietest times of the season for content - somebody was just having some fun. It's easy to put Durant in trade rumors - it's happen for a lot of his career since leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder - and the Suns seem open to trading him.
That appeared to be the case at the deadline this season, with Durant himself the reason he seemingly did not end up back with the Golden State Warriors. The Suns then look like they'll let him go for the right price, while his value has been trending upwards in recent weeks thanks to achievements such as this one.
You would think the Celtics seem like an unlikely destination for the star, although they have tried to sign him in free agency in the past. Then you look at the complicate cap situation as the Suns are in the second apron, and you see that swapping Durant for Jaylen Brown pretty much straight up is a way to get this done. The real key here however, is the fact the Celtics are under new ownership.
Bill Chisholm is the head of the group that purchased the franchise for a whopping $6.1 million - and while he's not taking over immediately - that doesn't mean he won't be calling some shots from the sidelines. If you cast your mind back a couple of years, a guy by the name of Mat Ishbia bought the Suns, and he did the unthinkable in trading for Durant himself.
Nobody thought at the time that a team that had been to the NBA Finals could get shaken up like that, while Durant had engineered a move to the Brooklyn Nets to play with Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Yet it was Durant who eventually made his way to Phoenix - and although you can argue that may not have been the right call in hindsight - it was a trade that actually happened.
If the Celtics don't make a deep run this season, look for them to shake things up. They've already won a championship with this core, and making splashing signings is what new owners do. The Suns of all organizations should know that, and Brown represents the best player in the here and now - not draft picks - that could help Devin Booker win. Crazy as it is to say, this might be one to watch.