The Phoenix Suns are in the process of moving on from Kevin Durant, but it has not been a straightforward affair. At this point there are three teams who are believed to be the favorites for his services, and they are the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.
This despite the Suns trying - and failing - to move Durant to the Golden State Warriors in order to take Butler off the Heat's hands at the trade deadline. Miami is attempting to re-tool their roster - like they always are - while the Rockets and Spurs are afraid of giving up too much of their bright futures for a soon to be 37-year-old.
Which is why Devin Vassell is the best player Suns will get in Durant trade.
Maybe you're happy with that outcome - but given the other potential players available - it does seem underwhelming. Once you break down what is available to the Suns right now, then you begin to see why the 24-year-old - plus another player and likely a draft pick or two as well - is going to be as good as it gets.
The Suns reportedly want either Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle - or else the second overall pick in this year's NBA Draft - from the Spurs. That did not go over well. Yes San Antonio could begin next season with Castle, De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper on their roster, but we call that a good problem to have. Of the next tier of players the Spurs have, Vassell is the best one available.
If you had to trade one of them to get KD, who would it be?
— Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) June 19, 2025
Devin Vassell Jeremy Sochan pic.twitter.com/yqhZlQnerc
Pivoting to the Rockets, and it is a similar situation. Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun are obviously off-limits, which again means going a level below to take their pick from the best of the rest. The Suns have apparently already tested the market for Jalen Green, meaning he won't be long for Phoenix if Durant ends up going to Houston.
Then there are Jabari Smith Jr. (a fine young player), Cam Whitmore (needs a fresh start elsewhere) and even Tari Eason (more of a win now defensive player). If the Suns somehow got all three of these guys, then it would make it a better haul than Vassell and whatever else the Spurs put together. Getting two out of three however, and Vassell is the safest bet at this moment in time.
The Suns aren't ready to win right now, which takes some of the shine off Eason. Both Whitmore but especially Smith Jr. may actually have a higher ceiling than Vassell, but we're yet to see it. On his best night Vassell looks like a possible future All-Star, and we've already seen him have some great games on a rebuilding team.
The fit next to Devin Booker - despite both being billed as shooting guards - isn't bad either, given Vassell can also play the three when required. With the franchise trying to move on from Bradley Beal any way that they can - and right now that means bringing him off the bench - Vassell would be a welcome addition to their starting five. The main player back in a Durant deal though? Yikes.