The Kevin Durant era for the Phoenix Suns is not something fans will ever be in any hurry to revisit, and it will always remain puzzling how they didn't receive more draft capital in the deal.
What the franchise did manage to net however was the 10th overall pick, which had already been used on Khaman Maluach. After a rocky rookie campaign in The Valley, things are beginning to look up for the 19-year-old.
Maluach making a sophomore leap changes complexion of Durant trade
The Suns have smartly brought the South Sudanese big man along slowly, and that method has paid off in spades at Summer League in Las Vegas. Maluach being one of the standout players, and although the level of competition and the manner of the games means we shouldn't read into this too much, there's a level of domination and confidence that will do him the world of good.
Phoenix landed themselves a pair of starters in Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in the Durant trade, with Maluach's addition having the potential to swing the deal in their favor.
It has not helped that Green's first season in The Valley was marred by injury and inconsistencies, although Brooks and the culture setter that he quickly became were badly needed. It is still early days, but what we've seen recently suggests Maluach could also be a starter for the Suns in 18-24 months.
Is that an overreaction? Sure, but what else do you expect in mid-July when there is no competitive basketball on the horizon and Maluach is showing actual improvement on the court. Becoming a consistent contributor on a roster that again makes the playoffs pushes the Durant trade from one that had to be done, to one that the Suns won.
The Houston Rockets showing many of the same deficiencies with Durant on board that the Suns once did also helps, and if they manage to go on a deep postseason run of their own in future then this needs to be revisited.
But at a time when Jaylen Brown was effectively salary dumped, and with Kawhi Leonard's move back to the Toronto Raptors on hold due to off the court issues that have still not been resolved, Maluach makes the Durant decision look even better.
Sure they gave up too much to acquire Miles Bridges, but a pair of starters and a young prospect back for an ageing Durant is looking better by the month.
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