It's not so much a question of whether the Phoenix Suns will trade Kevin Durant this offseason, but when. A trade will ride on several factors, including Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, as that would determine the number of suitors the Suns have. Regardless of what happens, odds are KD has already played his final game with Phoenix.
The trade proposals began after the Suns tried to trade Durant before the February deadline, and they've gained traction since Phoenix's season ended. All but two teams are in offseason mode, with the Knicks as the most recently eliminated team.
After the deadline, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that New York was one of the teams with mutual interest in Durant. Charania said that the teams that were interested in KD could be in the running for the star during the offseason. The Knicks returned to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, but came up short in six games against Indiana.
Following the end of New York's season, Bill Simmons proposed a trade between the Knicks and Suns. Durant would go to NYC for part two, while Karl-Anthony Towns would return to the West, joining forces with fellow Kentucky Wildcat Devin Booker.
Karl-Anthony Towns wouldn't turn the Suns into contenders
The Knicks traded for KAT days before the start of training camp last year, and he was instrumental in helping them reach the ECF. There is only one untouchable player in New York — Jalen Brunson — but it would be shocking if the Knicks moved on from Towns after one season. Let's pretend that New York would be open to trading Towns for Durant. Would it be something Phoenix should do?
Mat Ishbia refuses to guide the Suns into a rebuild, which would involve trading Booker. He believes Booker can lead Phoenix to a championship, but it won't happen with the team's current roster. Trading Durant for KAT would give the Suns another star who is only a year older than Booker (Towns is 29). The issue is that Towns, as dominant as he can be on the offensive end, is a liability on defense.
The Suns need to address their center situation, which would be a reason for the front office to be interested in acquiring KAT. He'd help space the floor and would take pressure off Booker, giving him the push to up his defensive game. However, that duo wouldn't be enough to push Phoenix into the territory it wants to be in. The West is the superior conference by a wide margin, putting the Suns at an even greater disadvantage.
Phoenix should prioritize young talent in a Durant trade that could develop in the desert and would upgrade their roster around the margins, rather than targeting another star. Again, none of this discourse matters anyway, because the Knicks like Towns. New York's championship window would shrink drastically by swapping KAT for KD, who will turn 37 before the start of next season.
Kentucky fans might be dreaming about Towns and Booker reuniting in Phoenix, but that's all it is — a dream.