PHOENIX – Trouble has been brewing for the Suns for a while, and now, it seems things could take a drastic turn.
After falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night, the Suns now hold a disappointing 28-32 record. This comes despite a series of moves aimed at strengthening the roster following what many saw as an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign.
The aggressive trades made to build around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have left the team short on assets. With the season not unfolding as hoped, the front office may have to make some tough choices this summer.
ESPN’s Shams Charania recently discussed the stakes for Phoenix during NBA Countdown, explaining what could be at risk in the final stretch of the regular season.
From Charania:
“The stakes are high. Unless there’s a significant run here into the playoffs for the Phoenix Suns, league sources believe that there will be real changes in Phoenix coming to the Suns. And from a roster standpoint, that likely starts with Kevin Durant,” he said.
“This offseason, from my understanding, what it would look like is the Suns and Durant would work together on any potential trade to a contender in a trade scenario.”
Since the trade deadline passed, most analysts believe that if Phoenix shakes up its roster, Durant would be the first to go. Booker is seen as untouchable, while Beal likely wouldn’t command enough value to warrant a major roster shakeup.
Charania expects that if Durant becomes available, multiple contending teams will be in the mix.
“I would expect four to six contending teams with some serious involvement in Durant. He’s still playing at a really high level. He’s extension-eligible in the offseason too and as we know with the Jimmy Butler situation, the extension plays a big factor,” he wrote.
“But everything with Durant hangs in the balance of not only the Suns and how they compete in the playoffs or not compete in the playoffs, but other teams — which teams get eliminated early, what teams could come about.”
Possible suitors for Durant include the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and Oklahoma City Thunder, among others, depending on how their seasons wrap up.
With the Suns’ playoff hopes fading fast, Durant’s departure seems more a matter of “when” rather than “if.”
His next chance to make an impact comes tomorrow night against the struggling Los Angeles Clippers, where he’ll go head-to-head with Kawhi Leonard.
