Pros and Cons of Phoenix Suns Acquiring Kevin Durant
On Friday, Brooklyn Nets G Kyrie Irving requested a trade out of Brooklyn before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday Feb. 9 at 3pm ET.
With this request, speculation began to boil around the league as teams, fans, players and exec’s reacted to the news. Part of this whole equation is the Nets net move. Irving is expected to test free agency and walk away from the situation in Brooklyn according to ESPN senior basketball analyst Adrian Wojnarowski.
While the Suns are expected to be interested in Irving over these next few days, the recent news also begs a larger question: what does this mean for Kevin Durant’s future in Brooklyn?
The Suns have been a Durant darling ever since last summer when he requested a trade from the Nets then rescinded his request in Sept. While the Suns haven’t had the year many expected, the return of Devin Booker comes at an interesting time. Should Booker come back and play the way he is capable, the Suns could make another playoff run.
According to reports, new Suns owner Mat Ishbia could take control of the team before the trade deadline. This means the Suns could be more aggressive right before the deadline, something Suns fans would surely wouldn’t mind.
Mat Ishbia has the potential to make quite the impression with the Suns should he make a move immediately after taking ownership of the franchise.
With the Irving situation spiraling out of control, Durant seems more likely to follow suit (not until the summer, however)
Here are some pros and cons for the Suns to pursue Durant:
Pro
Kevin Durant
Often described as the greatest pure scorers in the game’s history, Durant’s combination of size and athleticism makes him one of the hardest players to guard in league history. He is listed at 6’10” however it is widely regarded around the league that he is closer to seven feet tall. His game consists of height, speed, length and touch. With guard like skills and center like height, Durant has truly been one of a kind.
Nets F Kevin Durant has utilized his unique skillset to set scoring records throughout his career.
The Suns, like every single team in the NBA, would greatly benefit from having a player like Durant on their team. Assuming Booker is unmovable, the combination of Booker and Durant could have the Suns in the upper echelon of NBA pairings currently in the league. The addition of Durant would certainly bring the most talent that the Suns franchise has ever seen.
Con
Ayton + Bridges + Paul + Draft picks
The downside of gaining Durant would be the price to pay for such a generational talent. Players who have built this current era of success in The Valley would likely be shipped away.
Does one single player merit the breakup of a core that was just two games away from winning the franchise’s first NBA title back in 2021?
Are the Suns still a title contender in their current state?
The acquisition of Durant would be monumental, yes, but the price to pay for him would break up a core that could still be staring out an open championship window.
Also, the supply of future draft picks would be depleted. The Suns are one of seven teams that own their first and second round draft picks for 2023 NBA Draft. In fact, the Suns own their next seven years’ worth of draft picks, leaving their fate in their own hands as far as the draft lottery goes.
Pro
Buzz
Phoenix has been desperate for serious hype around a sports franchise for years now. If the Suns manage to land Durant, the NBA will have a new duo and a new growing fanbase in the Phoenix area, benefitting the economy. The expectations for the Suns will also rise to a new level, as will pressure for both Durant and Booker to perform well.
The arrival of another superstar in Phoenix could bring a new energy in Footprint Arena.
Everything from merchandise, ticket price, and concessions will be driven up slightly from the arrival of Durant. The life of the city will likely be driven by Phoenix Suns games, something the city saw in 2021 during the NBA Finals.
Con
Drama
If Durant ends up in Phoenix, drama is sure to follow. Durant has been on four teams in his career and has no problem letting his feelings lose on social media. His antics on Twitter, often times interacting with fans and outright trolls, cause some level of concern from teammates front office personnel. His actions on the court go without saying, he will go down as an NBA legend, but his character off the court has had some turns.
Durant has been known to do things his way, often times wanting to be the primary scorer. This was the case in Golden State when the Warriors were coming off of three straight Finals appearances and had a chance to win their third straight when Durant tore his achilleas in game 5 against Toronto. The summer following saw Durant leave the Warriors to pave his own path and be the center of focus in Brooklyn.
Even before that, Durant exited Oklahoma City in ugly fashion, seeing his “snake” reputation take form. The relationships he formed with players in OKC turned sour quickly after they felt as though he betrayed the team. Who could forget Durant’s infamous return to Oklahoma City, as cupcake propaganda was plentiful around Chesapeake Energy Arena on that night in 2017.
F Kevin Durant has the spotlight on him at all times, whether good or bad.
Durant certainly brings with him lots of attention wherever he goes, and rightfully so. The 4x NBA scoring champion automatically makes the team a contender for a championship. The question still remains, is Durant worth the investment with the current state of the Suns? Would the Suns be giving up too much to get only Durant on the team?
Only time will tell. But after the Brooklyn Nets experiment seems to be ending, Durant to the Suns could be more likely possibility than before.
