The Phoenix Suns are trending towards missing the NBA playoffs this season. What was supposed to be a championship-caliber acquisition when they brought in Kevin Durant has turned out to be a disaster.
It seems clear that the franchise will trade the ex-Oklahoma City Thunder forward Durant this offseason. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report proposes a three-team trade that includes Phoenix, Houston Rockets, and Utah Jazz. This will be Durant’s fourth move in his career, after spending nine years with OKC, three with the Golden State Warriors, three with the Brooklyn Nets, and three with the Suns.
In this deal, the Rockets get Durant, Suns acquire Lauri Markkanen (Jazz), Jock Landale (Rockets), and a first-round draft pick. Finally, the Jazz receive Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green, Jae’Sean Tate, and a first-round draft pick.
“The trade would wait to be executed on July 6, after the NBA’s annual moratorium. The draft lottery will be held on May 12, so the slotting of picks will be long-established. If the Timberwolves and/or Suns win top picks, the trade will need adjustment for their higher valuations,” Pincus wrote.
Markkanen is having a bit of a down season but is only a couple seasons removed a breakout All-Star-caliber season. Replacing a star like Durant is nearly impossible, but adding a young forward that averages 19 points per game can soften the blow a little bit.
For the Rockets, getting the former Thunder star could be exactly what they need to become a frontrunner in the Western Conference.
“Houston would opt Fred VanVleet out of his $44.9 million option and look to re-sign him at a more reasonable figure. Durant would join Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason, Şengün and Thompson. The roster would round out with minimum players, possibly more if VanVleet’s new figure is lower than $30 million,” Pincus added.
While it seems like the other two teams are getting the most productivity short-term in this deal, the real winner could be Utah. They gid rid of one of the league’s biggest contracts. In addition to that, it gives them a plethora of youth players to build around moving forward. not to mention, gives them another first-round draft pick.
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