A blockbuster trade proposal has the Phoenix Suns dealing superstar Kevin Durant to an Eastern Conference powerhouse in a move that would cement them as the new NBA title favorites.
The Suns completed a massive deal for Kevin Durant before the 2023 NBA trade deadline, hoping he would be the final piece to help Devin Booker and company get over the top. But the Suns have only won a single playoff series in the young KD era.
Phoenix is off to an excellent start (8-1), with Durant playing like an MVP candidate. But if something goes awry between now and the 2025 trade deadline, might the Suns be enticed by the opportunity to shake up their core and move Durant while his value is still high?
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley proposed a blockbuster trade idea that has Phoenix dealing Kevin Durant to the 10-0 Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for young stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley:
“Phoenix is about as top-heavy of a team as you’ll find, and all three of its stars—Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal—carry injury concerns. Cleveland, meanwhile, counts a pair of redundancies within its core four: small, offensive-minded guards and space-killing bigs…
Speaking of Mobley, Phoenix might view the arrival of him and Darius Garland as a chance to extend its competitive window without abandoning the championship race. A roster with those two, Booker and Beal would still be awfully competitive this season, but there would also be some obvious longevity perks by swapping out Durant for the 23-year-old Mobley and 24-year-old Garland.”
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Right now, the Suns and Cavaliers have no reason to alter their cores because of their scorching hot starts. But in the short-term, a trade like this would accelerate Cleveland’s championship window and give them their best shot at a title since LeBron James’ last season with the franchise.
Booker (28) and Bradley Beal (31) aren’t getting any younger. So if the Suns were to shop Durant, they would need at least two young assets in return. Add it all up, and Buckley’s proposal here makes sense and would be a win-win for both teams.
Suns Should Hold Onto Kevin Durant For Now
If the Suns cool off between now and the trade deadline and begin to resemble last year’s underachieving squad, then all options should be on the table.
But right now, the best bet is to retain Durant and see if the “big three” of him, Beal and Booker can get Phoenix over the top. The Western Conference is wide open, and few players can single-handedly take over a game like the future Hall of Famer.
