Fixing the Phoenix Suns: Kevin Durant still has value but maybe not in Phoenix

Counterpoint: Trade Durant.

Welcome to the How to Fix the Suns series, where we break down the paths available to the Phoenix Suns as they navigate the 2025 offseason.

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Here we are, still navigating the Phoenix Suns’ future, still trying to fix what’s broken. The decisions loom large, and the thought processes keep swirling. And right now, our focus turns to Kevin Durant. Should the Suns keep him? Or is it time to test the waters and see what kind of value they can get in return for one of the greatest players of all time — a 15-time All-Star, four-time scoring champion?

Yesterday, we made the case for keeping Kevin Durant. Having a future Hall of Famer alongside Devin Booker is undeniably appealing, and it’s part of the reason why you go after draft picks to bring in a player like Durant. But the market is shifting, and Durant’s value might not be as straightforward as we think.

Today? Well today, like Two-Face tossing silver into the air, we flip the coin. Today, we dive into the possibility of moving on from Kevin Durant.

As I mentioned yesterday, I’m viewing all of this through the lens that Bradley Beal won’t be with the team next season. If the Suns buy him out and part ways which, according to reports, is the most likely scenario, then Beal’s departure creates the kind of clarity we need. So, with that assumption in mind, we’re operating on the premise that Beal is no longer a Sun next season.

Now, it’s time to consider whether Kevin Durant’s time in Phoenix is also coming to a close. Let’s explore why the Suns might need to part ways with him and what that could mean for the future.

It’s a New NBA

As I mentioned yesterday, the new CBA is an absolute game-changer, and its prohibitive nature makes it increasingly difficult to build a championship-contending team around players with such massive price tags. Kevin Durant, now on his third max contract, is at the center of this issue. It’s a tough spot to be in, the whole “trying to build around multiple players on max deals” scenario. In today’s NBA, stacking two or more of those contracts makes it nearly impossible to sustain long-term success.

Why is that? Because simply having two max players on your roster eats up three-quarters of your payroll, leaving you with limited room for depth and flexibility. And if one of those stars goes down, you’re left with nothing. It’s an all-in strategy, but it’s also a fragile one. It’s an approach that’s quickly becoming outdated.

Look around the league. Aside from the Boston Celtics, who are quickly heading into a financial crunch, the most successful teams are built around a combination of star power, youth, and athleticism. These teams can sustain injuries, remain flexible, and most importantly, they play on both ends of the floor. The older a player gets, and the more miles they accumulate, the harder it becomes for them to impact the game on both sides of the ball.

Durant has been exceptional offensively, and let’s be honest, he might just be the Suns’ second-best defender. But think about that for a moment: if your second-best defensive player is Kevin Durant, then something’s off in your roster construction. And, as we’ve seen time and again, the Suns’ roster construction has been far from perfect.

In light of the new CBA, a player like Kevin Durant makes sense if he’s your only max contract. But given his age and the fact that Devin Booker is in his prime and cruising towards his next maximum contract, it’s becoming clear that this pairing might not be the long-term answer the Suns need.

The Return

At the trade deadline, reports surfaced that the Suns could’ve acquired Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, and multiple first-round picks in exchange for Kevin Durant. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, seeing what Butler has done with Golden State, it’s hard not to think that the Suns should’ve jumped at that opportunity. The potential for a deal like that would’ve given Phoenix a new dimension: youth, scoring, and future assets.

Of course, the Warriors didn’t pull the trigger. It wasn’t necessarily that Durant didn’t want to play in Golden State. It was more about him not wanting to be moved midseason. It’s a tough position for a player of his caliber, with the timing of the trade affecting his ability to seamlessly transition into a new team.

But, given the way Butler’s performance has played out, it’s easy to imagine how that move might have dramatically changed the trajectory for Phoenix.

If that’s the potential return, who’s to say what the market will dictate this offseason? I made the case yesterday that the return might not be as high as we’d expect, considering the new dynamics of the NBA. But it’s still likely to be something substantial. And if reports are accurate, with multiple teams reportedly interested, that only drives up the price.

Imagine that: the Suns actually find themselves in a position where a bidding war ensues for Kevin Durant. It’s a far cry from an Eric Bledsoe situation where you’re getting back a guy like Greg Monroe. No, this is different. With multiple teams vying for Durant’s services, Phoenix could see a return that brings in serviceable players who align with the team’s timeline. Ugh, I hate that “timeline” term, but it’s a reality. The direction of the organization is key here.

Internally, the team must decide what their next move looks like. What path do they want to take? The beauty of the situation is that they have options, thanks to the return Kevin Durant could bring. They’re not backed into a corner with a singular approach. Instead, they have the flexibility to weigh different offers and choose the direction that best suits their vision.

If they want to build a defensively sound, young, athletic team, they can look at Column A. If the goal is to load up on draft picks and start from the foundation up, Column B is the answer. Trading Durant opens up these possibilities and allows them to shape the future in multiple ways.

The Experiment Failed

Kevin Durant was brought to Phoenix with one goal in mind: to bring this team a championship. And while he delivered an impressive 26.8 points per game on 52.7% shooting, including a solid 42.7% from beyond the arc, it’s clear that the experiment ultimately fell short. Was it his fault? It’s complicated. The truth is, everyone shares some blame for the current state of the Phoenix Suns over the past two seasons.

Though Durant consistently gave stellar effort on the court, there were ancillary factors — both on and off the court — that may have hindered the team’s ability to succeed. The front office certainly didn’t help matters by acquiring Bradley Beal, a move that tied up an enormous chunk of payroll in a player who operated in much the same space as both Durant and Devin Booker. It was a misstep, one that complicated the roster and made an already difficult task even harder.

Regardless of the reasons behind it, it’s clear that the experiment failed. It’s time to move on from that chapter. Parting ways with Kevin Durant, while acknowledging the shortcomings of that approach, is still the right decision. In both the short term and the long term, it offers the Phoenix Suns a better chance at rebuilding and setting a new course for success.

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So there it is: the reasons to move on from Kevin Durant, the counterpoints, and everything in between. Where do I ultimately stand? Well, that’s a question for another day. For now, the journey to fix the Phoenix Suns continues, and over the coming days and weeks, I’ll dig deeper into what the future should look like for this team. It’s an important off-season, and the stakes are high. But I’ll leave you with this: What do you think?

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