2023-12-29 17:42:11
The Phoenix Suns have played 30 games so far this season, and sit at a disappointing 15-15. Good for the 10th spot in the Western Conference, and nowhere near where they thought they would be when they went out and got Bradley Beal this summer to pair with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
The fact Beal has played only six times so far for the organization as a result of injury going some way to explaining why this team has been mediocre. That is far from the only problem this group has though, with their lack of depth around their “Big 3” another huge issue that has no easy fix for the rest of this season and beyond.
Christmas Day felt like a watershed moment in this Suns season, with NBA Insider Adrian Wojarnowski going on national television and claiming that Durant was frustrated with how the season had gone to that point. Hardly a surprise given where the Suns stood in the pecking order, but Durant was quick to respond in a since deleted social media post of his own on the matter.
Not only because Durant is 35-years-old and going nowhere, but on a more practical money because he makes a boatload of money, and the new CBA makes it harder to trade guys on monster deals. Not that this is going to stop the fans out there who live on creating fake trades, so feast your eyes on this banger that would send Durant to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Proposed Los Angeles Lakers trade would send Kevin Durant to LA amid Phoenix Suns ‘Frustration’.
(via Heavy Sports) pic.twitter.com/nfYjOcwJsw
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) December 28, 2023
There is so much wrong with this deal, where do you even start? In theory the Suns need a point guard who can take over for Booker on certain nights – because as good as he is at everything on a basketball court – being a creator takes him out of his natural position as being one of the best scorers in the league.
But the Suns might just go and get a much cheaper, and veteran savvy player, in the form of Ricky Rubio instead. If not Rubio, then somebody similar who would know their role and always look to pass first. Not a guard in D’Angelo Russell who – if you’ve watched the Lakers at all – is prone to hoisting up shots and making dumb plays at a moment’s notice.
Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back when speaking regarding D’Angelo Russell. ???? pic.twitter.com/SS6FkL2gZs
— theScore (@theScore) December 22, 2023
LeBron James is the unofficial floor general there anyway, which makes Russell an offensive gun for hire. Exactly what the Suns do not need in this fictional scenario where Durant is gone. Russell next to Booker and the seemingly forgotten regarding Beal is a dreadful fit, and the Suns would definitely regress defensively.
Taurean Prince is an intriguing player who would do some of what Torrey Craig or Jae Crowder did for the Suns in the past. Namely make a lot of 3-pointers, and at least make an effort defensively. But when you’re giving up Kevin Durant, if Prince is the most interesting player you’re getting back, you know this is an outrageous scenario.
Taurean Prince insane block on KAT leads to a Rui Hachimura bucket ???? pic.twitter.com/p7o2HVtryN
— HardenBurner (@theresnoway30) December 22, 2023
Rui Hachimura would be a fine player to add, certainly he’d have more value than Bol Bol for example, but he’s in the first year of a three-year, $51 million contract he signed in the offseason. Since inking that deal, Hachimura has regressed and is definitely expendable as far as the Lakers are concerned. So saddling themselves with that long-term deal makes zero sense for the Suns.
3 Phoenix Suns who have to go in the New Year. 3 Phoenix Suns who have to go in the New Year. dark. Next
Max Christie has been ok for the Lakers in his rookie season but once more – if he and Prince are the two players who make the most sense in this trade – then you hang up the phone. We won’t even get into the single first round pick and 2030 first round pick swap, as the Suns would want a lot more by way of future assets than those two picks to go with Christie.
Even if Austin Reaves of the Lakers was in this deal instead, it would be madness for the Suns to enter these trade talks. About the only logic in doing this would be replenishing the roster with the kind of players and depth that the organization lost when they traded Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Durant. Hard, hard pass on this one.
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