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It’s safe to say that things aren’t going as planned for the Phoenix Suns right now. After trading for Kevin Durant late last season and then Bradley Beal during the summer, the team seemed destined to be a title contender in 2024. But after 30 games, the club sits at a mediocre 15-15, good for 10th place in the Western Conference. And, as he is wont to do, Durant is grumbling.
The similarities between Durant’s tenure on the Suns and his
previous team — the Brooklyn Nets — are eerie. There he was also part of a
supposed Big Three consisting of himself, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. It
didn’t take long, however, for things to go south. Due to injuries and the erraticism
of Irving, the trio only actually played together for 16 games. Eventually
Durant requested a trade, which ultimately landed him in Phoenix.
For the Suns, Beal has missed all but six games this season. While Durant and fellow star Devin Booker continue to hold down the fort as best they can without him, it’s clear that this team just doesn’t have enough firepower to compete. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Durant is feeling frustrated.
He may have to grin and bear it, though, because the Suns lack the draft picks
and trade capital to make major improvements.
“You’ve seen it before,” Wojnarowski said. “It’s a stark reminder of how
short of a window, and how this tea, has to win big,
and they have to win big quickly, based on how it was
constructed and having Kevin Durant still playing at an
All-NBA level. And a healthy Kevin Durant. There’s a lot at stake for this organization.”
While the Suns may not be able to improve the team with Durant, would they consider improving the team, without him? At age 35, the future Hall of Famer is still an elite player, but for how much longer remains to be seen. Over the last several years, he has missed numerous games due to injuries, and he always seems a turned ankle away from landing on the injured list. Plus, if he is already eyeing an exit — though Durant denies this — the team could kill two birds with one stone by getting valuable players/picks for him and removing a distraction.
With the trade deadline
looming, the Suns’ season could depend on what they do over the next month. If
Beal comes back strong and the team goes on a run, all may be right with the
world. If they continue to play middling ball even after Beal’s return,
however, they might want to think about moving Durant and planning for next
year.
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