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Why the Suns need to consider trading Devin Booker and Kevin 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.
We continue to grapple with the question of whether it’s even possible to fix the Phoenix Suns. The team finds itself in an incredibly precarious position, facing an unprecedented payroll while simultaneously mortgaging its future. The hope was that this bold strategy would pave the way for a championship-caliber team. But the reality has been far less promising. At this rate, the Suns may not even make the Play-In tournament.
In contrast to my article from just a day ago, where I discussed why
not blowing it up would be the preferable approach, I am now going to counterpoint that point of view. While I still lean toward a measured strategy this offseason, I’d be remiss if I didn’t explore the other options that could potentially bring about change. See? I try to see all sides of an issue.
Let’s dive into the concept of a complete rebuild. Specifically, what the benefits and risks would be of trading away key assets like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
The Beal Situation
I’ll start with the complete unknown, and no, this isn’t a nod to Timothée Chalamet or Bob Dylan. The truth is, we have no idea what will happen with Bradley Beal this offseason. He is a wild card, a variable that holds significant weight in how the “blow it up” strategy plays out.
"If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards. Until I'm addressed and somebody says something different, then I'll be a Sun."
Bradley Beal on if coming off bench is related to bigger picture as far as NBA trade talks.
Has no-trade clause in his contract.
#Suns pic.twitter.com/f54au9MWFS
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin)
January 7, 2025
If the Suns can offload his contract, they likely won’t get much in return. Not in terms of valuable assets, at least. In fact, it might make sense for the Suns to move both Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, leveraging the draft picks they’ve accumulated to eventually rid themselves of Beal’s cumbersome deal.
But as the Suns explore unloading Beal, the reality is clear: Durant and Booker are the most valuable assets in the organization. And if the team is stuck with Beal, who’s aging and frequently injured, it’s a painful but undeniable truth. You’re looking at a rebuild with a flawed roster. It’s the kind of situation that forces you to reckon with where your team stands, no matter how uncomfortable the truth may be.
It’s Not Your Fault
If the Suns blow it up, part of that painful equation could mean moving off of Devin Booker. A lifer in Phoenix, a decade spent in the desert.
Such a decision would be the most heartbreaking kind of farewell. It’s as if the organization becomes Robin Williams’ Sean Maguire, and Booker is Will Hunting, standing there, in the dimming light of what could’ve been. They’d embrace him, with words that try to soften the blow: “It’s not your fault, Devin. It’s not your fault.”
And then, like Will, Booker would drive away in his new car, off to see about a girl. Or, in his case, a new chapter elsewhere. It would be a tragic, bittersweet ending. But the truth is, it’s not Booker’s fault.
The blame falls squarely on the organization for putting itself in a position where trading Booker even becomes a consideration. Yet, as difficult as it is to admit, facing the reality of this situation is the first step toward any kind of resolution.
The Suns have a problem. They have a problem in how they’ve built this roster, how they’ve recklessly spent both money and assets in an all-out sprint for a championship that now seems farther away than ever.
They took a shortcut, hoping to speed through the hard work of building a championship contender. I’m not upset that they took swings. I’m upset that they swung for the fences and missed entirely. A bunt here, a double there, and they could’ve been driving in runs instead of striking out.
But now, as the time comes to face the music, the Suns must own their mistakes. It’s
their fault. And when they stand, somber and resigned, to send Booker off, we’ll all sigh. It’s the cost of trying to rebuild a franchise that desperately needs it, even at the heartbreak of a beloved player’s departure.
Maximizing the Return
The postseason will inevitably expose certain teams, revealing where they stand in the chase for a championship. For some, they’ll realize they’re just one Devin Booker or Kevin Durant away from achieving their ultimate goal.
Take the
Houston Rockets, for example. If they’re eliminated in the first round, they may come to the conclusion that they’re not far off. But even if they make it to a Game 7 in the second round and lose, that sense of being on the cusp could still ring true. There’s a wealth of young, talented teams with plenty of assets. But only one raises the trophy.
And if the Suns are serious about taking advantage of this window, now is the time to act.
Some of these teams, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, are brimming with young, athletic, gritty players. But soon, they’ll be faced with a difficult reality: the day of reckoning is coming. These players will need to be paid, and that could force tough decisions. So, why not trade a couple of those assets away, pay Kevin Durant for a shorter term — maybe just two years instead of the four or five-year extensions they’ll owe their current players — and go all in? It’s the approach the Suns attempted to take, and for better or worse, the blueprint is there.
The clock is ticking, and the Suns might be able to capitalize on this shifting landscape, just as other teams will soon have to face their own challenging decisions.
You’re not going to maximize your return on Kevin Durant this off-season, not relative to what the Suns originally paid for him. But there’s still something to be gained, something that could be beneficial to the long-term health of the team. The market for Durant is real, with several teams rumored to be interested, and when multiple suitors are involved, the bidding war drives up the price.
The Phoenix Suns are expected to work with Kevin Durant on a trade this offseason
Durant was interested in the Knicks, Timberwolves, Rockets, Spurs, and Heat at the trade deadline this season.
(via Shams)
pic.twitter.com/DfYFE6KqLk
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_)
April 2, 2025
Add Devin Booker’s name to that conversation, and suddenly the Suns have the potential to command a historic haul. Okay, maybe not
as historic as what the Nets pulled off when they traded away Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but it’s still a deal that could set the franchise on a new, sustainable path.
This could be the summer where teams on the cusp of contention are willing to overpay to push themselves over the top. These teams know the window is small, and they need that final piece to make a run. So, instead of holding onto assets that may never quite bring the Suns a championship as presently constructed, now is the time to listen.
Don’t get in the way of teams who are desperate to break through. The Suns could leverage this urgency to their advantage and secure the type of assets that could reshape the franchise for years to come.
Minimizing the Loss
Let’s say you don’t blow it up. Let’s say you bring both Kevin Durant and Devin Booker back, and yes, Bradley Beal is still here too. You sign Durant to a two-year extension and decide to give it another go. Maybe it’s a new GM, maybe a new head coach, or maybe you just believe that this team can somehow get better despite aging. There’s hope that with the right adjustments, the Suns could still make a run in the next couple of years.
Time waits for no one, however, and in a couple of years, this window is going to close. Kevin Durant will be nearing 40. While I believe his jumper could allow him to play into his mid-40s, I’m not sure his body — specifically his ankles — will allow him to keep going at that elite level. When that time comes, and Durant is coming off your books, you might find that you’ve gotten nothing in return for one of the most transcendent players of his generation.
So, you’re faced with a tough decision: Do you take the risk and ride it out for a chance at one last hurrah, or do you face the inevitable and start to plan for the future before the clock runs out on a team that was never quite able to put it all together? The Suns need to ask themselves if the risk of holding onto these assets is worth the potential fallout when the window finally closes.
Then, there’s the Devin Booker decision, a dilemma that you’re essentially just punting down the driveway if you choose to keep him this offseason, hoping that it’ll all make more sense when his contract is up in 2028. When that day finally comes, who will the Suns be by then? Will they be the team that wished they had acted sooner? Will they regret the missed opportunity to reset when they had the chance?
If you hold on to Booker and the aging core around him, you risk being stuck in a no-man’s land of dwindling assets. By the time 2028 rolls around, you won’t have a stable of draft picks to fuel a rebuild. You’ll be left with a roster of aging talent, with no clear direction forward. That is the inherent risk of
not blowing it up now. The clock is ticking, and every day that passes without a hard reset might be another step toward a future that’s just as frustrating as the present.
It’s a tough decision, but the question remains: do you stick with what you know, or do you take the hard step to ensure the Suns’ future is brighter than it looks today? Because not acting now could very well mean missing out on the opportunity to truly build for the future.
You Still Have Mat Ishbia
I know that a lot of fans are frustrated with the state of the Suns right now, and many are quick to point fingers at Mat. As I’ve mentioned before, he came in with the mentality of trying to hit home runs, swinging for the fences with the hopes of building a championship contender. Unfortunately, he’s missed.
But it’s important to remember that his aggressive approach comes from a place of wanting to spend, to be competitive, and to win. He’s the kind of person who believes in taking chances, even if they don’t always pay off right away.
Has it worked in our favor so far? Clearly, no. But that doesn’t mean it can’t work in the future—if the team embraces the idea of blowing it up and resetting the direction. Mat’s willingness to take risks could still pay dividends, but only if the front office learns from past mistakes and recalibrates for a future that prioritizes long-term success over short-term fixes.
While the current situation isn’t ideal, I still believe there’s a path forward that can ultimately benefit the Suns, but it requires bold decisions, and those decisions may mean starting over, not just trying to patch things together.
As part of the blow-up, the Suns will likely get quality players in return. They may not be All-NBA caliber talent, but they’ll bring in pieces that can keep the team competitive, at least in the short term. More importantly, you’ll be shedding apron restrictions, which is crucial for regaining financial flexibility.
Phoenix, still seen as a desirable free-agent destination, can use this newfound cap space to pursue players who fit the vision of a general manager with a clear roadmap for the future. The Suns have always shown they’re willing to spend and take chances in the pursuit of greatness. The key now is ensuring that those decisions are guided by a long-term strategy, one that’s more about building sustainability than chasing quick fixes. This approach could set the team up for not just the next few seasons, but for years to come.
By blowing it up, the Suns could accumulate draft picks, add mid-level players, and leverage free agency as the foundation for a rebuild. With a stockpile of draft picks in hand, they would gain the flexibility to be more discerning, applying the lessons learned from past mistakes. Over time, this newfound wisdom could guide them to make more strategic moves in the trade market, gradually improving the team and positioning themselves for future success.
This approach could lay the groundwork for a more sustainable, competitive franchise down the line.
It Can be Done
I’ve mentioned before that the Oklahoma City Thunder are the exception, not the rule. And I stand by that. What they’ve accomplished is a model that will be studied for years to come. There’s, however, has been a blend of luck, impeccable scouting, masterful roster construction, and a clear, executed vision.
While their success should certainly be admired, we must also recognize that they are not the only team who has successfully navigated this path. The blueprint they’ve followed isn’t unique, and there are other organizations that have found ways to rebuild with similar foresight and strategy. The key is having the right elements align: talent, timing, and the ability to adapt as the landscape shifts.
If you’re willing to invest the time, it can absolutely happen. Just look back at the
Boston Celtics. They were nearing the end of their Big Three era with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. They decided to blow it up, acquire a treasure trove of draft capital and mid-level players, and rebuilt through the draft. Now, they’re a perennial force in the Eastern Conference with a championship to show for it.
The
Cleveland Cavaliers followed a similar blueprint. After the departure of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, they did what many would consider a rebuild done right. While they didn’t get consecutive third-overall picks like the Celtics, their strategy was clear: build with vision. They drafted key players like Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and Isaac Okoro (granted, they hit on their third, fifth, and fifth overall picks, which is tough), complemented them with trade acquisitions like Jarrett Allen, and then took a big swing with Donovan Mitchell. This focus on youth, athleticism, and defense has turned them into a formidable force in the Eastern Conference.
Both examples prove that with the right vision, dedication, and a bit of patience, a rebuild can lead to sustainable success. The path is there, but it requires the right combination of timing, scouting, and strategic decision-making.
So, it is doable. But patience is a virtue, a quality I’ve expressed before. At this point, I’m not sure I’m willing to invest in that patience. However, I can still understand and appreciate the value it brings. A rebuild takes time, and the process isn’t always glamorous in the moment. But with the right strategy and steady focus, it can eventually pay off.
It’s just a matter of whether the Suns are ready to take that long view or if the urgency to win now outweighs the patience needed for sustainable growth.
So there you go. I’ve laid out a point/counterpoint with myself, explaining why I believe a blow-up could be the path forward, with its benefits, and why keeping the core intact could also have its merits. In the end, it all comes down to taking emotion out of the equation and evaluating the Suns’ situation through a lens of logic. Both paths come with risks and rewards, but the key is having a clear vision of where the team wants to go and a plan to get there.
We will continue to analyze the methodologies moving forward for Phoenix, considering what it means to move on from Devin Booker while keeping Kevin Durant, or to move on from Kevin Durant and keep Devin Booker. We’ll examine the future of James Jones and Mike Budenholzer, with each decision carrying its own weight.
There are a million forks in the road ahead of us, and with every turn, the Suns risk making the wrong choice. Hopefully, in the end we’re not sitting in Sean Maguire’s office over-analzying a painting rather than navigating our feelings.
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