It’s secure to say that issues aren’t going as deliberate for the Phoenix Suns proper now. After buying and selling for Kevin Durant late final season after which Bradley Beal through the summer season, the workforce appeared destined to be a title contender in 2024. However after 30 video games, the membership sits at a mediocre 15-15, good for tenth place within the Western Convention. And, as he’s wont to do, Durant is grumbling.
The similarities between Durant’s tenure on the Suns and his
earlier workforce — the Brooklyn Nets — are eerie. There he was additionally a part of a
supposed Large Three consisting of himself, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. It
didn’t take lengthy, nevertheless, for issues to go south. Attributable to accidents and the erraticism
of Irving, the trio solely truly performed collectively for 16 video games. Ultimately
Durant requested a commerce, which in the end landed him in Phoenix.
For the Suns, Beal has missed all however six video games this season. Whereas Durant and fellow star Devin Booker proceed to carry down the fort as finest they’ll with out him, it’s clear that this workforce simply doesn’t have sufficient firepower to compete. In keeping with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Durant is feeling pissed off.
He could have to smile and bear it, although, as a result of the Suns lack the draft picks
and commerce capital to make main enhancements.
“You’ve got seen it earlier than,” Wojnarowski stated. “It is a stark reminder of how
wanting a window, and the way this tea, has to win huge,
they usually should win huge rapidly, based mostly on the way it was
constructed and having Kevin Durant nonetheless taking part in at an
All-NBA degree. And a wholesome Kevin Durant. There’s loads at stake for this group.”
Whereas the Suns could not be capable of enhance the workforce with Durant, would they contemplate bettering the workforce, with out him? At age 35, the longer term Corridor of Famer remains to be an elite participant, however for a way for much longer stays to be seen. Over the past a number of years, he has missed quite a few video games resulting from accidents, and he at all times appears a turned ankle away from touchdown on the injured checklist. Plus, if he’s already eyeing an exit — although Durant denies this — the workforce may kill two birds with one stone by getting beneficial gamers/picks for him and eradicating a distraction.
With the commerce deadline
looming, the Suns’ season may rely upon what they do over the subsequent month. If
Beal comes again robust and the workforce goes on a run, all could also be proper with the
world. In the event that they proceed to play middling ball even after Beal’s return,
nevertheless, they may wish to take into consideration shifting Durant and planning for subsequent
12 months.
