The Phoenix Suns are the new favorites in the Western Conference after landing Kevin Durant.
Phoenix’s deal for the superstar comes on the heels of Kyrie Irving getting dealt.
Breaking: The Phoenix Suns are nearing a blockbuster trade to acquire Kevin Durant, sources tell @wojespn.
The Suns are sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four firt-round picks, a 2028 pick swap for Durant and TJ Warren. pic.twitter.com/QadcfPHNfw
— ESPN (@espn) February 9, 2023
With Durant officially gone, the Brooklyn Nets’ saga finally ends.
The Suns’ saga gets to begin anew.
After getting throttled by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round last year, Phoenix has been a bit rocky.
There was the disconnect between head coach Monty Williams and center Deandre Ayton.
Ayton then attempted to sign with the Indiana Pacers before the Suns matched.
Devin Booker has missed 26 games and Chris Paul has missed 21 games.
After racing out to a 16-7 start that had them first in the West, they started to slide.
Over their next 22 games, they went just 5-17, falling to 12th in the West.
Phoenix is starting to turn it around, however, going 8-2 in their last 10.
Acquiring Durant puts them back on the contender track.
Winner: Kevin Durant
Durant feels like the clear winner in all of this.
After Irving was traded, it was clear the Nets did not have a real shot at winning the title.
Instead of throwing away the remainder of his prime on a good but not great team, Durant goes to a franchise ready to compete now.
Booker, Paul, and Ayton are a talented big three that have already proven they can win in the regular season.
Adding Durant to that core could put them over the top come playoff time.
Paul and Booker should generate plenty of open looks for Durant.
And Durant can alleviate some of the offensive load placed on Paul.
For a player who appears to be slowing down in Paul, that should be beneficial.
The Suns’ depth takes a hit having to send out Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, and Jae Crowder.
But Durant is Durant, and when he is healthy raises the ceiling of any team he joins.
Loser: Mikal Bridges
Bridges is the definitive loser in all of this.
He has been a consummate professional throughout his five years in Phoenix.
Bridges never missed a game and developed into one of the elite three-and-D wings in the entire NBA.
Through 56 games this year, all starts, Bridges was averaging 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
He was shooting 46.3% from the field, 38.7% from three (on 4.7 attempts per game), and 89.7% from the line.
Over the last 11 games that saw Phoenix go 9-2, Bridges was putting together some of his best basketball.
Going for 23.2 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 47.2% shooting.
All while providing elite perimeter defense night in and night out.
And after being on a contender for the past three seasons, he now finds himself on a team with no hopes of title contention.
Ideally, Bridges uses the extra touches in Brooklyn to develop into a true superstar.
NEXT: NBA Analyst Says 1 Thing Could Lead To Kevin Durant's Biggest FailureSean Marks says he’s looking forward to watching Mikal Bridges “explode here,” touching on his ability to guard multiple positions and growth offensively.
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) February 10, 2023
