Eliav Gabay
How about a blockbuster trade on the last day of the 2024-25 NBA season?
Before our focus turns to game seven of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder, let’s break this down.
After months of anticipation and weeks of whispers, Suns fans finally saw movement on a Kevin Durant deal that reportedly sends him to Houston.
Barring a third team’s involvement before the trade becomes official on July 6, the full return for a 36-year-old Kevin Durant: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 2025 10th overall pick, and five second-round picks.
It came down to deciding between the Heat and Rockets for Suns general manager Brian Gregory in his first big move as GM.
Kevin Durant is on stage at @FanaticsFest finding out that he was traded to the Houston Rockets… Unreal.
(🎥 @AryePulliNFL)pic.twitter.com/J8YvdTjIwx
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 22, 2025
Context is important when judging trades, and the Magic’s acquisition of Desmond Bane about a week ago is worth mentioning.
The Bane trade impacted the market’s landscape in a way that affected Phoenix’s chances at a bigger return with Orlando sending Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks & a first-round pick swap to Memphis for Bane.
In light of that move and given the lack of leverage Phoenix had in trade talks, fans couldn’t have asked for much more than a hopeful rising star in 23-year-old Jalen Green to play alongside Devin Booker, a spark of energy and defense in 29-year-old Dillon Brooks, involvement in this year’s draft, and future draft capital.
Green is coming off just his fourth season in the league where averaged about 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal per game.
Let’s not forget, Green and Brooks were relevant pieces on a Rockets team that earned 52 wins and the second seed in a behemoth of a Western Conference.
Forbes Sports’ Shane Young:
“In reality, Phoenix likely did the best it could to maximize a sour situation. The type of return the organization knew it could get, versus what the fan base expected, were on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Suns weren’t operating from a position of power, which fans really need to come to grips with and understand.
Although Jalen Green probably isn’t a long-term fit, he has the chance to rebuild his trade value with the Suns and be flipped later for more pieces. It’s not great that Phoenix couldn’t retrieve their 2027 or 2028 first-round picks in this deal, but at this point, it’s a sunk cost. The only way they will get out of this situation is by taking small steps, and today was the first. They need to nail this upcoming draft pick.”
“A lot of heartbroken Suns fans. What would you like to say?”
Kevin Durant: “I just felt like they wanted me to go. They got what they wanted, and I got what I wanted. We could move on, and good luck to them moving forward.”
(h/t @BackcourtAlerts)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 22, 2025
While I’d also consider this trade a solid first step toward a reroute for this front office, the skepticism understandably remains high for the Phoenix faithful on whether or not Mat Ishbia and co. can right the ship.
Sports360AZ CEO Brad Cesmat:
“When a team has four head coaches, blows up a roster for a superstar, then trades him two and a half years later after the franchise misses the playoffs with the largest payroll in team history and we’re just supposed to believe ownership has it all figured out.”
A ways to go, but overall, the Suns got younger and more athletic while remaining competitive and adding much-needed assets.
That’s fair, not flagrant.
