Among the many moves during this season’s trade deadline, Kevin Durant’s trade to Phoenix is undoubtedly the biggest of them all.
With Durant in tow, the Suns have a starting five that outranks every other team in basketball, and it’s going to be fun to see how all the pieces fit together when they get fully healthy after the All-Star break.
On paper, the Suns’ top-end talent has made them the favorites to win the West, but there are concerns that it will take some time before Phoenix plays up to its potential.
Speaking on ‘#thisleague UNCUT,’ former NBA Sixth Man Jamal Crawford spoke on those concerns and explained why this new-look Suns team might not experience the growing pains that superteams of their caliber usually do.
“They won’t need the transition time a lot of teams will. Yeah, these next 20 games, they’ll win games, they’ll lose games, and they’ll figure it out. But with Durant already being a Finals MVP two times over, with Chris and Devin already going to the Finals, they’ll figure out and discrepancies or arguments — their basketball knowledge, how much they love the game, will win out…”
NEW #thisleague UNCUT pod: TNT's Jamal Crawford (@jcrossover) explains to @ChrisBHaynes & @TheSteinLine why the Suns — after acquiring Kevin Durant — won't need as much time to find continuity as most teams making a major in-season trade.
FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/tWG8aQlQZM pic.twitter.com/yaBVWJvdV0
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) February 16, 2023
The Suns made the Finals two seasons ago when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks beat them in 6 games. Since then, the Suns have been on a steep downward trajectory classified by disappointment and underachieving.
Now, with the superstar they’ve been waiting for for years, the Suns have a real shot to bring the Larry O’Brien trophy to the Arizona desert. Best of all, the fit should be almost seamless, considering the talent and experience of everyone involved.
The Future Is Bright In Phoenix
While Durant is already in his mid-30s, his arrival paves the way for the Suns to add even more talent. As the title favorites, veteran players may take a discount to sign with the Suns, and they will be a desirable destination for future free agents.
In fact, recent rumors indicate the Suns could be looking to rejoin Durant with his former teammate, Kyrie Irving, this summer.
Whatever the case, the Suns took a big swing, and there’s no reason for them not to go all-in with their current squad. No matter who signs this summer or in the time after that, the rest of this season will be crucial to determining the team’s future and what kind of urgency they will have this upcoming offseason.
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