When Kevin Durant was traded to the Suns last month, it immediately made Phoenix the favorite to come out of the West.
But after playing just three games for his new team, KD went out again with his latest injury. The Suns placed a 2-3 week timetable for his return, but it seems the team’s precautionary measures will have their star sitting for longer than that.
“This injury is a significant injury and there’s also this sense with the Suns that they are not worried about needing time to gel,” said ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “He is Kevin Durant and he’s played with Devin Booker on Team USA, he’s played with Chris Paul in other situations. Normally you would need 3-4 weeks to play together and come together but there is a sense they are being very cautious. James Jones said if the playoffs were today maybe he would try it but I think with his injury history and especially lower leg injuries, that is why you are extra careful. The sense I have is that if he comes back, it’ll be toward the end of the regular season with just a couple of games left.”
"There's a sense that [the Suns are] just being very cautious… The sense I have is that if he comes back, it'll be toward the end of the regular season with just a couple of games left."@ramonashelburne on when Kevin Durant could return to actionpic.twitter.com/y7tt88ZHRd
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 13, 2023
The Suns are in a tricky situation right now. On one hand, rushing back 34-year-old Kevin Durant is taking a huge risk for his durability going forward, especially given his long history of leg injuries in the past.
On the other hand, the Suns are trying to win a championship, and every game matters. As the 4th seed in the West, Phoenix’s path to the Finals is extremely difficult with potential series against the Clippers and Nuggets before the Conference Finals. Obviously, having Durant on the floor would help them possibly move up the standings and secure a better position for the postseason.
Can Suns Win A Title This Season?
We have never seen a star of Kevin Durant’s caliber be traded mid-season, but mid-season trades don’t usually work out right away. Most teams need time to develop chemistry and cohesion before becoming truly elite.
The Suns are obviously hoping that Durant is good enough to skip all of that, and they certainly looked good in the three games they had him.
So, you can’t blame Phoenix for being cautious with Durant, even if it means moving down the standings in a wild and deep Western Conference.
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