Kevin Durant may have started another cycle of intense media speculation around his future after a recent report from Adrian Wojnarowski suggesting Durant was frustrated with the Phoenix Suns. Durant has already claimed the report was false, but his body language in the Suns vs. Mavericks Christmas Game made it seem the reports are true.
As a result, Josh Buckhalter of Heavy Sports has suggested an incredible trade that sends Durant to the Lakers while four players go to the Suns.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince, Max Christie, 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2030 First-Round Pick Swap (LAL)
This would be a deal that would melt the minds of all NBA fans, as it finally gives us an on-court partnership between LeBron James and Durant. In addition, the Lakers maintain Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves in this deal, giving them a strong top-end roster, though the depth becomes questionable.
The Suns add depth and continue putting Devin Booker in a position to lead the franchise to a championship. With Bradley Beal on the roster already and high-value NBA players, the Suns could break out of their roster issues.
The Lakers Become Undoubted Championship Contenders
The Lakers would likely not go all-in on their current roster in such an aggressive fashion, especially with LeBron’s impending free agency. But this is the kind of move that could get him to spend another year on the Lakers if he wanted to. The franchise went after depth in the summer but that’s not worked out given their incompetence without LeBron or Davis on the court. They need a bonafide scoring option and Durant is arguably the best solution possible for that.
The roster would no longer have any wing depth but essentially stand pat in most other positions. Cam Reddish will either continue starting next to Austin Reaves, or the Lakers will start Gabe Vincent and Reaves, with Reddish as a sixth man. They also maintain pieces such as Jarred Vanderbilt, one of the best POA defenders in the NBA. Their depth even after sending four rotational players to the Suns will hold up against the rest of the NBA.
This is massively risky given the injury concerns the Lakers’ proposed star trio would have. But Durant’s eye-watering 30.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists average will make the Lakers pursue such a deal if it ever was to be available.
The Suns Save Their Contention Window
Mat Ishbia got new owner syndrome and pushed his chips into the middle when he traded for Durant and then Bradley Beal. Now the Suns have injuries and the rest of the rotation doesn’t look up to par with the rest of the West. By moving KD, giving Booker the keys to the franchise, and surrounding him with depth, the Suns could figure out a new championship window.
D’Angelo Russell had a solid start to the season but has had a nightmarish December. Nonetheless, he’d already be the best traditional point guard on the Suns, allowing Booker more room to be the lethal scorer we know he can be. Russell is averaging 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 6.2 assists this season and could be valuable either as a starter or a sixth man. Rui Hachimura hasn’t found a role on the Lakers, but a depth-bereft Suns roster would easily start him as a forward. He’s averaging 11.5 points and 3.7 rebounds despite his unclear role and fluctuating minutes.
Taurean Prince is a solid 3-and-D piece to have, someone who the Lakers have felt is good enough to trust as a starter. Whether the Suns want to use him in that same role is their prerogative, but having his depth won’t be a problem, even with his season averages of 10.0 points and 2.9 rebounds. Max Christie is just breaking into the Lakers rotation but is a good long-term option for the Suns to have.
There are no teams that’ll replenish the Suns’ draft asset cabinet, especially with the uncertainty acquiring Durant brings. Getting these Lakers picks could be very valuable, especially with the likelihood that KD and LeBron will be retired, and AD will either be retired or on his last legs seven years from now.
Would Either Side Do This Deal?
The simple answer is no. The Suns have invested way too much into Durant to let him go without a full season, especially in a deal that only brings back two picks for a team that has no draft equity left.
Even for the Lakers, giving up so much could backfire massively if any of their three stars were to get injured. It would kill their contention chances, but the prospect of having arguably three top-10 players on the same team will be very tantalizing to pass up on.
The Suns will do their due diligence and see if any team wants to beat this offer before agreeing with the Lakers. Durant has controlled which teams he ends up on regardless of it being a trade or free agency, so he’ll likely do the same with Phoenix. There aren’t many contending teams that would part with such a heavy chunk of their roster for KD at this point, so they’d have to consider it.
I do believe both sides end up saying no if such a deal was ever on the table, but it’s kinda worrying how it makes some semblance of sense for both sides to engage in such talks.
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