Photo Credit: Cronkite News
Well, that was fun while it lasted: the Phoenix Suns have officially shipped Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and a handful of draft picks, thus ending one of the most expensive experiments in recent NBA history. And by “experiment,” I mean watching ownership light money on fire while pretending they had a plan.
Let’s recap this masterclass in organizational dysfunction, shall we? Two and a half years ago, the Suns mortgaged their entire future to acquire Durant, trading away promising young talent and multiple first-round picks. The return? A disappointing 36-46 season that ended with them missing the playoffs entirely and firing their coach. Nothing screams “championship culture” like finishing 11th in the Western Conference with a roster that costs more than some small countries’ GDP.
The most delicious irony? The Suns brass probably congratulated themselves on this “asset management,” as if trading a 36-year-old superstar for spare parts was some kind of 4D chess move rather than damage control. They turned a playoff contender into a rebuilding project faster than you can say “luxury tax.”
But hey, at least they got Jalen Green, who’s shown flashes of brilliance between stretches of looking completely lost. And Dillon Brooks, whose greatest skill is annoying opposing players – a perfect metaphor for this entire franchise’s approach to roster construction.
The real winners here? Rockets fans, who just got a Hall of Famer for the price of their bench. Meanwhile, Suns fans get to watch their team “develop young talent” while ownership counts the money they’re saving. Classic Phoenix sports: building hope just to crush it spectacularly.
And where do we stand now? New coach, one massive star who is wasting a Hall of Fame career and one star that is on the wrong side of 30 and likely to be dealt. A thoroughly incomplete roster that now needs a full rebuild minus Devin Booker. The championship window is closed, and I’d say that it was fun while it lasted, but no…it was disappointing.
Well, maybe the Cardinals will do something this year…