Suns All-Star Predicted to Be Moved at NBA Trade Deadline
It has become common for NBA superstars or All-Star players to be moved during the trade deadline or the offseason. The trend is expected to persist during the NBA season 2024-25, which will end on February 6, 2025.
Two insiders in an ESPN article published on August 19 speculated that the Suns would trade their superstar player, Kevin Durant, prior to the crucial date of 2025.
Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine, Trae Young, Jimmy Butler, and Darius Garland are among the other prominent athletes who received votes.
Durant would be moved ahead of an NBA trade deadline for the second time in three years, following his transfer from the Nets to the Suns at the deadline of 2023.
Durant arrived in Phoenix with a lot of anticipation, especially given that the team had Devin Booker, a fellow superstar. But in his first two seasons with the franchise, the team didn’t do well; they lost to the Nuggets in the playoffs of 2023 and swept the Timberwolves in the first round a year later.
Suns Not a Title Contender?
In addition, despite making improvements to the roster by adding Tyus Jones and Monte Morris to strengthen the point guard position, the Suns were not expected to do much better in the 2024-25 season.
The Suns would rank as the seventh seed in the Western Conference, behind the Thunder (55.5), Timberwolves (52.5), Nuggets (52.5), Mavericks (50.5), Grizzlies (47.5) and Kings (46.5), according to ESPN’s prediction. The Suns were also expected to compete with other teams, like the Pelicans (45.5) and the Lakers (44.5), for a place in the play-in tournament in order to qualify for the playoffs.
David Aldridge of the Atheltic explained why the Suns’ acquisitions of Jones and Morris, as well as the appointment of coach Mike Budenholzer, do not address their larger concerns beginning the 2024-25 season.
On August 13, Aldridge wrote, “Adding the two-time Coach of the Year in Budenholzer should get Phoenix better organized, but the Suns’ main challenge is keeping Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on the floor. “Last season [2023-24], they logged 862 minutes together, which was only the sixth-highest amount of minutes among Phoenix three-man units. The Suns could rise from very good offensively (10th last season in offensive rating, 116.8) to elite if the trio increases a little amount of time spent together.
“And championship-level teams work in the elite. With Jones (a remarkable 7.35 assist-turnover ratio for the Wizards last season—the highest mark since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78) and Morris (a career 5.1 assist-turnover ratio), the Suns get solid marks for their support at the point.
Are Timberwolves a Healthy Fit?
Many analysts predicted that the Timberwolves would emerge as potential suitors in the event that the Suns decide to take Durant at the NBA trade deadline.
Durant’s blossoming friendship with Anthony Edwards, as well as their chemistry during their playing for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, contributed to the anticipation that he might join the Timberwolves.
