Bright Side Reacts: Grading the Kevin Durant trade and what it says about Phoenix’s vision

What does the Bright Side crew think of the deal?

We’ve all had a few days to let it sink in. The deal is official. After months of speculation and a carousel of false starts, Kevin Durant has been traded to the Houston Rockets. The return? Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the 10th overall pick. Oh, and five second-round picks. It’s done.

But what does it all mean?

What does this trade signal for the future of the Phoenix Suns? And how does our writing team evaluate the move, not just in terms of value, but vision?

That’s what we’re unpacking in this edition of Bright Side Reacts.

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John Voita

Grade: B-

It’s always hard to judge these things in the moment. When you follow the team as closely as we do, there’s emotion involved. Fatigue. The exhaustion of waiting for the inevitable and just wanting it to be over.

Let’s start with the obvious: Kevin Durant is one of the greatest players in NBA history. But he turns 37 in December and is set to earn a $120+ million contract extension. For a team already financially hamstrung, and with the rest of the league well aware of that, the return was always going to feel underwhelming.

So what did the Suns get back? Another shooting guard and Dillon Brooks. Yeah, that’s underwhelming. We all knew, mathematically, that Jalen Green was likely going to be in the deal. That doesn’t make it any easier to absorb. But Green is just 23 years old, still full of upside, with elite athleticism and the ability to score in bunches. He’s essentially a younger, healthier version of Bradley Beal.

As for Dillon Brooks? I’ve said it before. He’s got one of the most punchable faces in the NBA. But he’s also a “fuck shit up” guy in the best possible way. He’s chaos. Controlled chaos. And now, that chaos is wearing purple and orange. I actually love his contract. It declines over the next two years, going from $21.1 million to $20 million. That’s valuable financial flexibility.

It certainly would have been nice to get Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, or Tair Eason in the deal. And by not getting any one of those young talents, this transaction will be harshly judged, as well it should be.

The real surprise was the draft capital. I thought Phoenix would end up with two players and maybe two picks. Instead, they walk away with two solid players and six total draft picks. That’s why I’m giving this trade a B-. They worked the margins well. No, they didn’t get back their 2027 or 2029 firsts, but they picked up enough ammunition to potentially move off other deals if needed.

The worst part of last season was that the Suns were losing and they had no future. Now? There’s a future. It’s not fully defined yet, and more moves are coming, but the room feels a little less dark today.

Brandon Duenas

Grade: C-

The Suns’ return was nothing to write home about. Look, you got two starters from a very good Rockets team a year ago. That said, Brooks is who he is, and Green is a problematic fit next to Devin Booker. I’m not sure what the vision is overall, but it looks like the Suns settled for an OK offer just to get it done and over with. Not getting at least one of Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, OR another 1st round pick back is inexcusable. What they do with the 10th pick will make-or-break this deal. There has to be more to come, which is the only reason I have not given this a D+ or worse.

Holden Sherman

Grade: B-

Yeah..That’s what Woj tweeted shortly after the Rockets traded for the Suns picks from the Brooklyn Nets right before the draft last year. Looking at the landscape of the trade market and seeing how this was trending, this package is about on par with what was being reported. Getting a lottery pick in a loaded draft like this one gives the team a chance at a get out of jail free card if they draft the right player, but if the Suns didn’t openly flaunt the idea that they were trading Durant, maybe they could’ve gotten more from the Rockets who made it clear that they wanted him, even a year ago.

Jake aka FallenFounder

Grade: A

So excited to see this failed experiment is over. While not necessarily Durant’s fault, the Suns have slid backward every year he has been here. He is called one of the best playoff players ever. That is only good if you make the playoffs.

Durant is an all-time great, but he is so chill he makes Iceman look for a blanket. This team needed hustle. It needs players who fight for their place, not someone who has accepted their greatness.

Brooks has always had a chip on his shoulder. Green certainly should know if he didn’t already. The #10 pick and a bucket of 2nd-rounders complete the deal for me.

Suns got hard workers and trade capital. We weren’t going anywhere with Durant. Now I’m excited to see where the future will go.

Bruce Veliz

Grade: B

The Suns get some good value back in performing a trade that needed to be done. Should they have gotten one of Jabari, Tari, or Reed? Yes, but that should not completely rule out this move. The Suns got Dillion Brooks, a solid defender, a top-ten pick they could use to draft the center everyone wants them to get, and Jalen Green. PLUS 5 Second round picks. This deal that went down also cannot be completed until July 6th because of this trade; the poison pill restriction was activated. This allows the Suns to get other teams involved and make this trade even better for them, if they do choose to.

Ashton

Grade: C-

So, seriously Suns fans, what did you really get back in return? Another shooting guard and a small forward in this trade? Expectations of another trade on the horizon? Perhaps Beal is waived and stretched, and perhaps he is not. That is a log jam at SG with no real answers in the frontcourt. I hope there is a Plan B because the frontcourt depth is looking pretty thin. If the Suns do small ball team lineups again, there will be riots on Van Buren

Now, the tenth pick is interesting, and that is more in my wheelhouse. But I also agree with most pundits that this draft evens out across the board. I spoke about the top three picks to avoid, while calling out Houston as the preferred trading partner.

Outside of Ace Bailey (he is falling rapidly on some mock boards), I actually need to whistle another tune stating that I did not like Khaman Muluch and Carter Bryant as potential number ten picks. Would you take Ace Bailey at 10? Tough question. But you would. No-brainer. Ace is a shooting guard, in case you did not know.

Final thought, a bunch of second-rounders are not as enticing as they once were. Every draft analysis will need to take into consideration that these players are seniors who ran out of NIL options. Watch the college game and determine for yourself whom you would pick in the second round.

Kevin Humpherys

Grade: C+

The Suns got back two quality-level starters in Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. Despite being below 6-foot-6, these two guys bring defensive ability and athleticism, something the Suns have sorely lacked for the last two seasons. Half of the Suns’ roster is now shooting guards, which I expect to change in the next few weeks with Royce O’Neal, Grayson Allen, and of course Bradley Beal all being expendable. The Suns could even try and find a landing spot for Green if a suitor presents itself.

Arizona Sports’ John Gambodoro has reported the Suns want to keep Green, but we will see if that is true or if they are trying to build up Green’s trade value. It was disappointing to not get back Jabari Smith Jr. or another big wing back from Houston but getting the 10th pick in the draft was more important to this front office than playing possum to try and get one of Houston’s forwards after the draft. This trade was not a home run by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a leadoff double and a bunt to advance the runner to third base. Now the Suns have to get the runner home on Wednesday in the NBA Draft.

Archie Frazer

Grade: B-

It’s not a terrible return, but it’s too soon to judge, given we don’t know what’s happening with Jalen Green. If he, Booker, and Beal are all on the roster come the start of the season, then my grade would drop significantly. If the return in a Green trade is poor, then my grade is dropping again. Best case scenario, we get Beal off the book,s and then I can sort of see the vision. If you can turn Green, Grayson Allen, and Royce O’Neale into a starting PG, PF, and C, then that probably pushes it up to a B+ (maybe even an A- given the circumstances). I would’ve liked a Kel’el Ware or a Jabari Smith Jr,. but beggars can’t be choosers.

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What grade do you give the Suns for this transaction? And why?