We’re setting the table for the mock trades we’ll be serving up this week.
Kevin Durant Mock Trade Week has officially arrived at Bright Side of the Sun.
Over the next five days, I’ll be rolling out five different mock trades sending the 15-time All-Star to new destinations. Each will be designed to improve the Phoenix Suns, whether that improvement comes in the short term, the long term, or somewhere in between. And that distinction matters.
When you trade Kevin Durant, you won’t get back a player of his caliber. If that’s the lens you’re using to evaluate every hypothetical deal, you’ll find yourself disappointed every time. The value in moving Durant isn’t about replacing him player-for-player, it’s about identifying pieces that can provide immediate help, create financial flexibility, and start the multi-season retooling process this franchise desperately needs.
Why a multi-season process? Simple. Because of the financial mismanagement that has happened to this point. Resetting the cap sheet while attempting to bring in talent and draft capital isn’t a one-year fix. It’s going to take patience, smart decision-making, and a clear-eyed view of where this team stands.
Part of that equation also includes draft picks, but I want to be clear: Durant’s value isn’t what many believe it to be.
The notion that Phoenix can fetch two quality players and four first-round picks is pure homerism. He’s 36 years old, still an elite scorer but a step slower defensively, owed $54.7 million next season, and any team acquiring him likely has to commit to a massive extension. That kind of financial weight, in an era where flexibility is currency, chips away at his trade value. The picks meant to “sweeten the pot” might not be there like they once were.
The Suns’ best-case scenario is that a bidding war breaks out. The Knicks vs. Timberwolves, or someone unexpected entering the fray. The more suitors, the higher the potential draft return, and teams like San Antonio have the kind of draft capital that could make things interesting.
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
For full transparency, I’m using the Fanspo trade machine for these mock deals. It’s clean, intuitive, and lets me handle things like waiving players, declining team options, and managing buyouts.
In these exercises, I’m assuming Phoenix declines the team option for Vasilije Micic and waives Cody Martin — whose deal is non-guaranteed — freeing up $16.8 million and sliding them $5.3 million under the second apron. That financial move is important because dropping below the second apron unlocks certain trade tools, like salary aggregation, which matters in deals of this size.
So, starting tomorrow, the mock trades roll out. I’ll stick to the philosophy I just laid out, chasing realistic value, understanding the financial landscape, and recognizing this isn’t a one-season fix.
Got a mock trade you love? Drop it in the comments. If it’s intriguing or plausible, I might just feature it. Let’s get to work.
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