Everyone is suggesting teams left and right, but this one is the best for both parties involved
The Phoenix Suns have been the topic of discussion all offseason long as they look to make some significant changes. Being in salary cap hell, the obvious moves for this team are right in front of them, and it sadly causes the team to move off one of its stars.
For the Suns to seemingly get out of this mess caused by trading for Bradley Beal, they will have to look to move off Kevin Durant’s $50 million contract to do so. By doing that, though, they still want to remain competitive and take a lower salary if they can. This will be tough for the front office to secure, especially with a new GM.
That being said, the Suns have a team that should be interested and has enough value not to sell the farm for Durant completely.
Durant Heads to Texas, but Not Houston
The Suns would call the San Antonio Spurs to finalize a deal, sending them Kevin Durant. In return, the Suns would receive a combination of the players listed, including the 14th pick in this year’s draft.
- Devin Vassell
- Harrison Barnes
- Keldon Johnson
- Jeremy Sochan
Why Phoenix is Interested
Phoenix needs all the help it can get alongside Devin Booker. Adding the best value or the best talent around him will spark the dream of this team staying competitive. Even if it is not a top seed in the Western Conference, competitive games are hard-fought every night, with the ability to win at any point, something we failed to see this season.
Now, all these players would present different roles for the Suns, but each would help in an area of need for this team.
Not to mention the 14th pick as well. With the Spurs having two first-round picks and already making a move for De’Aaron Fox last season, they would like to get better. Keeping the two picks is rumored to be something they want to retain, but could 14 be a piece to trade for Phoenix? Especially if you can somehow trade from 14 up to your original pick at 10? This would allow the team to add a talent who can make an immediate impact alongside their rookie Ryan Dunn, Devin Booker, and whoever they acquire in this return for KD.
Breakdown of each player and what they bring to Phoenix
Devin Vassell is a solid shot creator and scorer on a team-friendly contract. He can slot alongside Devin Booker into the starting lineup and be the primary salary they get back. At $27 million for four years, it is not only not too much, but a movable contract if the fit is not there. With San Antonio having an excess of guards (Fox, Castle, Harper, assuming they keep the pick), Vassell could be one of the players out of this new look San Antonio.
Harrison Barnes was a valuable role player for the Spurs team and can bring that same skill set to Phoenix. He is a solid three-point shooter and can play solid defense as a bench wing. Additionally, he is on a $22 million expiring contract, which the Suns could look to trade at the deadline if they fail to meet the expectations set before the season. The only reason he may not be moved is due to the shooting he provides alongside their guards and Wemby, but they are adding KD to replace that.
Keldon Johnson may be the most questionable of all the possible options to acquire in a trade. Since his rookie season, his role in San Antonio has decreased each year, and he has not been able to replicate his dominant year. That being said, he still has some untapped potential as a slashing wing for this rotation, something this team lacks. At $17.5 million a year, he is someone they can evaluate and try to develop into his best. If not, they have the following year to assess and try to use his contract to acquire a better fit.
Jeremy Sochan will likely be the most difficult to acquire from the Spurs. His dominance as a defender and passer on the wing is very intriguing. Adding him to this Suns team would bring something the team has yet to see. Similar to Johnson, though, his rookie year was his best, and he has not exceeded those expectations. Even though he is their most prized possession for the Spurs, as he is still on his rookie deal, adding Durant would take his spot at power forward.
Why the Spurs Make this Deal
The Spurs, as I mentioned earlier, are interested in winning and strengthening their position in the Western Conference. After adding a player like Fox, pursuing one like Durant would further strengthen that case. Now, the Spurs have been mentioned in rumors for Giannis Antetokounmpo. In that situation, they would have to sell not only both lottery picks but also some players and additional draft capital. That may be an enormous leap, but Durant is a smaller one.
By adding Durant, they then build a nucleus of at least Fox, Castle, and Harper if they keep pick 2. Wemby and Durant, along with other role players, and the ones who can be added in free agency. The Spurs loved running three-guard lineups with Wemby last season, and I do not see that changing. Additionally, they would also have one, if not two, of the players listed above, as the Suns cannot acquire all four.
Depending on the trade, it would also allow them to have flexibility in making other moves to fill out holes on this roster. Once again, San Antonio does not need two lottery picks, and this step gets them closer to contention.
With Durant on a one-year deal, too, you are not giving up the whole farm for him. Even if he’s a rental, you gain the ability to showcase other stars if they do come to your city, you can win with this core. If he does commit long-term, you then hit a home run swing.
What Deals are Possible?
With the combination of contracts, there are multiple ways the teams could agree to a deal that benefits both parties.
- Spurs Receive: Kevin Durant
- Suns Receive: Jeremy Sochan, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, 2025 14th Overall Picks
This is my favorite deal, but it also gets the Suns exactly what they want: wings and plenty of them. They can run multiple combinations of this lineup alongside Booker, add depth, and find someone to develop in Sochan alongside the 14th pick.
The Spurs lose all their wing depth, similar to the Suns when they acquired Durant. The Spurs can then run their three-guard lineups with Vassell still on the roster, or use his contract to acquire a wing on the market.
- Spurs Receive: Kevin Durant
- Suns Receive: Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, 2025 14th Overall Pick
This is less than the first, but maybe this is where Durant’s actual value sits following the evaluation. Phoenix does add and save money, but it does not get the pieces it lacks on this roster.
San Antonio is happy about this one as they get to keep wings and still use them in more future deals. This scenario represents the last case for the Suns in a deal with these two teams.
- Spurs Receive Kevin Durant
- Suns Receive: Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, 2025 14th Overall Pick
In this deal, Phoenix is banking on the youth prospects of San Antonio in a bit of a reset. They hope to develop or turn these players into ones who can complement Booker’s play, filling in roles they currently lack.
For San Antonio, the only difference is keeping Barnes over Vasell. This could be due to value or a better fit on the team. Barnes can provide shooting at the wing alongside Durant, while also adding defense in free agency.
- Spurs Receive Kevin Durant
- Suns Receive: Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, 2025 14th Overall Pick
Once again, there is only one tweak, and that is Barnes for Johnson going to Phoenix. If San Antonio feels they have enough shooting with Durant, keeping a wing who can slash, and could also bring in assets in the future, it could be the reason.
Final Thoughts
Truly, the trade will have to involve three players for Phoenix to want to finalize the deal. As the offseason draws closer, the answers to all our questions about this team will finally be revealed. The question is, do you think it will succeed?
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