Suns could win Kevin Durant trade if they find a gem with No. 10 pick

The Suns need help. They need luck. They need roster rehabilitation. They need size, strength and attitude. They need reinforcements at every position but shooting guard. They badly need a gem of a player to drop in their laps on Wednesday.

Have mercy, basketball gods. Just once.

Following the trade of Kevin Durant to Houston, the 2025 NBA Draft also represents a chance for the Suns front office to gain much-needed credibility. If they can deliver a promising big man (I like Derik Queen, Khaman Maluach and Collin Murray-Boyles) and a promising point guard (I love Walter Clayton Jr. and Ryan Nembhard), it will go a long way in quieting the intense discomfort of Suns fans.

It’s also a chance for the Suns front office to select the player of their choosing, to build according to their vision. Unlike the results of the Kevin Durant trade, which some have likened to an episode of “Punk’d.”

During an appearance on ESPN, Brian Windhorst explained how the Rockets and Durant essentially collaborated on his trade to Houston, making sure the Suns received only a modest return in exchange. He said Durant kept declining trade proposals until the price sunk to Houston’s liking, and that’s when the Rockets pounced.

“The price was so low they just couldn’t say no,” Windhorst said. “The Rockets had this happen because Kevin Durant controlled this process.”

Sad fact: The Rockets could’ve easily thrown in another player like Cam Whitmore to close the deal long before the morning of Game 7 of the NBA Finals; to help the league and the Suns save face. But they knew the game was rigged. The Timberwolves had already left the table.

Did Durant act in good faith? Did he simply exploit his leverage in a much quieter but equally lethal manner as Jimmy Butler? All that’s certain is his awkward goodbye to Suns fans:

“I mean, they wanted me to go,” Durant told Kay Adams. “I’m glad they got what they wanted, and I got what I wanted, so good luck to them.”

Sorry, but this is not at all what Suns fans wanted. They wanted Durant to find his forever home in Phoenix. They wanted a victory parade in Phoenix on Tuesday, not in Oklahoma City. They wanted a lot more magic from the pairing of Durant and Devin Booker. Along with a lot more leadership, effort and defense.

It will be strange watching Durant next season. His return to Phoenix as a member of the Rockets might incite quite the scene. But the Suns have the No. 10 pick in Wednesday’s draft. And if they luck into finding their next superstar, they may win this trade in the end.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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