The Phoenix Suns had been trying to trade Kevin Durant, dating back to the NBA trade deadline. That gave Phoenix plenty of time to determine what type of trade return they coveted. Though, after changing general managers, the Suns’ trade negotiations may have had to start from scratch.
Still, even the Suns’ new decision-makers spent weeks negotiating a Durant trade before deciding to ship him to the Houston Rockets for a package led by Jalen Green. Yet, before the Suns accepted the Rockets’ offer, they reportedly tried landing an actual All-Star.
According to [ESPN’s NBA insider Brian Windhorst](https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/280948/Suns-Magic-Inquired-With-Cavaliers-On-Darius-Garland-Trade), the Suns reached out to the Cleveland Cavaliers about the availability of two-time All-Star point guard Darius Garland.
> “The Suns, from what I’m told, reached out and had interest in Garland. It was not the Cavs who wanted to trade Garland. The Cavs said the only way they would ever consider this would be if the Suns sent Kevin Durant plus other assets. And the Suns didn’t hang up the phone. I’ll just point out that the Suns own the Cavs 2029 first round pick because they got it from the Jazz last year. And getting back your own picks in the distant future is somewhat attractive.”
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> ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on Suns chasing Darius Garland
Naturally, the Cavaliers opted to hold onto Garland, at least for now. Meanwhile, the Suns like the trade return they got from the Rockets too.
It’s possible Phoenix balked at the idea of including additional assets, instead trying to focus on whatever Durant fetched all by himself. Either way, if the Suns plan on finding a star point guard, they still have more work to do, but now it’s known they’ve been trying to upgrade one of their biggest weaknesses over the past few years.
**Related: [Phoenix Suns looking to swing another blockbuster trade after moving Kevin Durant](https://sportsnaut.com/nba/phoenix-suns-looking-to-swing-another-blockbuster-trade-after-moving-kevin-durant/)**