The Phoenix Suns have a crucial offseason ahead of them as they try to turn their roster into a contending one once again.
Of course, the Suns’ big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal has been a major letdown, especially this season after they finished 11th in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign.
Because of this, Phoenix is expected to move on from both Durant and Beal this summer to rebuild their roster around Booker.
Suns stars Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant look on while playing the Clippers.
Suns stars Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant look on while playing the Clippers.
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Despite this, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz recently came up with a bold trade prediction that would instead allow the Suns to keep Durant and Booker together while being able to add another star player to form a new star trio.
“Before the Phoenix Suns trade Kevin Durant this summer, the franchise should make a call to the (Philadelphia) 76ers and see if they'd agree to a Bradley Beal-George swap,” Swartz wrote. “Both contracts are atrocious, although George would make for a far better fit than Beal on a Suns team between Devin Booker and Durant.”
While this trade could work out for the Suns, the 76ers would likely want more in return rather than just swapping George for Beal due to Beal’s play over the last few seasons.
Of course, George struggled in his first season in Philadelphia, mainly due to injuries, but he could bounce back in Phoenix alongside Durant and Booker, especially if the Suns were able to add a true starting point guard and upgrade their center position.
Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George
Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George
© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Despite this, George is similar to Beal due to his injury history and it may already be too late for the Suns to repair their relationship with Durant after surprisingly shopping him at the trade deadline.
Because of this, it is likely that the Suns will instead stick to their rumored plan of moving on from both Durant and Beal this offseason to rebuild their roster around Booker as they try to make their roster into a contender.