The NBA Finals are set. Indiana and Oklahoma City, two franchises built through patience and vision, are now battling for a championship. Meanwhile, in Phoenix, the Suns remain coachless, drifting in uncertainty, trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube of roster questions under the watchful eye of new general manager Brian Gregory.
With each postseason exit, a new door opens for speculation. Every fallen contender invites the same question: could they use a star like Phoenix Suns All-Star forward Kevin Durant? The Knicks, fresh off a six-game loss to the Pacers, might think so. We haven’t fired up the trade machine yet here at Bright Side, but rest assured, that time is coming.
As more teams hover near the edge of contention, Durant’s name will echo louder. He is available. He is still elite. And for a league always looking for the missing piece, he might be enough to push a team over the top.
But that raises the question: what would it cost? And the bigger one: what needs to happen for the Suns to actually pull the trigger?
Every offseason has its domino. That one player whose availability, whether via trade or free agency, holds the market hostage while the rest of the league waits. Last summer, it was Paul George. Teams lined up with interest, hesitant to commit elsewhere until George made his decision. Only after he landed in Philadelphia did the floodgates open and the rest of the board start to move.
This summer feels familiar. But the name drawing the most attention isn’t Kevin Durant, despite his Hall of Fame résumé and generational scoring talent. No, he’s not the crown jewel this time.
That would be Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As Mark Stein reported Saturday, the looming decision around Giannis casts a long shadow over the Durant market. Teams are monitoring. Waiting. Because before they chase Plan B, they want to see if Plan A ever becomes real.
“The expectation persists that Durant will ultimately reach the trade market this offseason, but it might not happen until there is clarity on whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will be staying in Milwaukee or seeking a trade of his own,” Stein said via his Substack.
There’s a lot to take from the current chatter, and a few things that are especially worth noting.
The rumors around Kevin Durant? They’ve been steady. They’re not going away. And most signs point toward a summer in which the Phoenix Suns explore, and likely execute, a deal to move on from him.
From both a short- and long-term standpoint, it makes sense. Durant is due for what would be his fourth maximum extension, and that’s a nearly impossible contract to build around. Teams have struggled for years to construct sustainable success around aging superstars on third max deals. Durant would be pushing a fourth. Phoenix knows this. They’ve lived it. Two full seasons. Zero playoff wins. The math doesn’t work.
As Mark Stein reported over the weekend, Giannis’ looming decision is influencing how front offices operate. He’s not on the market...yet. But teams are watching. Waiting. Strategizing. Because if the Greek Freak becomes available, everything shifts.
The Knicks. The Rockets. The Spurs. The Timberwolves. Each of them, with varying cap structures and timelines, would move mountains to bring Giannis into the fold. He’s 30. Still in his prime. Still capable of altering a franchise’s trajectory overnight. These are the types of players you don’t get a second shot at.
The problem? Milwaukee hasn’t tipped its hand. Giannis is under contract for three more years at $175.3 million. No official word has emerged about his intentions. Until it does, everything is speculation. But once that decision comes — whether he stays, leaves, or merely flirts with change — the league will react. Fast.
And for Phoenix? That’s when things could get real.
Because if Giannis stays in Milwaukee or lands elsewhere, teams that had been holding out hope will have to pivot. Quickly. And Durant becomes the fallback plan. A very good one, still. But make no mistake: KD’s next team will want more than just a rental. He’ll want security. An extension. That complicates things, but it doesn’t kill the market.
It only sharpens the question: what’s the price?
The Suns, reportedly open to working with Durant to find a landing spot, may ultimately need to put sentiment aside. This isn’t about making him happy. This is about reshaping the franchise. Maximizing return. Building around Devin Booker in a way that gives this team a real three-year runway.
Because three years from now, Booker will be 31. And if Phoenix doesn’t figure this out now, they’ll be the ones watching the next superstar ponder his future.
The dominoes are lining up. And soon, they’ll start to fall. So dust off the bones. It’s almost time to play.
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