”Chris Paul, KD & Booker…We’re good with those three guys” - Charles Barkley advocates trading Kevin Durant to Suns, says Suns would have a superstar trio against Suns bench warmers and picks
Kevin Durant shocked the basketball world in late June when he requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Not only did Durant want a trade, but he also had a short list of preferred destinations.
One of those teams included the Phoenix Suns, who remain hungry to get back to the NBA Finals. After an eye-opening display last season, Phoenix was upset in the second round by the Dallas Mavericks. The team featured superstars such as Devin Booker and Chris Paul. But acquiring Durant could make them a dangerous force.
Fast forward to today, and Durant still remains with the Brooklyn Nets. On "The Bill Simmons Show," analyst and NBA legend Charles Barkley shared his thoughts. Barkley stressed that the Suns should have done everything to get Durant as long as it didn't involve Booker or CP3.
"I said 'Do they want Booker and Chris Paul?' They're like 'No, they don't want them.' I says, 'Well, give it to 'em then!' Chris Paul, KD and Booker? We're good!"
Barkley thinks Phoenix should have traded for KD. If they kept Booker/CP3 I don’t disagree. Unclear if it was on the table but he seemed confident that it was.
https://t.co/V11HaPKlQj
Could the Phoenix Suns entertain a potential Kevin Durant trade again?
With the Brooklyn Nets (1-3) getting off to a slow start this season, speculation is sure to pick up. That speculation will include whether or not the Nets will entertain trade offers for Kevin Durant.
Durant's situation is tricky. When he's been healthy, he's one of the NBA's most dominant forces. The problem is that in the last two seasons, he's played a total of 90 games. Another challenge is his current contract situation.
KD recently just signed a hefty contract extension, one that isn't set to expire until the end of the 2025-26 season. Although Durant has been dominant, the recently turned 34-year-old could come with some risk.
Phoenix has been on the verge of winning an NBA championship, falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 Finals. They are ready to go all in on getting back to the biggest stage. This is a team that just went 64-18 last season and still has the majority of its roster intact.
Kevin Durant this season:
32 Points, 3 Rebounds, 2 Assists
27 Points, 5 Rebounds, 6 Assists
37 Points, 5 Rebounds, 4 Assists
33 Points, 6 Rebounds, 3 Assists
Nets 1-3. https://t.co/5uMw5FJgSu
The Suns were the favorite to land Kevin Durant when trade negotiations were taking place. Those talks seemed to fall apart when it was reported that Brooklyn didn't want big man Deandre Ayton. Time will tell if that narrative will change, as Ayton signed an extension with the Suns this offseason.
For now, it looks as if the basketball world will wait to see what develops. Fans will be watching the Brooklyn Nets closely, as the team has gotten off to a slow start. If things continue to trend in the wrong direction, Durant could once again look to be on the move.