I Hate the Kevin Durant Trade For the Suns—And Why It Could Finally Drive Devin Booker Out of Phoenix

There is no way for me to sugarcoat this.

I hate the return the Phoenix Suns got from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade, and I fully expect it to lead to the eventual exit of Devin Booker.

Let me be clear: yes, I know the Suns didn’t have much leverage in this trade. The whole league knew they were going to trade Durant, which meant they were never going to “win” this trade. But the fact that this is the return they settled on for a legend who is still playing great basketball is very underwhelming to me.

And what I really don’t understand is why the Suns and the rest of the league gave Durant so much power or influence on where he ended up. It's not as if Durant was some Suns' franchise legend who delivered a championship to Arizona. In fact, it was the complete opposite. Durant’s time in Phoenix was a flat-out disappointment. They didn’t win anything. In 2023 and 2024, Durant, Booker, and the Suns flamed out in the playoffs, including being swept last season by the Minnesota Timberwolves in Round One. Then in 2025, the team could not even make the play-in tournament as they finished 11th in the Western Conference with a 36-46 record.

Based on his time in Arizona, the Suns didn't owe Durant anything, and they should have just taken the best offer on the table.

The return they accepted from the Houston Rockets includes Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, a top-10 pick in this year's draft, and five future second-round picks. To me, this return just doesn’t make sense for a team that should be trying to win now. Devin Booker is in his prime. He’s already been through years of rebuilding and is likely not interested in being a part of another.

You know what deal made more sense? The one reportedly offered by the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to Suns beat reporter John Gambadoro, the Wolves package included Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, the 17th overall pick, and a young player of Phoenix’s choice between Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr.

That return would have been a solid blend of win-now talent and future assets. Gobert may not be perfect, but he would have anchored the Suns' defense. DiVincenzo is a proven playoff contributor. That’s a deal that keeps you competitive now as well as brings in young talent.

So why didn't the Suns take that deal? Well, apparently Durant didn’t want to go to Minnesota, and that was enough to tank the whole deal.

 I just don't understand it and can’t get behind it.

By letting Durant control the situation, the Suns allowed Durant to walk to Houston for a lackluster return. With this deal, the Rockets are also now able to keep a ton of their better trade assets, which could keep them in position to land another star such as Giannis Antetokounmpo should he ever become available or ask out of Milwaukee.

As for Booker? He’s now stuck in Phoenix, back in a familiar place. Surrounded by a roster that may not even be good enough to make the playoffs for the next couple of years, he may now be forced to watch the playoffs from home in the prime years of his career.

 It’s starting to feel like his early years all over again.

Sure, Booker has said he wants to be like Kobe and stay with one team his whole career. But let’s not forget—even Kobe once asked out. The Lakers responded by getting him Pau Gasol and saving that era of basketball.

The Suns don’t have that move in their back pocket. They’ve emptied their war chest. And unless something changes drastically, they don’t have the pieces to get back into contention anytime soon.

If I’m Devin Booker?

I’m looking for a way out.

And if I’m Booker, I’m calling the Detroit Pistons.

It’s time to go home. Team up with Cade Cunningham. Put on for the city. That duo could be dangerous in the East for years.

Because right now, the Suns look lost, and if Booker stays, he’ll be wasting the prime of his career on a team that is going nowhere.

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