Phoenix Suns Must Approach Kevin Durant Trade One Way

Phoenix Suns must approach Kevin Durant trade this way

With the new general manager in place and his relationship with Mat Ishbia being what it is, it's clear Gregory was hand-picked for this job. As a result, he now faces the difficult decision of what to do with Durant. It was rumored the Suns were looking to move Durant at the trade deadline in February, but no such deal was made.

A recent mock trade from ESPN's Bobby Marks has the Suns trading Durant to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, Mike Conley, and the 17th overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith warns the Suns to do the deal for the right reason.

“This cannot be, ‘I’m doing the star a favor looking to move.' This is about you if you’re Mat Ishbia and the Phoenix Suns," Smith said. "This is about you making sure that you get it right.”

While the Suns will want to do right by Durant regarding which team they send him to if they do indeed decide to trade him, the fact of the matter is that he doesn't have a no-trade clause. 

So, while they'll want to appease him, they also have to ensure that they're not turning down a better offer or trade package just to make him happy.

It remains to be seen who will land Durant, but adding a player of his caliber doesn't happen every day and will be of a sizable magnitude when it does.