NBA insider implores Suns move on from Kevin Durant in offseason

When the Phoenix Suns traded for Kevin Durant midway through the 2023 season, they envisioned him helping the franchise contend for a championship. Following another failed attempt at achieving this goal, one insider believes it's time for the organization to move on from the former MVP. 

With the regular season over, the Suns have been arguably one of the NBA's biggest disappointments. Despite having a trio of All-Star-level talents on the roster, they failed to reach the postseason. 

Change has already begun in Phoenix, as the franchise dismissed Mike Budenholzer after just one year as head coach. Given the revolving door the team has become in recent seasons, this likely isn't the only move it'll make this offseason. 

In a recent column for ESPN, Brian Windhorst dove into the Suns and what could be next for them. While the team performs much better when he's in the lineup, he feels it's time to move on from Durant. Given the restraints that come with being a second-apron team, trading the star forward gives them their best chance of building a contender around Devin Booker moving forward. 

"But with their sky-high payroll putting them in the NBA's penal second apron, the Suns' ability to adjust the roster is saddled with restrictions that kneecap any flexibility," Windhorst wrote.

"And of the few options they have to seriously alter a roster that failed, looking for a Durant trade is the most logical. They arrived at that conclusion midseason when they tried to trade him."

Though in the twilight of his career, Durant is still one of the premiere talents in the NBA. This season for the Suns, he averaged 26.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 4.2 APG. 

With Booker being a homegrown talent and Bradley Beal having a no-trade clause, trading Durant is the most logical option for the Suns. In the event they do make him available in talks, a large market is sure to form for the longtime star.