The blockbuster commerce of the season Wednesday evening when you have been sleeping. By now, you’ve heard that Kevin Durant is not a Brooklyn Web and is heading west (once more) to affix the Phoenix Suns. That’s proper, one other stacked deck, formally proving he can’t do it together with his “personal” group. Durant to wherever however Brooklyn was on the desk final summer time, and the Phoenix was one in all his alternative locations. At the moment, the Nets determined to play hardball, mentioning to KD how he had 4 years left on his present take care of the group. All that robust speak lasted lower than 4 months into the season, and right here we’re.

On paper, this commerce appears to be like like the newest tremendous group forming to take over the NBA the identical method Durant and the Warriors did in 2016. It’s exhausting to imagine that passed off 6.5 years in the past. Durant was blasted by nearly everybody in sports activities media and followers who weren’t cheering for Golden State. This time there doesn’t appear to be fairly as a lot vitriol geared toward Durant over this commerce. Though we now have but to listen to Charles Barkley’s ideas on the commerce. Timing is every part, because it appears there would’ve been extra animosity for KD had this gotten achieved over the summer time versus hours earlier than the commerce deadline. It’s the identical commerce, however the environment round it feels totally different.

Legacy

It’s now protected to say that with this commerce, Durant is admitting how exhausting it’s to be the person, put a group collectively, and win. LeBron James has obtained flack for over a decade for stacking the deck in his favor, however he’s gained every time he’s achieved it. Brooklyn was a failed experiment that was supposed to provide no less than one championship. No less than, that’s what we have been led to imagine when he and Kyrie Irving joined the Nets a couple of years in the past. The addition of James Harden solely raised expectations, which they fell wanting undertaking.

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In the past, Durant admitted he doesn’t need to be a frontrunner and isn’t one. However then Draymond Inexperienced known as him a b*tch, coupled with the love he wasn’t getting since that’s Steph Curry’s group, so KD fled to Brooklyn. As soon as he realized it wasn’t occurring in Brooklyn, it was time to get out of city.

There’s no disgrace in not being a frontrunner as a result of that isn’t a job meant for everybody. However following in LeBron’s footsteps could be difficult. He’s shaped a number of Huge threes or tremendous groups and gained titles for 3 franchises. Durant did it as soon as with the Nets and couldn’t get previous the second spherical of the playoffs. It wasn’t way back that many thought of KD the perfect participant within the league. If it hasn’t been already, it’s time to place that fantasy to relaxation. He’s not the perfect participant within the NBA, that’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Durant isn’t a high 10 all-time participant, regardless of how a lot you need that to be true.

Suns championship?

So, now we’re going to see everybody decide the Suns to win the west and subsequently go on to defeat whoever comes out of the east within the NBA Finals. I’m not fully offered on that notion as a result of this isn’t precisely just like the scenario when Durant arrived in Golden State. A few of you don’t need to hear this, however it’s good to. Chris Paul isn’t Chef Curry. He wasn’t six years in the past, and he definitely isn’t now. Devin Booker is magnificent, however they are going to want him to be as wholesome as doable heading into the postseason. The identical goes for KD, who can’t appear to shake the nagging damage bug recently. Even at full power, with CP3 taking massive dips in main statistical classes, let’s not hand that Larry O’Brien trophy over simply but.

Phoenix is undoubtedly a favourite now, however depth goes to be a problem the identical method it turned one whereas KD was a Warrior. The Suns gave up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Jae Crowder, who hasn’t performed all season. Even with out Crowder, many of the Suns’ role-player manufacturing got here from Bridges and Johnson. Though choosing up TJ Warren within the deal helps. However the Suns will now try to do with Durant what he couldn’t do in Brooklyn. The second half of the NBA calendar simply received extra intriguing.