Why the Suns, the Rockets won the Kevin Durant trade

It’s not too common for two teams to come out victorious in a franchise-changing trade. Well, that can be said for Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets after trading for Kevin Durant during the offseason.

Many thought Houston won the trade by a landslide, and many thought Phoenix was starting a rebuild. It may have only been 17 games, but both sides could have emerged victorious.

Let me explain.

Long before Durant arrived in the Valley of the Sun, the organization was in desperate need of a culture change. Some thought the change would come thanks to the All-NBA forward.

However, Phoenix needed more than players to bring back the old days. One superstar striker will not be the catalyst for immediate change.

Two head coaches later, as well as an injury-riddled roster and stuck in salary cap purgatory, the team decided to blow it all.

It wasn’t popular, but it had to be done. Fast forward to November, and both sides seem to be winning.

Kevin Durant thrives on the Rockets, unlike the Suns

From a statistical perspective, Durant did well with the Suns. He even did a lot more than what was in the statistics. He was a leader, a captain in the end times, and really lifted the Phoenix to a lot of wins.

However, something was wrong. The trio of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, mixed with smart veterans and an offensive-minded head coach in Mike Budenholzer, had a recipe for success. However, midway through the year, he and Durant had a falling out on the bench that both played down.

Near the trade deadline, Phoenix offered the latter in trade to the Golden State Warriors for Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Cummings, who was quickly shot down. At that point it was the beginning of the end. But that didn’t happen Durant suffered a sprained ankleending his season and time in Phoenix. Ironically, that game was against his current team.

Currently, Durant is thriving in H-Town and has an ideal addition to the stars. Guys like Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson led the way.

Not to mention, Durant took Reid Shepard and Jabari Smith Jr. under his wing. But that doesn’t mean the multiple All-Star didn’t perform at his usual level. Has a +10 rating when on the field. Even with his statistical averages down, he’s not being asked to score 30+ every game. Durant is being asked to be that guy when the time comes.

The duo of him and Sengun was a fascinating tandem to watch. Combining that with the defensive philosophy of head coach Ime Udoka, it allows Durant to play free and pure competitive basketball. They are second in net rating (+10.3), first in offensive rating (124.1), ninth in defensive rating (113.8) and sixth in winning percentage (71.4%).

Losing just four games during this stretch of the season is an accomplishment, but so is what the Suns are doing.

The Suns may have had addition by subtraction with Kevin Durant

This is not to say that Durant was the reason for the Suns’ complete collapse over the past two seasons. In fact, he tried to save it as much as he could with his game. But his trade led to a retooling unlike any other, as general manager Brian Gregory alluded to. And it could be safely said that he was right.

They got Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the draft rights to Khaman Maluach and a number of second round picks. At first, the proposal seemed like a slap in the face, but Durant requested a trade to Houston, and Phoenix delivered.

What they knew before anyone else was who they were going to get back. Brooks immediately made the team his own, and his vision is aligned with the front office, head coach Jordan Ott and his teammates.

In addition, every team that Brooks has been a part of has seen a big increase in wins and defensive improvement. It’s early, but so far so far.

And this doesn’t include Jalen Green, who has been sidelined by the Suns with a lingering hamstring injury. In his first game he showed potential with him and Booker on a one and two. Green’s athleticism and rebounding ability complement Booker’s smarts and basketball acumen.

Kevin Durant will not be in Phoenix until the end of the season

As previously reported on Sunday, Durant will miss the Rockets’ game against the Suns due to a personal family matter. The next chance the teams will face each other in the desert will be in April.

Until then, if both teams continue on their successful trajectories, the story could shift from Durant’s return to how both teams perform in either potential playoff position.