The Phoenix Suns Trade - by Moses

 From Phoenix;  Mikal Bridges (SF - age 26), Jae Crowder (SF/PF - age 32), Cam Johnson (SF - age 27), four 1st Round Draft Picks and additional draft compensation to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant (PF - age 34) and T.J. Warren (SF/PF - age 29).  

      This is the deal that shook the Basketball World at the trade deadline this year.  Durant is having his usual 29 PTS/G season in a superlative 16 year career to date.  He probably has another three strong years in his 34 year old body at the level he's at (Prime-time).  Warren is definitely under-rated as he was only getting about 20 Minutes/Game in Brooklyn and he was a former Sun who was getting 31.6 Minutes/Game as recent as 2018/19 with Phoenix and was averaging 18 PTS/G (over a number of years with the Suns).  The Brooklyn Nets may not be the playoff threat of going deep into the playoffs now with the trading of Durant and Kyrie Irving (traded yesterday) but look stoked to benefit immensely should they receive a 2024 1st Round Draft Pick as Mikal Bridges could be inserted into the Nets lineup and two 2024 1st Round picks  (with one this season) will in all likelihood bring in one or two superstars to the Nets for their 2024/25 team.  A day after the Kyrie Irving deal' makes this one almost imperative as the psychology in New York was go big or go home.  They will have a surplus of Draft Picks for the near future; including eleven First Round Picks to draw from over the next six years and at least eight 2nd Round Draft picks over the same time.  

  As a result of the deal here is what the Phoenix Suns look like on paper;

Center 

1.  Deandre Ayton (age 26)

2.  Bismack Biyombo (age 30)

3.  Jock Landale (age 27)

4.  Dario Saric (age 29)

Power Forward

1.  Kevin Durant (age 34)

2.  Cameron Johnson (age 27)

3.  T.J. Warren (age 29)

4.  Dario Saric (age 29)

Small Forward

1.  T.J. Warren (age 29)

2.  Torrey Craig (age 32)   

3.  Cameron Johnson (age 27)

4.  Ish Wainright  (age 29)

 

Point Guard

1.  Chris Paul (age 38)

2.  Cameron Payne (age 28)

3.  Saben Lee (age 24) 

4.  Landry Shamet (age 26)

Shooting Guard

1.  Devin Booker (age 27)

2.  Cameron Payne (age 28)

3.  Saben Lee (age 24)

4.  Landry Shamet (age 26)

      As a result of the Brooklyn Nets trading away their two superstars this years' team probably won't be a  threat to do anything significant in the playoffs over the next two years but look to be a playoff force to be reckoned with in about four years. 

  As for the acquisition of Kevin Durant and what that means to the Suns hopes of winning the NBA Championship over the next three years goes up immensely with the performance AND experience of Kevin Durant and Chris Paul.  Personally, to the educated basketball fan, it looks like the Phoenix Suns are the favorites to win the Championship after this years' trade deadline.