In case you have not seen the news by now, the Phoenix Suns have acquired 13-time All Star Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade just before the deadline.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!But at what cost?
Well, just Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder (not that he was playing anyways), and FOUR first-round picks.
While the Nets all of a sudden are set up to be a playoff team for the next decade, the Suns have become legit title contenders for this season.
Both teams got what they wanted out of the trade; Phoenix is well-positioned for the short term, and Brooklyn appears to be a long-term threat.
A true win-win situation.
Or is it?
The winner of this trade will be obvious by around the halfway point of June.
Mat Ishbia has made it clear: He is willing to take the risk, and it is NBA Finals or bust.
The Mavericks’ acquisition of Kyrie Irving last week triggered a frenzy of panic in Phoenix.
After all, if the Suns could not get past Dallas with only Luka, how in the world would they advance past Dallas with Luka plus an eight-time All Star added to the roster.
A conscious decision was made in the Phoenix front office: If we do not act now, our championship window will close, and Booker will be gone before we know it.
However, given that Durant will be 35 years old by the start of next season, the Suns must win the NBA Finals this season or they risk jeopardizing their future.
Ishbia is all in, and now it is up to Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Chris Paul to bring home the first championship victory in Suns history.
For a team that has made the playoffs 30 times with nothing to show for it, that ring is long overdue. Fans want it, the city needs it, and now, their chances may be better than ever.
