Suns All-Star Expected to Be Traded Before NBA Trade Deadline
It has become common for All-Star or superstar NBA players to be traded either during the offseason or around the trade deadline. This trend is anticipated to continue into the 2024-25 NBA season, with the trade deadline set for February 6, 2025.
In an article published by ESPN on August 19, two insiders predicted that the Phoenix Suns would trade their star player, Kevin Durant, before the crucial 2025 deadline.
Other notable players mentioned in the discussion include Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine, Trae Young, Jimmy Butler, and Darius Garland.
If these predictions hold true, Durant would be traded for the second time in three years, following his midseason move from the Brooklyn Nets to the Suns at the 2023 trade deadline.
Durant joined Phoenix amid high expectations, especially with the presence of another superstar, Devin Booker. However, the Suns have underachieved during Durant’s first two years with the team, losing in the second round of the 2023 playoffs to the Nuggets and suffering a first-round sweep by the Timberwolves the following year.
Are the Suns Title Contenders?
The situation worsened as the Suns were not expected to perform much better in the 2024-25 season, despite adding new talent like Tyus Jones and Monte Morris to improve the point guard position.
ESPN predicted that the Suns would win 46.5 games, tying them for the seventh seed in the Western Conference alongside the Thunder (55.5), Timberwolves (52.5), Nuggets (52.5), Mavericks (50.5), Grizzlies (47.5), and Kings (46.5). Additionally, the Suns were forecasted to compete with teams like the Pelicans (45.5) and Lakers (44.5) for a spot in the play-in tournament and a chance to reach the playoffs.