Now a member of the Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant envisioned retiring as a member of the Phoenix Suns whereas he was there.
In an unique interview with Sports activities Illustrated, Durant detailed why issues didn’t work out the way in which he hoped. He additionally delved into what the longer term might maintain in Houston and why that vacation spot labored nicely for him.
“I needed to retire in Phoenix,” Durant mentioned. “I actually had good intentions once I stepped foot in there. The image in your head doesn’t all the time come to fruition.”
The Suns traded Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and 4 unprotected first-round picks to accumulate Durant. It severely depleted the roster depth and adaptability, one thing that solely acquired worse with the commerce for Bradley Beal.
Houston traded Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks and Khaman Maluach as the largest items in a seven-team deal to attain Durant.
Durant Rues Suns Roster Development
Whereas Durant defended the commerce to accumulate him saying he makes up for any degree of belongings surrendered, he criticized the staff’s lack of dimension.
“From a basketball standpoint, I felt like our greatest lineups had been me on the 5 with 4 guards that had been underneath 6′ 5″,” Durant mentioned. “That’s a horrible formulation to win basketball video games at a excessive degree, particularly when groups are consciously getting larger.
“I believe we are able to converse on a psychological facet of the sport as a lot as we wish, however I believe that bodily facet of the sport is why we weren’t profitable as a staff.”
The truth is there was no method for Phoenix to create enough depth by sacrificing what they did to accumulate each Durant and Beal. The Suns surrendered Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, and 4 first-round decide swaps for Beal.
Within the Rockets’ case, they’d a draft decide cupboard and younger participant cupboard full to the brim. Sacrificing Inexperienced and Brooks had been a no brainer for a participant of Durant’ caliber. Different groups didn’t need to make the identical mistake Phoenix did.
“I believe different groups valued rising their youthful gamers and draft picks,” Durant mentioned. “I’m a veteran, 1760778083 37 years outdated, with a excessive price ticket. Not lots of people within the league needed to make that transfer to alter the franchise and add me to the equation.”
