Will Another KD Trade This Summer Affect His Legacy?
After multiple MVP seasons in OKC and back-to-back Finals MVPs for Suns superstar Kevin Durant, his career hasn’t produced much in terms of winning. After leaving Golden State in the 2019 offseason, Durant signed a four-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets, a move that was done alongside fellow superstar Kyrie Irving. The Nets would also add James Harden the next year, forming what was thought to be one of the best big threes of all time at the time of the trade. Through no fault of his own, the Nets would fall in the second round of that season in seven games to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks. Durant’s series averages of 35.4 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists as well as a game-two injury to Kyrie Irving would make it a seeming wash on his resume, that was until, his former team would do exactly what Draymond Green had told him, win again without him.
After a James Harden trade early the next year, Durant and Irving would both ask out from the city that they chose. Durant would be traded that offseason to Phoenix, in a major blockbuster deal including Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, and four unprotected firsts. The Suns would go into the last games missing Durant for most of the regular season, with the superstar averaging 26 a game in the eight games he suited up. However, Durant and Suns star Devin Booker’s team would once again lose in the second round, this time in six games to the Denver Nuggets. The two would combine for an average of 60.3 points per game, although both players would struggle in the elimination game, combining for just 31 points on 12-32 shooting from the field.
The Suns would blow it up after this year, with Durant expressing concern about center Deandre Ayton, and point guard Chris Paul. Both would be traded that offseason, with the Suns getting back an aging Bradley Beal, who was also the only player in the NBA at the time with a no-trade clause. The next season would be most of the same, with Durant suffering multiple injuries while leading the Suns to the sixth seed in the west. Another playoff disappointment for Durant would be on the horizon however, as the Suns would be swept in four games by the Timberwolves and star player Anthony Edwards. Going into this season, the Suns would be looking for revenge. With Booker and Durant coming off stellar performances in the USA’s run to the gold medal, many people in the media pegged them as a top contender if healthy. As of now however, the Suns sit at the 11 seed in the West and one game under .500 after a loss to the Grizzlies in a game that resulted in Durant becoming just the eighth player to eclipse 30 thousand points. Durant has continued to play well but is still rumored to be in almost certain trade discussions in the upcoming offseason. Durant himself has been the only reason he hasn’t moved already, with the star forward stopping deadline trades to the Grizzlies and his former team in Golden State.
With reports coming out about a potential fifth team for Durant, the question still looms in the media of whether he can lead a team without the superteam in Golden State. While Durant’s resume is nearly unmatched and already a certified hall of famer, Durant’s emotions after being blindsided in trade discussions as well as the Sun’s disappointing season may result in a second consecutive trade request. While Durant’s legacy is being questioned in the media and on social media, the conversations ride around his place in the top ten all-time players, not as a Hall of Famer. More than likely, people in 20 years won’t remember his trade requests, but more so his unmatched scoring ability and his outdoing Lebron James in two straight finals while in Golden State.
