The Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets on Sunday. This deal wrapped up a protracted saga that began at the trade deadline when Phoenix sought to offload Durant to the Golden State Warriors without consulting him. Although that initial deal collapsed, it launched the Durant sweepstakes. The Suns have been anticipating this move for five months, as it became clear that mending the relationship was off the table.

Nonetheless, the trade was disappointing for the Suns. Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and a No. 10 pick reflect only a small fraction of what the Suns originally gave up to acquire Durant in 2023. This raises significant questions about Phoenix’s strategy, particularly why they accepted such a low return.

Rumors suggest that no superior offers existed. ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed that institutions like the San Antonio Spurs were not keen on making substantial offers, which is somewhat predictable given their younger roster. However, the puzzling hesitation came from the Miami Heat. Charania indicated that Miami initially rejected a deal that included Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick, and additional draft assets.

Durant was reportedly interested in playing for the Rockets, Spurs, or Heat. Other teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors entertained the idea of acquiring Durant; however, his lack of enthusiasm about joining them stalled negotiations.

Two unexpected teams in the mix were the Denver Nuggets and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Nuggets faced difficulties gathering suitable trade assets unless they included Aaron Gordon, while the Cavaliers, needing to meet salary matching requirements, were limited by their overhead.

Ultimately, Durant is joining the Rockets, addressing their need for a premium scorer and shooter. The team has salary flexibility to extend his contract and maintains sufficient assets to complete this deal without significantly dismantling their roster. In contrast, the Suns must now navigate how to remain competitive with this subpar return or prepare for a rebuild without future first-round picks.