NBA: Irving/Durant Reunion May Be Answer in Phoenix
Kyrie could enliven the upcoming free agency period once again - he may want to give it another try with his guy Kevin
Trading for Kevin Durant would make one assume that the Brooklyn Nets’ loss would be the Phoenix Suns’ gain.
The ground-shaking deal from this past February that brought the multiple-time NBA champion and former MVP — arguably the most gifted offensive force in the game today — to the Valley of the Sun was thought by many to be all that that franchise needed to rocket itself to the top of the Western Conference and into the ultimate mix for an NBA championship.
Another former MVP, Nikola Jokic, and his group of riders from Denver wound up proving that the Suns clearly need some more help.
The Suns’ last Finals appearance, just two years removed, seems like it was in a completely different era now. The past two seasons have seen Phoenix get stonewalled in the Western Conference semifinals and blasted out the playoffs in elimination blowouts on their own court. Something has to change with this team, and reports less than a day out from their 125-100 loss to the Nuggets to end their latest run, are expressing that the Suns intend to go all out to address their current issues.
A lot of the early blow back is being felt by 2018 overall No. 1 selection DeAndre Ayton who didn’t even play in the decisive Game 6 against Denver due to injury. Aging 38-year-old point-god Chris Paul is also said to be on the trading block as the Suns look to retool their roster.
This writer agrees that Phoenix needs to go in a younger direction pertaining to their point guard position. Many options could arise as the summer unfolds, but an option that should be possibility, in spite of rather disappointing recent results with Durant, exists and should be promoted unless a better option arises, which I doubt.
It’s time to bring Kyrie Irving to the Valley.
How did we get to this point?
With all the drama that took place in Brooklyn — Kyrie Irving’s off the court drama, Steve Nash’s departure, James Harden and Kevin Durant’s trade requests and Ben Simmons disastrous basketball return of a two-year absence among the major plot points — the Nets were dragged into the realization that it was time to blow up what they thought would be a championship-producing marriage in basketball heaven when Irving and Durant arrived in Brooklyn in 2019.
At the past trade deadline, the Suns shocked everyone in acquiring Durant, creating a “Big 3” of Durant, Paul and Devin Booker that stood to shake up what up until then was a questionable top half of the Western Conference contendership.
More than where Durant was dealt, the when was stunning. Mere hours before Durant was dealt, Irving was sent off to play with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. It stood a chance for a day or so that Durant would be the last franchise player standing in BK, but instead he was used to bring in a haul of young talents and draft picks from a Suns franchise that was just handed over to its new hot-shot (and eventually flip-flop) owner Mat Ishbia.
The possibilities of immediate impact both in Dallas and Phoenix fueled takes all throughout the basketball world, but the Mavs regressed with their new all-star pairing and didn’t even make the playoffs, and of course we see that Phoenix at the moment doesn’t have enough to win even with arguably two of the league’s top 10 players in Durant and Booker.
But two interesting, and in many ways understated, developments that came out of the wake of the trade deadline activity rumors didn’t slip by many in the know around the league:
Durant and Irving still have a desire to play together for one, and for two, the Suns could be ready to move away from Paul.
The Suns dangled Paul in trade discussions around the deadline — Phoenix, in fact was thought to be a leading contender to acquire Kyrie Irving before anyone imagined they could be a landing spot for Durant.
The harsh reality regarding Paul is his advanced age — coupled with but the natural wear and tear of an 18th season in the Association catching up to Paul and shooting him down in the middle of yet another playoff run where he could have made a difference — makes him an obvious candidate for a trade if he doesn’t just call it a career altogether.
In many ways a heartbreaking end of career is bound for one of the NBA’s defining players of his generation. Paul's unfortunate track record of catching injuries at the worst times dates all the back to his days in a LA Clippers uniform, extended to the time he nearly upended the Warriors dynasty in Houston, and has followed him to Arizona.
Chris Paul playoff injury timeline (Sporting News)
Recent reports are spreading the belief that the Suns are looking in a new direction of getting a younger talent to play the role of floor general as increased stakes surround the team. This opens the doors for them to pursue such upcoming free agent possibilities as Fred VanVleet and Terry Rozier.
Meanwhile, Kyrie, as usual, is in a state of mystery tied to a Dallas franchise who has stated intentions to keep him but may face many challenges in maintaining a super team with an Irving and Doncic nucleus.
Why make this move?
Now that we are here, breaking down the reasons why the Suns must seriously consider bringing Irving to The Valley is quite simple: relationships, upgrades, and control.
Relationships play a key role in building chemistry for a team’s success. We know Irving has a strong relationship with Durant, but the key to this possible experiment actually lies with Suns head coach Monty Williams and general manager James Jones.
Williams was an assistant coach for the 2016 Rio Olympic team, a team that won gold in Brazil with two noticeable players on that roster: Durant and Irving. He knows what it takes to work successfully with Durant and Irving on the court.
Off the court, front office personnel that identifies with players and knows how to handle their concerns is as important as its ever been in the NBA. Prior to becoming a respected executive capable to bring together deals like the one that brought Durant to Phoenix, he established himself as a popular veteran in the league, one who played against Durant and played with Irving on the Cleveland Cavaliers championship team from 2016.
I believe Irving has learned his lessons on not being a distraction off the court, but if there’s still some issues he needs to work through, Jones has the experience, relations and expertise to help Irving continue to navigate life off the court. If the trade deadline reports are to be believed, Jones had to have already felt comfortable in bringing Irving into his team’s fold.
On the court, Irving is a clear upgrade and in many ways an advancement for what the Suns need at the point guard position.
With the emergence of Booker as a combo guard that can handle point guard responsibilities, Irving can come in and make life easier for Booker by relieving him of those duties. We already know Irving is a box office talent, but for moments like in these past playoffs, when other players outside of Durant and Booker were needed to show up for key possessions, he can be a consistent offensive threat that also provides timely perimeter defensive presence that a championship contender like the Suns need to get over the hump. Irving is also a willing passer, averaging 6 assists a game throughout his career.
Off the court, the Suns can have control over Irving. Of course, it will be impossible to control everything Irving says in his press conferences, but Irving also understands his basketball career is potentially on life support. Having someone like Jones in his corner not only can make life easier to navigate for Irving, but can also change the narrative of what his future in the league can be if he follows Jones’ lead and adapts to the winning culture he’s helped establish.
Knowing that, Jones can use contract talks to his advantage, putting Irving in the mercy of the Suns, who can be confident knowing that outside of a potential reunion with LeBron James — which seems unlikely due to their re-acquisition of D’Angelo Russell — Irving’s chances at playing for a ready-made contender are dwindling. The Suns are one of the absolute few teams who are in a win-now situation that can use the Irving’s services.
With Kyrie understanding those circumstances, he would be a fool to overlook the possibility of winning a championship with his best friend, something we knows he wants to do, with younger and relatable bosses at their back.
And with Ishbia desparate to make an immediate impact in Phoenix, the Suns would be naive to ignore the benefits of a potential marriage with a talent like Irving, the kind of opportunity that is not always available with every offseason. No one involved in this courtship is getting any younger championship windows can close at a moment’s notice.