The Phoenix Suns Trade in the Presence of a New NBA Player: Kevin Durant, T.J. Crowder, and Cam Johnson
A person with knowledge of the details said that the Nets reached an agreement with the Phoenix Suns to swap Kevin Durant for guard Gerald Green.
The Suns will send Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and additional draft compensation to the Nets for the 13-time All-Star.
The Suns also receive forward T.J. Warren in the deal, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade is not yet official.
It’s been a very good season for Durant, he’s putting up nearly 30 points per game. The Suns were interested in trading him last summer when he asked, and they got him before the deadline.
He is recovering from a sprained knee ligament, and when he returns it will be to a Phoenix lineup that suddenly could be one of the best in the Western Conference.
The trade comes just hours after new Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia was introduced in Phoenix. The self-described basketball nut, who was a walk-on at Michigan State under Tom Izzo, didn’t waste any time shaking up the NBA.
Phoenix has never won an NBA championship. The Sun’s made the NBA finals two seasons ago, but lost to Milwaukee. They also played in the finals in 1976 and 1993.
The Suns have had several injuries this season, but played better in recent weeks and look like contenders again. They jumped to fifth in the Western Conference with a 30-26 record. Booker (groin) and Paul (hip) have both recently returned.
The Brooklyn Nets lose their MVP: Joe Bridges, Brooks, Gallego and the Phoenix Mayor, after the Mavs lost their Durant
Irving scored 24 points in his first game for the Mavs. The Nets refused to give him a contract extension last summer, about the same time Durant was telling the team he wanted to be dealt.
“We had a lot of conversations throughout the year of what our futures were going to look like,” Irving said. We were still uncertain, but we just cared about being places that we can thrive in. Whether that be together or whether that be apart, there has never been one moment where I’ve felt like he’s been angry at me for the decisions I’ve made or I’ve been angry at him.
Bridges was the runner-up to Boston’s Marcus Smart last season for the Defensive Player of the Year award and his offensive game continues to grow. The Suns beat the Nets 116-112 in Brooklyn on Tuesday with the swingman scoring 21 points.
His acquisition, along with Dorian Finney-Smith, who came with Spencer Dinwiddie from Dallas, should make the Nets a much stronger defensive team. It’s not possible to replace the All-Star caliber of players they lost with Durant and Irving.
Joe said it was “insane.” “I can’t believe that they actually did it. You know, this is probably the best player that the Brooklyn Nets have ever had in their franchise history.”
Following the news, Brooks, a Philadelphia-based attorney and longtime Nets fan, tweeted a photo of seven of his jerseys, including three Durant jerseys.
Fellow athletes also took to social media to collectively react to the Durant trade. Fellow NBA players like Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams, Nets forward Royce O’Neale and New York Knicks guard Evan Fournier tweeted their disbelief.
But not everyone is upset by the news: Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego shared her approval of the trade. “Expensive, but worth it,” Gallego tweeted, alongside a photo of an awning with the word “Durant’s.”
Speaking to the assembled media for the first time since his blockbuster trade from the Brooklyn Nets to the Suns, the 34-year-old lauded the fans for the reception he has received.
From Brooklyn to Phoenix, and back again: Expectations for Kevin Durant’s return from the All-Star break at the Suns Footprint Center
As he continues his return from a knee injury, it’s not known when he will make his debut for Phoenix, although he is photographed practicing in the gym and is expected to do so after the All-Star break.
Many of the 3000 fans who turned up to the Suns Footprint Center for the press conference were already wearing the No. 35 jersey of KD.
“I truly don’t think I deserve all this because I know I’ve done a lot of good things in basketball, but I haven’t done them yet in a Suns jersey,” he told reporters. I am looking forward to it and I want to be my best every single day for you guys.
“They always cheered their fans on but they show love to the opposing team as well, so I knew this would be a good place to play and a great place to continue to get better as a player. … I’m excited I’m here and looking forward to adding as much as I can to the group already.
“I see the culture started to change,” Durant said of his new team. The way that they played changed when they started to play on the floor. I always loved playing here in Phoenix. The fans always showed love to good basketball in general.
It was bad, but at the same time, I love the grind and we all love it here in Brooklyn, and I wish them the best. They have a bright future.”
However, a host of issues hampered the trio in Brooklyn as they managed a paltry 16 games together in their time with the franchise, which will likely be looked upon by fans as an enormous failure.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/sport/kevin-durant-phoenix-suns-excitement-spt-intl/index.html
Remembering the first four years of his football team (I’m so glad he has done that, they’re still going strong)
He said the team tried their hardest every day, regardless of what was going on in the media.
I am emotional about it because that was a special four years of my career. They helped me through a lot, coming off of an injury.