The entire NBA world was wondering if the Brooklyn Nets would trade Kevin Durant after dealing Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, and now we have our answer. Late Wednesday night, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Phoenix Suns are in agreement with the Nets on a deal that will send Durant to the Suns. According to the initial tweet, the Suns will be sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and a 2028 pick swap for Durant and T.J. Warren. The Suns championship odds immediately went up after the move.
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Suns Championship Odds Rise Following Kevin Durant Trade
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Suns championship odds were a middle-of-the-pack +1300 before the trade deadline. Those odds jumped to +550, behind just the Boston Celtics (+360) after landing Kevin Durant in the blockbuster move.
The Suns followed up their runner-up finish in the 2021 NBA championship with a Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals last year. They have been hit with injuries throughout the first half of the regular season, currently sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference (30-26).
Durant reportedly met with the Suns brass after Irving was traded to discuss “the direction of the franchise and its ability to be a championship contender.” Evidently, Durant left those talks feeling like the Nets were not positioned to compete for an NBA championship with this current roster. He requested a trade in the offseason but ended up rescinding after several similar meetings with the front office.
The star forward is currently out with an MCL sprain that is expected to keep him sidelined through the All-Star Break but is believed to be returning shortly thereafter. Then, he’ll join a Suns core that includes Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul.
Based on the latest Suns championship odds, Kevin Durant completely changes the narrative surrounding their season. Even though they had to give up an absolute haul in order to bring in Durant, a championship this season would make it all worthwhile. Suns fans should feel ecstatic after their team hauled in the biggest name on the trade market.
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