The Big Question: Was the Durant Trade Addition or…

By the Suns Nightly Desk · Tuesday, September 22

The Suns are still 0-0 heading toward an October 21 opener at Portland, and the return from last year's Kevin Durant trade remains the defining question for this roster. Last season's 45-37 finish and a $216.2 million payroll above the first apron sit on opposite sides of the same ledger.

Suns Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

The return. The July 6, 2025 trade sent Durant to Houston for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the draft rights to Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea and a 2026 second-round pick. A separate deal brought Mark Williams over from Charlotte for Vasa Micic, Liam McNeeley's draft rights and a 2029 first-round pick.

The production case. Devin Booker averaged 26.1 points last season, Green 17.8 in 32 games, Brooks 20.2 in 56, Miles Bridges 17.1 in 77. Phoenix finished 45-37 with a net rating of 1.4, 15th in the league. That is a real season, not a teardown.

The bill. Phoenix opens camp at $216.2 million, above the $209.0 million first apron and the $200.4 million tax threshold, against a $165.0 million cap. Most Suns first-round picks through 2030 are gone in swaps or owed outright to Houston and New York.

The health tax. Williams, part of the return, had shoulder surgery reported September 11 by Shams Charania and has no listed return date. Green played only 32 games last season. Behind Booker, the center rotation still leans on Ighodaro and Maluach, both short on NBA minutes.

Camp noise. This month's additions were depth, not stars. A September 16 report said Duop Reath was set to sign, while Jordan Schakel and David Stockton each joined and left within a day on camp deals. None of it moves the real math.

The verdict. Last season argues addition: Booker, Green, Brooks and Bridges combined for more scoring across more bodies than Durant provided alone, and Phoenix still went 45-37. But the picks owed through 2030 and a payroll already past the apron are a bill for production that has not yet cleared that mark. Call it subtraction, for now.

On deck Preseason opens October 5 at Detroit, the first look at this roster together before the October 21 opener at Portland.

Was the Kevin Durant trade a win for the Suns?

The return of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams helped Phoenix go 45-37 last season, but the deal cost most of the team's first-round picks through 2030, so the verdict is still open.

How far over the tax threshold is Phoenix's payroll?

The Suns' payroll sits at $216.2 million, above both the $209.0 million first apron and the $200.4 million tax threshold for 2026-27.