Time to Move on from KD? The Suns Are Beyond Saving

The Phoenix Suns’ season has spiraled into complete disaster. Once seen as a legitimate title contender, they now find themselves sitting at 27-31, struggling to even secure a play-in spot. The recent 148-151 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies—a game where five players scored 20+ points, including the Big Three combining for 78—perfectly encapsulates their predicament. No matter how hard they try, they just can’t win.

While the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors transformed their seasons with bold midseason trades, the Suns stood still, believing their star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal would eventually figure things out. They haven’t. And they won’t.

With each painful loss, it’s becoming increasingly clear—the Suns need to blow it up, and the first step is trading Kevin Durant.

The Suns Are Falling Apart

Let’s talk numbers. The Suns have lost 8 of their last 10 games, and their current record places them outside even the play-in tournament, trailing the 10th-seeded Sacramento Kings by 2.5 games. That might not seem like an insurmountable gap, but it’s not just about standings—it’s about momentum, mentality, and reality.

This team simply doesn’t have "it."

They lack chemistry. They lack defensive identity. They lack depth. And most importantly? They lack direction.

The roster, built around three high-usage scorers, was always a risky experiment, but the assumption was that talent would outweigh flaws. Instead, the flaws have completely overtaken the talent.

• Durant (35 years old) is still elite, averaging 27.5 PPG, but his body isn’t getting any younger.
• Booker (27 years old) remains their best long-term piece, averaging 27.4 PPG, but he’s being forced into unnatural roles, often acting as the team’s primary facilitator when he should be focusing on scoring.
• Beal (30 years old) is struggling to stay healthy, playing just 33 games so far and putting up his lowest scoring numbers since his rookie year (17.8 PPG).

Worse still, their supporting cast is virtually nonexistent. Jusuf Nurkić, while solid at times, isn’t a true defensive anchor. Their bench? A complete disaster.

When a team’s "best win of the season" is a single upset over the Denver Nuggets, and their "worst loss" is any given night, you know the project has failed.

Meanwhile, the League Has Moved On

The Suns’ stagnation looks even worse when compared to teams that actually made midseason adjustments.

• The Lakers (35-21, 4th in the West) took a chance on Luka Dončić, and despite early struggles, they are now playing their best basketball.
• The Warriors (now 8th in the West) went all-in on Jimmy Butler, winning 6 of their last 7 games and outscoring opponents by 21 points per game in that stretch.
• Even teams like the Clippers and Timberwolves made subtle moves that have strengthened their squads.

Phoenix? They did nothing.

And now, they’re paying the price.

Trading Kevin Durant Is the Only Way Out

This might sound insane, but hear me out: The Suns have to trade Kevin Durant.

Not because he’s not great. He is.
Not because he’s declining. He’s still elite.
But because he’s not what this team needs anymore.

The Suns are not a contender—not this year, and not next year either. By the time they could realistically fix their issues, KD will be pushing 37. His championship window and the Suns’ competitive timeline do not align.

Phoenix can’t afford to waste another year in purgatory, pretending they have a shot when it’s clear they don’t.

The market for KD would still be massive. A team like the Miami Heat, the New York Knicks, or even the Philadelphia 76ers could offer a package of young players, picks, and solid veterans to help the Suns retool.

The Summer of Chaos Is Coming

Even if the Suns refuse to move Durant now, this summer is going to be brutal.

• Beal is virtually untradeable due to his massive contract and no-trade clause.
• Booker is untouchable, unless Phoenix truly embraces a full rebuild.
• That leaves KD as the only realistic trade chip.

And make no mistake: If the Suns flame out completely and miss the playoffs, the front office will have no choice but to make a move.

The alternative? Running it back with an aging, injury-prone Big Three, zero depth, and no flexibility.

Phoenix has been chasing the dream of a championship for years, and their desperation led them down this path. They went all-in on KD, then doubled down on Beal, and now? They’re stuck.

The only way forward is to tear it down before it collapses completely.