Suns Declared Big Winners of February by Bleacher Report
The Phoenix Suns have yet to see dividends pay off from the Kevin Durant deal, though that could soon change.
Durant is expected to play on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets after missing several weeks with a sprained MCL.
The Suns gave up quite a lot to land Durant (and T.J. Warren) - Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and four first-round picks with a future pick-swap to be exact.
There's hope that Durant will mesh sufficiently enough to make the Suns expected contenders in the Western Conference, and although we're still on a wait-and-see basis, the Suns found themselves as winners in Bleacher Report's winners/losers of February.
"Is it premature to declare the Phoenix Suns big winners without knowing how their championship-or-bust wager will play out? Not. At. All," said Zach Buckley.
"Phoenix needed a spark and found one in the form of a Hall of Fame-bound, unguardable scorer who happens to be utilizing his 7'0" frame better than ever on the defensive end. No, Kevin Durant hasn't debuted for this franchise just yet, but his presence helped the Suns rise back to the elite ranks overnight.
"'We got a chance to be really good,' Suns coach Monty Williams said, per ESPN's Nick Friedell. '... Kevin can play with anybody. Any team in the league he can find a way to play. Same with [Devin Booker]. Same with Chris [Paul].'
"This looks like a championship roster on paper, and maybe it can stay that way. The new ownership's willingness to immediately increase its luxury tax bodes well for future expenditures.
"Phoenix absorbed both short- and long-term risks, but it landed Kevin bleepin' Durant. That's a massive win."
The Suns fourth in the Western Conference with a 33-29 record.
