Did the Phoenix Suns give away too much to land Kevin Durant?

Throughout the history of the NBA, eventual champions have been routinely powered by transcendent superstars. The list of otherworldly talents who guided their teams to titles is too long to list here. In order to illustrate the point, it is more efficient to consider which team in NBA modern NBA history won the championship without a superstar? The answer is simple: the 2004 Detroit Pistons. That is the only team in the modern era who won a championship without a clear cut star.

While the Goin’ to Work Pistons are an anomaly because they possessed quite possibly the best team defense in NBA history, it is nearly impossible to win-it-all without a bona fide star on the roster. With this in mind, the Phoenix Suns decided to lay it all on the line before the All-Star break this year and make a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant. Although no one would deny that pairing Durant with Devin Booker and Chris Paul gives them a formidable Big Three, questions about the amount of assets they traded for him still linger.

The Phoenix Suns parted ways with talented young players and a myriad of draft picks to acquire Kevin Durant. Was it all worth it?

The Suns traded away several players and a variety of draft picks in order to acquire Durant’s services. Although he is still a perennial MVP candidate, many pundits are wondering out loud whether or not making a drastic move for a 34-year-old is the right decision. Let’s take a closer look at the trade itself, while also examining whether or not Phoenix overpaid in order to land Durant and take a shot at winning the title.