This past offseason, the Phoenix Suns made two major swings with their roster to kickstart their rebuild. One move was buying out Bradley Beal, allowing him to sign a new deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. The second, more significant decision was trading Kevin Durant to Houston in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks. Also the #10 pick in the most recent draft (Khaman Maluach), and multiple second-round selections. The deal gave Phoenix more flexibility by shifting toward a younger core, while simultaneously pushing Houston into title contention this season.
Photo Cred: Sporting News
The focal point of the Kevin Durant trade was acquiring young talent in Jalen Green, while using Brooks as a salary piece alongside additional draft capital. Green, selected #2 in the 2021 NBA Draft by Houston, was originally viewed as the franchise cornerstone alongside Alperen Sengun. He delivered an outstanding rookie season and helped elevate the raw potential of Sengun. Together, the duo developed chemistry and propelled the Rockets to their first playoff appearance in five years, finishing with the #2 seed.
That momentum stalled in the first round, where they faced Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. The series went seven games, ending in a disappointing early exit. Green struggled throughout, averaging 13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists on 37.5% shooting and under 30% from deep. Heading into the offseason, fans and media expected Houston to continue building around the core. Last years playoff experience would be used as a stepping stone.
Those expectations were shattered when news broke of the shocking seven-team trade that sent Jalen Green to Phoenix. Since Green’s arrival, it has been far from smooth for the Suns. The trade was met with immediate scrutiny, as many questioned how two scoring guards could coexist, and whether Booker would once again be forced into the primary ball-handling role. Critics pointed to the duo’s lack of size and defensive ability, with The Ringer even predicting Phoenix to have the worst defense in the NBA in preseason rankings.
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Yet, the Suns have exceeded expectations on both ends of the floor, even with minimal contributions from Green. During training camp, Green suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the first eight games of the season. His Suns debut was electric—29 points in 23 minutes on 50% shooting—bringing a surge of optimism after a 13-point win. However, that excitement quickly faded.
Just one game later, he reaggravated the hamstring after seven minutes of play, ruling him out another 6–8 weeks. Since then, news surrounding his recovery has been minimal, with the initial expectation targeting a late December or early January return. But on December 22, it was reported that Green’s progression was behind schedule, prompting a reevaluation in 2–3 weeks.
