Kevin Durant trade to Suns odds fallout: Phoenix now favored to win Western Conference, only behind Celtics for NBA title

After repeatedly telling suitors earlier this week that they would not trade Kevin Durant ahead of Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Brooklyn Nets apparently changed their minds in the early morning hours of Thursday. Durant has been shipped to Phoenix to form a new Big 3 with fellow All-Stars Devin Booker and Chris Paul. The Suns were +1800 to win their first NBA title pre-trade at DraftKings and are now +425, behind only the Boston Celtics (+350). Phoenix is the new +230 leader to win the Western Conference, supplanting Denver (+370).

When a team with an unpopular owner is sold to a new owner, said new owner often likes to make a major splash right out of the gate to win back fan support. Mat Ishbia, a former Michigan State basketball walk-on, was approved as the team's majority owner Tuesday to replace the suspended and hugely unpopular Robert Sarver. Ishbia and general manager James Jones texted Nets GM Sean Marks sometime after 11 p.m. ET trying to land Durant, and it came together a few hours later when Durant told the Nets he preferred to be dealt to the desert.

Phoenix also got a solid reserve wing player in T.J. Warren, and shipped out Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round draft picks (2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029) and a 2028 pick swap.

The Suns tried to keep Bridges out of the deal as he's having a breakout season, averaging 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He's a terrific defender and incredibly durable, currently owning the NBA's longest current ironman streak. Brooklyn insisted upon his inclusion in the deal. Johnson was averaging 13.9 points. Crowder hasn't played this season after demanding a trade.

Durant won't make his Suns debut until after the All-Star break as he's still recovering from a knee injury, but a starting lineup of KD, Paul, Booker, former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton and perhaps Warren or Landry Shamet looks quite formidable. Durant is on pace to become the first player in NBA history to average 25 points per game, at least 55% shooting from the field and 90% free throw shooting in a season.

The Suns have never won an NBA title. Their 54 seasons without a ring represents the third-longest active drought, behind only the Kings (71) and Hawks (64). The last time Phoenix made a trade of this magnitude was when it landed Charles Barkley in June 1992. The Suns would make the 1993 Finals but lose to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Five days ago, an Arizona bettor at Caesars Sportsbook put $15,000 on the Suns to win the Western Conference at +1300 to win $195,000. 

The SportsLine Projection Model improves Phoenix's chances of winning the West from 7.2% to 22.0%, which equates to +355 on the moneyline. To win it all, the Suns jumped from 2.7% to 11.0% (-809 on moneyline).

If you are wondering, the Suns and Nets wrapped up their season series on Tuesday in Brooklyn. Durant should be healthy when Phoenix faces Dallas and Durant's former Nets teammate Kyrie Irving on March 5 for the last time this regular season. Irving's trade precipitated the Durant deal.

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