Many teams have tried forming superteams in hopes of winning an NBA championship. However, most attempts do not pan out the way many thought they would. That includes the attempt made by the Phoenix Suns when they facilitated a trade for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The Big 3 tried to have three ball-dominant star players share the floor, and it did not work.
Many would point out that the injuries that the stars sustained during their tenure together were one of the biggest reasons why the experiment failed. Devin Booker, Durant and Beal only played 37 games together for the 2024-25 NBA season, according to The Arizona Republic.
The Suns didn’t waste their time when they recognized that they needed to move on from Durant and Beal. The first move they made was trading away KD to the Houston Rockets in an NBA-record, seven-team deal. The three-time All-Star guard is next on their list, according to reports from various news outlets.
Brian Gregory, general manager of the Phoenix Suns, discussed the decision to let go of two of the stars on Monday.
“With the first trade and the second trade, you’re trying to win championships, as we stated,” Gregory said. “We were not able to accomplish that. You have take a step back and say, what’s next and what do we need to do. We felt we needed to make some changes. That’s where the trade with Kevin occurred.”
"You have take a step back and say, what's next and what do we need to do. We felt we needed to make some changes."
Suns GM Brian Gregory on team direction after failing to compete for a title with Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
On if he felt Suns… pic.twitter.com/WsaMhi8klL
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 8, 2025
While they were able to find a reasonable trade for Durant, Beal’s situation is different. The All-Star guard has a no-trade clause, which gives him the power to veto trades. This is why the Phoenix Suns are trying to negotiate with the former Washington Wizards star for a contract buyout.
The Phoenix Suns’ general manager is excited for the rookies
The Phoenix Suns were able to draft promising young rookies at the 2025 NBA draft. With the No. 10 pick, they landed Khaman Maluach. Rasheer Fleming was picked with the No. 31 pick and Koby Brea followed with the No. 41 pick.
On Monday, they had their introductory press conference and were formally introduced to the media. Gregory talked about his excitement for the three youngsters, who he believes will make significant contributions to the organization next season.
“We’re excited about these three guys joining our team,” Gregory said. “With one practice in right now, to be honest with you, I’m even more excited watching them, their competitiveness.”
Koby Brea has found a barber in the Valley.
All is well.
Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Brea had their introductory press conference Monday.
Suns GM Brian Gregory: "With one practice in right now, to be honest with you, I'm even more excited watching them, their… pic.twitter.com/466TC3doo9
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 8, 2025
The Phoenix Suns have a promising young group, together with Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro, who were selected with the No. 28 and No. 40 picks, respectively.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
