It was a mega trade. One the NBA world hadn't seen in years. Kevin Durant--an absolute superstar-- traded to Phoenix. The Suns were signaling to the league they were all in on seeking a NBA championship while the Brooklyn Nets have all but given up. So what does a team get when they trade for Kevin Durant? He's a two time NBA champ and Finals MVP. He's won a league MVP as well. Even at 34 years old, KD can get you a bucket anytime you need it. What about his motivation? He still works hard, he's not a locker room distraction and in this league those characteristics seem rare especially in a superstar. 

Durant is a defensive nightmare. At 6-10, his size mixed with his ball handling skills really allows his length to be a problem for any team he faces. The man can also play defense. In just his third game back from his ankle injury, he put up 35 points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks in a 128-118 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder but it was his defensive effort that sealed the win. With 1:41 left, Suns ahead by 7, Devin Booker committed an awful turnover and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was off to the races. Out of nowhere, Durant gets back in enough time for an amazing chase down block thus sealing the win for the Suns. It's a great sign for Suns fans but will this translate into success for a NBA playoff run?

How does KD fit?

While Phoenix now has their playoff position locked, these last couple games will still give a good snapshot of what KD brings to the Suns. It seems like NBA fans had the ultimate tease with him being traded and then going down with an injury right after. Even with that time missed, we've still been able to see what sort of impact he has with the Suns. Durant only has 8 games under his belt with this squad. In those contests, Durant is averaging just over 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and is shooting around 58 percent from the field. So he's fitting in pretty well right? He is showcasing his mid range game, spot up three point shooting, and his low post skills. He is outstanding at creating his own shots but the thing about basketball is there's four other players on the court. This is not a problem for KD. He's as unselfish as they come and he has been that way throughout his entire career. He's great for his teammates and there's potential for the floor to be more open than ever before for players like Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Ayton. 

The Suns' offense is an ideal set for Durant. You'll see they like to run a lot of elbow action along with pick-and-rolls. This offense works with having great shooters in constant motion. Booker is a great shooter and Phoenix added another Hall of Fame shooter in Durant. Booker's thoughts on Kevin Durant joining the team:

"We just hoop. We make reads We make plays, and we start with a structure and our sets. He fits right into that and he knows what we’re doing."

It is going to take some instant chemistry for this Phoenix team to reach the Finals again but with a veteran like Paul and a player like KD no one should bet against them.