On Sunday, the Suns traded Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, and five second-round picks. The trade is likely the beginning of a rebuild for the Suns, while the Rockets hope this move will put them over the top in a loaded Western Conference.

And yet, the deal still underwhelmed. Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the No. 10 pick represent only a fraction of the value that the Suns paid to get Durant in 2023, and do little to launch the rebuild the Suns needed. This raises a few important questions surrounding the negotiations, starting with why Phoenix would even take so little.