Would it make sense for Boston to either gut their roster or to trade star forward Jaylen Brown in his prime to make such a deal work?

However, another late-season surge (Phoenix are winners of five of six) has convinced some within the basketball world that the correct path forward is to retain Kevin Durant alongside franchise player Devin Booker.

Durant tied the late, great Kobe Bryant for second-most player of the week honors with 33. Only Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has more with 69. Durant averaged 27.3 points on 58.8% shooting, 6.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds during the three-game stretch with the Suns winning each one at home over Toronto, Chicago and Cleveland.