Phoenix Suns depth chart: What could be the team's starting 5 after the Kevin Durant trade?

The Phoenix Suns have drastically improved their roster by trading for Kevin Durant. The Western Conference team acquired the 13-time All-Star for Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, and draft picks.

The Suns are now among the favorites to win the West. They are also on a 3-game win streak and will be very dangerous once Devin Booker and Durant start playing alongside each other.

The Suns' depth chart now looks different with the acquisition of the 2-time NBA champion. Here's a look at how they could line up with Durant in the mix:

---

Phoenix Suns depth chart after Kevin Durant trade

By trading Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets, the Suns lost two starters. However, Durant's addition more than makes up for it as he's one of the best scorers in the league.

KD is currently out with a knee injury, but once he comes back, he will be a sureshot starter. The Phoenix Suns will most likely use the four-time scoring champion at the power forward spot.

Durant will be a starting forward when he returns (Image via Getty Images)

Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Torrey Craig, and Deandre Ayton will be the other four starters. Essentially, the superstar forward will replace Johnson in the starting lineup, while Craig will replace Bridges.

You may be interested in reading: When is Kevin Durant coming back from injury and when can he play his first game for Phoenix Suns?

If the Suns don't make more moves by the trade deadline, this is what their depth chart will look like after the acquisition of Kevin Durant and Dario Saric trade.

Position	Starter	Second	Third
PG	Chris Paul	Cameron Payne	Saben Lee
SG	Devin Booker	Damion Lee	Landry Shamet
SF	Torrey Craig	T.J. Warren	Josh Okogie
PF	Kevin Durant	Darius Bazley	Ish Wainright
C	Deandre Ayton	Bismack Biyombo	Jock Landale

With Durant, Ayton, and Booker, the Suns have three amazing players in their starting lineup. Paul is a fantastic playmaker, and while he's having one of the worst seasons of his 17-year NBA career, he might find some of his best form alongside KD.

---

Are the Suns favorites to win the West?

Thanks to the blockbuster trade with the Nets, the Phoenix Suns are in a great position to have a deep playoff run. They made the NBA Finals in 2021 but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks after taking a 2-0 lead.

The Suns could advance all the way to the Finals once again. Beating other contenders in the West, such as the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, will be tough, but the Suns can certainly do it.

Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton could both go far in the playoffs (Image via Getty Images)

NBA fans would certainly love to see a playoff matchup between Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who now both play in the West. Considering that the Mavs and Suns have the same record (30-26), this may happen in the first round.

You may be interested in reading: What did Kyrie Irving say about Kevin Durant's trade to Phoenix Suns? Explaining subtle shots fired at Brooklyn Nets, "praying for happiness" comments

Mat Ishbia, the new owner of Phoenix, has already made a huge move and fans are loving it. If the Suns make it out of the West, they will have a good chance of winning it all for the first time in franchise history.