'Emotional': Phoenix Suns players, coach react to losing Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson in blockbuster Kevin Durant deal

ATLANTA — Don’t get him wrong.

Coach Monty Williams is excited about having superstar Kevin Durant, a player he coached in USA Basketball as well as at Oklahoma City.

“He's the hardest worker I've been around,” Williams said before Thursday’s game at Atlanta.

The Suns had to trade Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to get Durant in the blockbuster deal that went down Wednesday night and became official Thursday evening.

Ugh.

"I got to see them before they took off and it was emotional,” Williams said. “Those two are near and dear to my heart. They literally are like my family and they know how much we care about them. They understand the business side of it, but they also understand that there’s a human side and an emotional side, the connection that is greater than the business side.”

Williams said he talked to Johnson and Bridges before they left and gave them a hug.

“It’s hard when you have to not say, ‘Goodbye,’ but ‘See you later,’” Williams continued. “That was hard.”

It was even harder for Deandre Ayton, who came into the league with Bridges in 2018.

Johnson joined them in Phoenix the next year.

"I'm not going to say it was emotional, but the whole world knows what happened," Ayton said. "It's a business, but at the same time, the guys that left here were part of this family and it can get to you a little bit."

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The Suns dealt Jae Crowder, four future first-round picks, a pick swap, Bridges and Johnson to Brooklyn for Durant, a two-time finals MVP, and T.J. Warren.

“Today is a transformative day for this organization,” new Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia said in a news release. “We are thrilled to welcome Kevin and T.J. to the Valley as we build a championship culture both on and off the court. Not only is Kevin one of the greatest and most accomplished players in the history of the sport, but his character also embodies the world class commitment to excellence we are instilling across every facet of this organization.”

Ayton said tears were shed over losing Bridges and Johnson, but he applauded Ishbia and Suns president of basketball operations and general manager, James Jones, for pulling off the blockbuster deal.

"Been a lot of crying already," Ayton said. "Once I know my guys, the Twins, are good, I'm back to business. I'm excited. I'm ready."

Suns All-Star point guard Chris Paul said he talked to Bridges on the phone while heading to Thursday's game.

"The friendships and bonds that we have made, that's sometimes rare in this league," Paul said. "That'll continue. That won't change."

Paul also talked to Durant, who he has known since Durant was a camper at a five-star basketball camp.

"Just to know how he approaches the game," Paul said. "Big man Easy Money, but just somebody who loves the game like that, I think that's what brought me and Book (Devin Booker) close together. He just love to hoop and KD, he just love to hoop. I'm excited about the process of building the team with this group."

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Durant will meet up with the team after the five-game road trip that ends Friday at Indiana. The 13-time All-Star is out with a right MCL sprain and isn’t expected to return to action until after the All-Star break.

“We are elated to welcome Kevin and T.J. to the Valley,” Jones said in a news release. “Both players are dynamic scorers and fierce competitors who compete with intensity night in and night out. We’re excited to see the added value they will contribute to our team.”

Warren spent his first five seasons with the Suns before being traded in June 2019, a month after Williams accepted the head coaching job in Phoenix.

The 6-8 forward is on a one-year deal after missing all last season with a foot injury.

Williams said he talked to Warren before that trade sent him to Indiana. Now Warren returns with Booker and Ayton being his only teammates from the 2018-19 team who are still with the Suns.

“It’s a close group,” Williams said about his team. “So, you can imagine it’s a tough blow for the group, from a human side of it, but it’s also exciting when you look at what could be. I think guys balance it differently just based on their relationship with Cam and Mikal, but at the same time, all of our guys understand who Kevin is and what T.J. brings to the table, and they respect that.”

Bismack Biyombo said he’s excited about the trade, but he and Bridges developed a close bond that began when Biyombo joined the team during last season.

“His energy, passion for the game, but at the same time, it’s a business we all signed up for,” he said. “We all understand it.”

Biyombo said he was looking to go to sleep when he saw the news of the trade on his phone.

“Everybody was in the hallway," he said. "We all started talking and we keep talking. It just shows how close the guys are and we are. We were out talking until 2 a.m. or something like that, 2:30, 3 o’clock.”

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Suns guard Landry Shamet was in Brooklyn with Durant for the 2020-21 season.

He raved about him as a teammate.

“He loves basketball,” Shamet said. “He’s a purest. Very laid-back persona in the locker room. Good dude. Just wants to go hoop and compete and win. That’s what he wants to do every day at the highest level.”

However, Shamet took time to express the team’s appreciation for Bridges and Johnson.

“We’ll deeply miss what Cam and Mikal bring to the table beyond just basketball,” Shamet said. “They’re our brothers. They need to be commended for their role in seeing this thing through to this spot. They were instrumental.”

Suns guard Damion Lee was also teammates with Durant for one season with Golden State in 2018-19.

“He’s a guy that loves the game,” Lee said. “Plays the game at a high level. One of the greatest to ever touch the basketball. His smarts and intelligence is what he’s known for and showcased in this league since he first came in.”

Lee said Durant is a “great addition,” but like Shamet, recognized Bridges and Johnson.

“We miss the guys, Mikal and Cam, but it’s a business, man," Lee said. “We’ve got a job. We’ve got a goal to do.”

The Suns also traded Dario Saric and a second-round pick to Oklahoma City for Darius Bazley.

That move touched Biyombo, too.

“(Wednesday), I came into the gym and it was just him and I,” Biyombo said. “And we were just working out and we were just talking about a lot of things. Trades and all this stuff. Then this morning, I didn’t know he got traded. I thought when the trade was closed, we still go guys. When I was getting on the bus, and somebody told me, ‘Have you talked to your boy. He’s on his way to the airport.’”

More: Suns trade Dario Saric, second-round pick to OKC for Darius Bazley

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns 'emotional' after losing Bridges, Johnson in Durant deal