Here's why James Jones and Monty Williams should hold Kevin Durant back

Kevin Durant might feel like he’s ready to play any day now, but he shouldn’t.

Monty Williams and James Jones should instruct an equipment manager to steal his shoes, bleach his jersey and cut a hole in the back of his shorts.

The decision about the availability of Phoenix’s sniper should be easy money: Durant should come back when he’s 100 percent and not a moment earlier.

The Phoenix Suns are getting ready for a stretch run that has basketball fans planning their schedules around a deep playoff run. That’s not going to happen without Durant. If the Phoenix team bus pulls up for a championship parade this summer, Durant will be the one driving it.

He’s the rainmaker for the Suns this season.

Read more: Kevin Durant's Suns debut may be delayed, according to report

He’s Moses Malone revolutionizing the 76ers. He’s Mark Aguirre sparking the Pistons. He’s Clyde Drexler taking off for the Rockets. He’s Kevin Garnett finding a pot of gold with the Celtics. He’s LeBron James doing all of the things for the Heat … and Cavaliers … and Lakers.

Durant is that big of a deal, and no one needs this playoff drive ending in the middle of nowhere because he damages a wheel in some random regular-season game.

From what we know about Durant, we can expect him to do everything possible to get on the floor with his new teammates. It’s entirely possible to spell “load management” without “KD”.

He was the one constant in Brooklyn as Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons missed time for reasons that had a Nets result of that team breaking up without a title.

At Golden State, Durant played through leg pain that resulted in him blowing his Achilles in a pop that could be heard from California to New York after a simple hesitation dribble in the NBA Finals.

We don’t need to question Durant’s commitment.

But Williams and Jones need to take the decision out of his hands -- or his right knee, anyway.

More: Suns favored to win Pacific Division, Western Conference

The Suns have a few new players to acclimatize into their system, including Terrence Ross and T.J. Warren. Plus, Devin Booker has only played in a few games since working through a month’s worth of groin pains.

The team can focus on getting those guys comfortable with one another as they get ready for the final 22 games of the regular season. They’re one good winning streak away from a 2-seed.

And, frankly, the less opponents know about how Durant fits with Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, the better.

Related: Here are the 5 'best' Suns lineups with Kevin Durant

For now, Booker and Ayton can practice against double teams that they won’t likely see when Durant joins the team.

Paul can spend his time getting shots for Ross and Warren that will be easier to knock down when Durant arrives.

And Williams can be as meticulous as ever about getting his guys right where he wants them so that when Durant finally suits up, he’s the centerpiece for a table that’s already been set.

In the meantime, Durant can work on his conditioning and chemistry with his new teammates. Those will be vital intangibles when the playoffs start.

But the decision about when Durant plays should be easy money: The sniper shouldn’t put his finger on the trigger until his knee is 100 percent.

If the Suns' team bus rolls up to a championship parade, Durant will be the guy who drives it there.

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Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @SayingMoore. There's plenty Moore where this came from. Subscribe for videos, columns, opinions and analysis from The Arizona Republic’s award-winning team. 

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant needs to sit. Jones and Williams must ensure it