Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant trade could go down as the best trade in Arizona sports history

Arizona sports teams have produced some blockbuster sports trades through the years.

After all, Charles Barkley, Curt Schilling, Kevin Johnson, Chris Paul, Luis Gonzalez, Carson Palmer, DeAndre Hopkins and Jeremy Roenick all came to the state via trade.

But the Suns' trade for Kevin Durant could end up as the best trade in Arizona sports history.

How?

It's simple. If the Suns win their elusive first NBA title with Durant, the trade will instantly already be one of the best in Arizona history, if not the best.

Arizona only has one major professional sports championship (with apologies to the Arizona Rattlers and Phoenix Mercury): The Arizona Diamondbacks' 2001 World Series title.

The Suns winning the state's second title would instantly become legend for Arizona's original sports team, which was established in 1968 as an NBA expansion team. Long-suffering fans have been waiting 55 years for an NBA Championship.

The Suns have been to the NBA finals three times, in 2021, 1993 and 1976. Getting back there, and winning it with Kevin Durant would seal the trade's place as the biggest in Arizona sports history.

Counterpoint:Actually, the Kevin Durant trade is the worst in Arizona sports history

Timeline: Biggest trades in Arizona sports history

Feb. 28, 1988: The Cavaliers traded Kevin Johnson, Mark West, Tyrone Corbin and 2 draft picks to Phoenix for Larry Nance, Mike Sanders and a 1988 draft pick. The first round pick was used to select Dan Majerle.

Johnson played for the Suns for 12 seasons, averaging 18.7 points per game and 9.5 assists per game.

That Dan Majerle guy also turned out to be a great player in Phoenix, averaging 13.5 points per game in eight seasons.

Nance played seven seasons in Cleveland after the trade, averaging 16.8 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game, but KJ and Majerle helped ring in a new era of Suns basketball.

July 17, 1992: The 76ers sent Charles Barkley to the Suns for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang.

Hornacek was a fan favorite and a great player, but Barkley was Barkley.

In four seasons in Arizona, Barkley averaged 23.4 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game as well as 4.4 assists per game.

He brought Phoenix so close to its first NBA title in the 1992-93 season.

Related: Best trades in Phoenix Suns history

Aug. 16, 1996: The Blackhawks sent Jeremy Roenick to Arizona in exchange for Alexei Zhamnov, Craig Mills and a first-round pick.

Roenick proceeded to play six seasons in Arizona, scoring 152 goals and 227 assists, getting 379 points.

The Coyotes enjoyed some of their best success with him in town, and he was a fan favorite during his tenure with the team.

December 28, 1998: The Tigers traded Luis Gonzalez to the Diamondbacks for Karim Garcia.

Gonzalez had 224 home runs and 774 RBIs during his eight years in a Diamondbacks uniform and hit .298 in Arizona. He also had a game-winning hit in the World Series.

Garcia?

He ended up playing with 5 different teams after the trade and ended his career with 66 home runs, 212 RBIs and a .241 average.

July 26, 2000: The Phillies traded Curt Schilling to the Diamondbacks for Omar Daal, Nelson Figueroa, Travis Lee and Vicente Padilla.

Schilling was a key part of the Diamondbacks' World Series run in 2001.

He played for Arizona for four years, going 58-28 with a 3.14 ERA and 875 strikeouts.

Daal went 15-16 in two years in Philadelphia. Figueroa only made 13 appearances for the Phillies before being dealt again. Lee spent three years in Philadelphia, going .258 with 34 home runs and 174 RBIs. Padilla went 49-49 with a 3.98 ERA in six seasons with the Phillies.

More:Arizona Diamondbacks' 5 best trades in team history: Luis Gonzalez, Curt Schilling, more

April 2, 2013: The Raiders sent Carson Palmer to the Cardinals in exchange for a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round draft selection.

Seriously. Arizona then signed Palmer to a massive deal and Palmer played for five seasons with the Cardinals, going 38-21-1. He threw for 16,782 yards, 105 touchdowns and 57 interceptions in a Cardinals uniform.

Not too shabby.

March 16, 2020: Texans trade DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round pick to Cardinals for RB David Johnson and a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick.

Johnson was a good player, but Hopkins is one of the best receivers in the NFL.

Since arriving in Arizona, Hopkins has 17 touchdowns in 35 games. He has 221 receptions for 2,696 yards. He also gave Arizona the Hail Murray, which has to count for something.

Nov. 16, 2020: The Thunder sent Chris Paul and Abdel Nader to the Suns for Kelly Oubre, Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a first-round pick.

All Paul has done is average 15.2 points per game and 9.36 assists per game in three seasons in Arizona.

And he helped the Suns get so close to their first NBA title in 2021, with Phoenix losing to the Bucks in six games. Not a bad deal, huh?

Feb. 9, 2023: Nets trade Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren to Suns for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, four first-round picks and a pick swap. Jae Crowder was sent to the Bucks as part of the deal.

Durant, 34, has averaged 27.3 points per game in his career. This season, he has averaged 29.7 points per game and is shooting 55.9% from the field.

His addition brings championship aspirations to Phoenix once again.

If those aspirations become reality, the trade for Durant will go down as the best trade in Phoenix Suns history for a franchise starved for its first NBA title.

More:Larry Fitzgerald on Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant trade: 'We got pretty damn good real quick'

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant trade to Phoenix Suns instantly among Arizona's best