In a league increasingly driven by analytics and shot-tracking data, the NBA’s best shot profiles usually feature a higher concentration of shots at the rim and beyond the 3-point line. The Phoenix Suns, however, have been defying that prototypical contour for a few years now. One of the common misconceptions about “analytics” is that they stress layups, dunks and 3s...

Kevin Durant is all anyone in the Valley can talk about, and rightfully so: The Phoenix Suns may have just swung the biggest, riskiest and most dramatic deal in NBA Trade Deadline history. But as the focus shifts to winning that long-awaited title, the other minor piece coming back to Phoenix, T.J. Warren, shouldn’t get lost in the shuffle. That’s not only because Tony Buckets’ return can help the Suns, but also because he’s alarmingly important to their wing depth after shipping off Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. There’s still a few worthy candidates on the buyout market, but the Suns are going to lean more heavily on this familiar face than people realize. https://twitter.com/KellanOlson/status/1623591378386292737?s=20&t=IetL9e0Ls9Ldiy9pXaAAtQ “T.J. is a natural leader…

Kevin Durant is officially a member of the Phoenix Suns. It’s not a late-night fever dream or some groggy, early-morning fantasy; on the first day under new owner Mat Ishbia, and about 14 hours away from the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline, the Suns swung arguably the biggest midseason trade not only in the history of this franchise, but the league itself. As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Suns will be receiving KD and T.J. Warren from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round draft picks and the rights to a first-round pick swap in 2028. All four first-rounders in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029 are unprotected. https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1623564676066934785?s=20&t=getL3JXeKGRh02HFb_kjzQ A blockbuster trade of this…