Hours after acquiring Kevin Durant in a trade, the Suns faced the Hawks at State Farm Arena. Despite what they may have claimed, they were not fully focused on the game that night.
“If someone says they’re completely focused on the game, they’re lying,” said Suns Coach Monty Williams prior to the game. “It’s not realistic to expect everyone to concentrate solely on the game when they’re still processing personal changes.”
As a result, the Suns’ 116-107 loss to the Hawks was not surprising. They trailed for most of the game and Coach Williams acknowledged that his team “just didn’t have it tonight.”
The trade for Durant was exciting for the Suns, but they were still grappling with the departures of Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson. Coach Williams expressed his emotional attachment to the two players, calling them “like my family.”
While fans may not understand, trade deadline day is not always easy for the players and teams involved. Both the Suns and Hawks were relieved when the deadline passed at 3 PM ET. Hawks Coach Nate McMillan stated, “I’m happy it’s over.”
John Collins, the Hawks forward who was also the subject of trade rumors, felt a sense of relief that he wasn’t part of the movement. However, he acknowledged that trade rumors are hard to ignore, with players constantly seeing them on social media. Although Collins didn’t think the rumors had a direct impact on his performance, he recognized that they could affect players subconsciously.
The stress of almost being traded can be tough, but actually being traded can be even harder. Coach McMillan pointed out that families and children are involved and a player’s entire life can change within 24 hours. If a player is lucky, they may get traded while playing at home, allowing them to pack up their belongings before heading to their new city.
Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky were two Hawks veterans who were lucky enough to be traded while at home. However, Mikal Bridges and Damion Lee were not so fortunate. Bridges learned of the trade early in the morning while in Atlanta, and Johnson and Bridges soon after joined their new team in Brooklyn.
While these trades are just part of the business of the game, they can still be emotionally taxing for players. Dejounte Murray, the Hawks guard, repeated the phrase “it’s a business” in the locker room before the game. Meanwhile, Suns center Deandre Ayton acknowledged that the departures of former teammates can be hard, but he also acknowledged that it is simply part of the game.
