Despite not having a no-trade clause, Suns star Kevin Durant essentially nixed a trade to the Warriors, but that didn’t prevent “several more teams” from inquiring about the 36-year-old ahead of today’s deadline, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on SportsCenter (Twitter video link).
Charania reiterates that Durant was caught off guard by seeing his name pop up in rumors and did not request to be traded. Durant will remain with the Suns for at least the rest of the 2024/25 season, but his future with the organization might be tenuous.
The Suns have the highest payroll in the NBA. However, they are currently just 25-25, clinging to the No. 10 seed in the West due to a tiebreaker with Golden State, which has an identical record (No. 9 Sacramento is also 25-25). If Phoenix is unable to turn its season around, Charania says the Suns will do a “full evaluation” of their roster.
Plugged-in local reporter John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 states (via Twitter) that Phoenix wouldn’t move Durant unless it receives a combination of draft assets and young players in return. Gambadoro expects the Suns to field more inquiries on the 11-time All-NBA forward this summer.
Appearing on NBA Today (Twitter video link), former Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers, who now works for ESPN, said the Grizzlies were among the teams pursuing Durant. However, the two-time NBA Finals MVP didn’t want to play in Memphis, according to Myers.
Durant is earning $51.2MM in 2024/25, followed by $54.7MM in ’25/26. He’ll be eligible for a veteran extension when the ’25/26 league year begins on July 1.
Shelburne reporting that the Suns locker room is “extremely toxic right now” lol he gone. I mean, who thought that bringing in three backups from one of the worst teams would fix the Suns woes?
I would think his value is higher now than it will be. Suns aren’t winning anything. Go get the capital and support Booker before he asks out.
The Suns woes began when they added Bradley Beal with a NTC to a team that already had two superstar scorers.
At least the Mavs were brave enough to trade Luka. Suns can’t move KD or Beal so…..
I dont think calling it brave is right. More of dumb?
Wonder if anyone could pry away Devin Booker. His comments he made last night after being their franchise scorer make it sound unlikely sounds like he loves Phoenix
What are the odds a team could get Booker?
I’m telling you all: if GSW fires Steve Kerr, KD will suddenly pivot to demanding he get traded to GSW. No big stars want to play under Kerr, they are forced to. He is that bad at his job. Jimmy for KD would be so easy to do if no Kerr around.
Only on HoopsRumors is a coach who won 4 championships bad at their job.
KD doesn’t want to play for ANY coach / organization. Ask the Nets what Kenny Atkinson is doing right now.
Actually I’ve heard it’s mostly because of Draymond Green. If Dray wasn’t on the team, the trade might have happened.
Presenting Hoopsrumors’ hilariously d*** and annoying, maybe missing a screw or 100, the one and only, Davey J.
I see that he is back to his copium takes since the trade deadline is over. Has he made a statement yet on whether theyll win the championship now? Coz I still recall him saying that with Melton and then Schroeder, they were top 4 in the west. This one aged like milk.
Looking forward to his next copium predictions.
Suns are telling KD you better win this year or start packing.
Exactly
But Durant won’t win anything this season
Hasn’t won anything since he left GSW. Which is funny that he was at the peak of his powers playing on that team.
I guess the grass isn’t always greener
I think he always wanted to win one away from Golden State. He took all the KD snake rings thing to heart. His last year in GS they pushed him too hard to play when he was out with the strained calf, leading to the achilles injury. One of the hardest injuries to come back from while aging I’m sure he feels cost him a chance at winning “on his own” away from Golden State. Plus if they were to win again, people would say its because of Steph. KD doesn’t want to be in Stephs shadow again.
Suns are nuts
You don’t do this kind of business
A Superstar
I wanted to trade you, but I didn’t trade you
That Superstar would think you don’t want me. I am an unwanted guy
Result
I dont have joy
Team misses the playoffs
Charles Barkley says
Start packing your stuff up
Simone Fonteccio, Ausar Thompson(or Holland), Tobias Harris and picks.
They dont have an option now, they clearly burned the bridge with KD. I would be surprised if he didnt demand a trade as he has grown accostumed to.
Teams will never learn that chemistry matters and collecting stars never works. They will also never learn that unless you already have Steph Curry adding Durant is this end of your chances.