After the Warriors’ gave up on their bid to acquire Kevin Durant and the Suns decided not to send the star forward to Miami in a deal for Jimmy Butler, there was a sense that Durant would likely remain in Phoenix through Thursday’s trade deadline.
While that still may be the case, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on NBA Today (Twitter video link) that some teams haven’t given up on the idea of prying Durant away from the Suns.
“From what I’m told, there are multiple teams making really aggressive calls to the Suns on Kevin Durant,” Charania said. “He had made it clear that he did not want a reunion with the Warriors. The Warriors made a very strong pursuit of him over the last week, and several calls (from other teams) are continuing to pour in.
“One thing I do want to clarify: Kevin Durant has not requested a trade. It’s my understanding that most of – all of – these conversations this week has been somewhat blindsiding, because going into this week and this season, I don’t think a trade was something he was thinking about. He has wanted to stay in Phoenix.”
Unlike teammate Bradley Beal, Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause. Still, the Warriors reportedly backed off of their pursuit after getting word that he was opposed to the idea of returning to Golden State. If Durant were to convey a similar message to another suitor, it would likely have an impact on what that team is willing to give up, reducing the likelihood of a deal.
Durant, 36, is only under contract for one more year beyond this season, and the Suns had a “massive” asking price in their conversations with Golden State and Miami, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (Twitter link via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald).
A report on Tuesday suggested that the Mavericks and Rockets were among the other teams with interest in Durant, though a subsequent story downplayed the idea of either team making a serious push for him.
I will be shocked if Durant gets moved, as I think most people would be. But obviously, anything can happen. It could absolutely change the look of the NBA tho.
Without being prompted by the player or another team the Mavericks traded their franchise player that had lead the team to a Finals and two Western Conference Finals berths before he turned 26. Nothing shocks me anymore.
I’d bet money it’s the Hawks calling the most. They can get it done.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Detroit was the 2nd most thirsty.
Suns just announce a trade- here it is the Suns trading Nurjic and a 2026 first-round draft pick to Charolette for 2 players and a 2026 second round pick. This will be it for the Suns, don’t see them doing anything else. They are stuck as a team, this team and organization is really flawed, an owner that ruined his team for the next 5 years in less than 2 years of ownership. Might has well trade Booker at least give him a chance for a ring.
PHX likely won’t move KD until this off season (if at all), and then only after HOU weighs in as to whether they’re interested. HOU has almost all the PHX’s FRP’s and swaps rights they traded to BKN for KD, and are an ideal trading partner.
If GSW told KD “we will fire Kerr” he would have been there by now.
I’d love to see KD in Denver (won’t happen), but he speaks so highly of Jokic and would thrive with Jokic and Murray.
Don’t know about that, KD has not had the best results when he demands a trade, remember he wanted to go to Brooklyn to play with Kyrie that did not work out, then he wanted to be traded to go play with AZ w/ Booker, and as of now that has not worked out. So, if I was Denver, I would be really skeptical about even thinking about acquiring Durant.
To be fair, he wasn’t the main issue at either of those stops. He’s just bad at picking out good opportunities and good guys to play with.
Shea, agreed. And, as far as KD in Phoenix goes, I believe he’s trying hard to make it work.
I interpreted the reported KD rejection of the GSW trade yesterday mostly as “I want to show the world I can make this PHO situation work”, and not, “I want to leave PHO, but not for GSW”. But maybe I’m wrong.
Same here. KD has his pride and he’s essentially become a joke after winning those rings with the loaded Warriors, then fleeing and failing miserably since. Beyond his less than perfect relationship with Kerr, I think there’s no way he’d go back for that reason alone.
If he bails on the Suns too that’ll just make him look even worse to fans. Think he’ll tough it out and hope for the best.
Just saying KD played for OKC then become a FA went to play for GS w/ Steph, Green and Thompson to win a ring, he was in a good situation at GS but left because he said he could not get along with Kerr. Now we here that he did not want to be traded to GS by the Suns because Kerr was still the coach. Hearing that the deal framework was in the final stage, then hear that KD said he would not play for Kerr stop the deal. You really have to look at KD he has a no no-trade contract, but yet he still has some power to stop a deal. Sounds w/ Beal no trade contract the Suns are screwed that is why people are saying that the Suns locker room is very toxic right now. When you have players running the roster and not the GM there is no leadership at all in the Suns locker room.