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Even though the Golden State Warriors are still trying to find a way to reunite with Kevin Durant before Thursday’s trade deadline, they’ve found the Phoenix Suns to be a difficult partner in negotiations.
On FanDuel TV’s Run It Back (starts at the 27-second mark), The Athletic’s Sam Amick noted the Warriors have had “some frustration” with the Suns about the “mixed messaging” they were getting when the two sides had talks on Tuesday morning.
Run It Back @RunItBackFDTV
“The Warriors (trading for Kevin Durant) is very real…there were moments last night where I thought this was actually gonna happen.” 👀<a href=”https://twitter.com/sam_amick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@sam_amick</a> shares the latest on the Suns trading KD for Kuminga<br><br>📺 <a href=”https://t.co/iH8kMk1F4q”>https://t.co/iH8kMk1F4q</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/MichelleDBeadle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@MichelleDBeadle</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/TeamLou23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@TeamLou23</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/ChandlerParsons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@ChandlerParsons</a> <a href=”https://t.co/od325jBjBU”>pic.twitter.com/od325jBjBU</a>
Part of the frustration could stem from what the Suns have been asking Golden State to give up in a package for Durant.
The package could also include Draymond Green, who was cited as a player the Suns are “known to covet” in part because governor Mat Ishbia is a Michigan State alum.
Golden State owns all of its future first-round draft picks that would also be of significant value, especially to a Suns organization that doesn’t have direct control over their picks through 2031.
It’s interesting to see how quickly the approach for the Warriors leading up to the trade deadline seems to have changed. Stephen Curry told reporters after a 104-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 13 that he didn’t want to see them make a “desperate” move:
“Desperate trades or desperate moves that deplete the future, there is a responsibility on allowing or keeping the franchise in a good space and good spot when it comes to where we leave this thing when we’re done. Doesn’t mean that you’re not trying to get better. It doesn’t mean that you’re not active in any type of search to, if you have an opportunity where a trade makes sense or even in the summer free agency [move] makes sense. You want to continue to get better.”
Following a loss to Durant and the Suns on Jan. 31, Curry said there has to be a “sense of urgency” given their struggles for the past two months after a hot start to the season.
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Steph Curry on the trade deadline choices ahead for the Warriors: “It’s not for me to make those decisions. I want to win. So whatever it means to do that.” <a href=”https://t.co/E4X6lPnhLN”>pic.twitter.com/E4X6lPnhLN</a>
Both the Warriors and Suns have identical 25-24 records right now without many paths to dramatically improve. The Suns are the most inhibited team in the league due to their lack of draft assets on top of being well into the second apron with $380.8 million in salary commitments between payroll and tax payments this season.
Golden State’s long-term future is certainly a question mark, but it’s hard to envision the organization sitting on its hands right now with Curry still capable of playing at a high level.
If that means the Warriors will be able to pull off a deal for Durant remains to be seen, but credit general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. for at least aiming high in his quest to help Curry.
