Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns did not part ways with Kevin Durant ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, but they may have an awkward situation to handle in the aftermath.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported the news Thursday, noting Durant was “blindsided” by the rumors linking him to a reunion with the Golden State Warriors.
Charania also noted the Suns will make a “full evaluation” of the team if it cannot turn around its fortunes this season. Phoenix is currently 25-25 and in 10th place in the West.
SportsCenter @SportsCenter
“[The Suns] are not moving Kevin Durant.” 👀 <a href=”https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@ShamsCharania</a> with the latest on Kevin Durant’s future with the Phoenix Suns. <a href=”https://t.co/5MGqvKpV47″>pic.twitter.com/5MGqvKpV47</a>
Durant rejected a potential reunion with Stephen Curry and the Warriors prior to the team’s move for Jimmy Butler, according to Charania and Brian Windhorst.
Durant’s rejection of Golden State’s pursuit did not stop teams from calling, with Charania noting the star was the subject of “aggressive” inquiries prior to the 3 p.m. ET deadline.
The 36-year-old Durant has averaged 26.9 points on 52.4 percent shooting, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. The 15-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA player has won four scoring titles, two NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards and made the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
The Suns brought him aboard in February 2023 after Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Three months later, Phoenix’s season ended in the second round to the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
Over the summer, the Suns brought in Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards to form a new Big Three with Durant and Devin Booker.
Championship aspirations have not come close to panning out since then.
The team’s disappointing 2023-24 campaign, a 49-33 season, ended with a first-round sweep to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Afterward, there were murmurs that the Suns were looking to move on from KD.
The loudest one came from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith (h/t NBA Central) on First Take, who said a source told him: “Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying. They want out of Kevin Durant right now.”
There was also word from Adrian Wojnarowski (then of ESPN) that the Houston Rockets coveted Durant but were told that Phoenix was keeping keeping KD for now.
However, Suns governor Mat Ishbia shut down any talk of Durant moving.
Mat Ishbia @Mishbia15
NBA Draft night is the best. Everyone talking about the drama and storylines, some are right and some are just wrong. <br>My turn. Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we are competing for a championship this year because we have the team to do it. Gotta…
The Suns started the 2024-25 season hot, winning eight of their first nine. But Phoenix soon fell back to earth, largely because the team couldn’t find its form without Durant, who missed seven games in November with a left calf strain and then three more in December with a left ankle sprain. Phoenix went 1-9 in those contests.
Durant returned to the lineup on Dec. 13 for good, but the Suns remained inconsistent, including a stretch where they lost seven of eight games. Phoenix did enjoy some good basketball here and there, including an 8-2 run in January.
That’s gone up in smoke, as the Suns find themselves fighting for a playoff spot when they hoped for much more.
It’s clear that the Suns won’t get it going with their current group, for whatever reason. It certainly isn’t Durant’s fault, as he’s been exceptional in Phoenix.
The Suns now need to find a way to find success in a tough environment after shopping two of their top talents.
