When Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant requested a trade in late June, no one thought he’d still be in Brooklyn a month later. Yet as July rounds out its final days, the market for Durant couldn’t be more diminished.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Phoenix Suns were made aware of being one of Durant’s preferred destinations. And while it seems that Phoenix would’ve pounced on a deal, the talks haven’t grown remotely.
After Phoenix took care of home first by re-signing Ayton, there was a growing belief that the Suns had taken themselves out of the Durant sweepstakes. Yet still, many analysts and commentators reason that a deal for Phoenix could still exist.
Even if a deal is there, should it be made? Is so, why hasn’t Phoenix made it?
Why Phoenix hasn’t pulled the trigger on a Durant trade
For all the maneuvering and complexities that it’d take for Phoenix to secure Durant, would it be worth the reward? The Suns would have to likely pull in another team to make the deal feasible. One said team was thought to be the Utah Jazz at one point with a focal point around Donovan Mitchell.
Even so, the Suns would have to send out as much salary as they planned to absorb from Durant’s $42.9 million he’s due this year. For both Phoenix and Durant, the 33-year-old forward couldn’t have picked a worse time to want out of Brooklyn. Durant just signed a four-year extension last year that puts him on the books until 2026.
In years prior, teams would’ve hurdle jumped Durant’s bulky contract as it now stands. Now three things stand in the way of Durant’s inability to find a new team: his age, his demeanor, and his recent play.
1. Age is everything and a number
In Durant’s defense, many players view their early 30s as the prime part of their careers, which can be fairly accurate. It’s also signaled the downfall of many players who have hit their 30-plus era. Durant is currently 33 and could easily have more meaningful seasons to come in his career.
However, there are few players that display the level of skill Durant possesses in their mid 30s. Of those few, a slim number have/had a max contract. Of the older players in today’s league, only LeBron James (37) and Chris Paul (36) are amongst the elite company that can still command a max deal. For Durant, that fact doesn’t bode well for his dilemma.
To be blunt, most teams are following the trend of building around younger pieces while they’re in development. Durant is no exception to that trend sadly.
2. Streaky Demeanor
Regardless if fans want to acknowledge it, Durant is one of the faces of the league. He also falls into one of the least liked players in the NBA. That disdain from fanbases alike doesn’t boil down to any one particular instance. Instead of fans praising the future Hall of Famer, he’s met with raised eyebrows from his social media rants.
Even so, teams have a reason to approach Durant cautiously despite social media. Given the former MVP’s mercurial personality, many teams must decide if Durant is worth mortgaging a future over.
3. Playing Style
Now, here’s where you can still give the 12-time All-Star his flowers. Even at 33, Durant is still making fans fall in love with basketball on a nightly basis. After rebounding from an MCL injury that saw him miss a portion of the season, Durant still showed that he could dominate the game at a high level.
The University of Texas standout averaged 29.9 points per game last season, the second highest scoring average of his career. He also grabbed 7.4 rebounds while dishing out 6.4 assists per contest as well.
Durant and Co. seemed primed to retake the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs. Alas, the Nets were met by a young, gritty Boston Celtics squad that exposed Durant on the offensive end. In just four games, the Celtics sent defensive schemes that saw Durant’s midrange jumpers dissipate. His game at attacking the rim fell short more times than not.
While being done on a national stage, it’s no secret that many coaches will adapt a new way to playing and immobilizing Durant next season. If so, will Durant, at 33, with an unpredictable personality be worth the risk?
