The Phoenix Suns have already said they won’t be trading any of the team’s Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker or Bradley Beal this offseason.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This is even with Phoenix being swept in the first round this past season and on the books for the highest projected payroll in the NBA for the 2024-25 season. The Suns have not been shy to make big moves under owner Mat Ishbia, but he seemed to believe in continuity moving forward despite their poor finish last season.
#Suns owner Mat Ishbia to our @brendan_mau on the importance of continuity:
“It was never, ‘we’re gonna win a championship this year or we got to blow it up.’ It’s just ridiculous stuff.”
“Knowing we have the whole starting 5 back (next year), I feel pretty good about that.” pic.twitter.com/7VQCGcOsCl
— Burn City Suns Talk ????️ (@BurnCitySuns) May 2, 2024
With that said, there could be at least one team interested in Durant, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony:
”The (Houston) Rockets are clearly in win-now mode and would love to add star power to their roster, with players such as Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram as well as role players including Brook Lopez and Marcus Smart being some that other teams say the Rockets could have interest in targeting (with some names more far-fetched than others).”
The Houston Rockets could target Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler, per @DraftExpress
“The Rockets are clearly in win-now mode and would love to add star power to their roster, with players such as Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram as well as role players… pic.twitter.com/x2oavkoDOu
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 24, 2024
Durant, who will be 36 at the start of next season, has two years left on his four-year, $194.2 million contract. He is also eligible for a one-year extension this offseason.
The Rockets hold the No. 3 overall pick in Wednesday’s 2024 NBA draft (originally from the Brooklyn Nets) and have a lot of youth they could be looking to maximize, which includes Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson. Houston, who was the 11th seed in the Western Conference this past season with a 41-41 record, also has a first-round pick in all of the future drafts, whether it be its own or the Nets’ from when the Rockets traded James Harden to Brooklyn back in Jan. 2021.
The Suns gave up a lot of their future pieces to acquire Durant from Brooklyn ahead of the trade deadline in Feb. 2023. Even at age 35 and five years removed from an Achilles tear, Durant still played in 75 games this past season and averaged the fifth-most points in the NBA at 27.1 per game on 52.3/41.3/85.6 shooting splits to go along with 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists after only playing eight regular season games for Phoenix in 2023. The 16-year veteran forward was then named to the All-NBA Second Team.
After the season, Suns president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones stated that the Suns have big plans to maximize Durant’s potential in the future even with his age and big season.
“A constant focus for us is to continue to figure out how to maximize Kevin Durant,” Jones said. “No one’s done it yet. I believe we’d be the first team to do it. Because if we can maximize him, we can maximize our entire roster (and) we’re a better team.”
Durant has stated that he has big future goals with the Suns and for his career in Phoenix.
“I’ve been on so many teams, and I’ve said this before, (but) right now, in this moment, today, without thinking about the next moment, yeah (I want to finish my career in Phoenix),” Durant told ESPN’s Malika Andrews in February. “But that’s just saying right now, and I can’t really predict what may happen. But I love playing in Phoenix. I love the fanbase, the city. I’ve grown to understand what our mission is being in the Valley and how deep these people care about their team.
“I started understanding the history of the Suns, and I’m glad to be a part of it. I want to go up in that Ring of Honor one day, so however long that takes.”
"I want to go up in that ring of honor one day."
Kevin Durant on playing for the Suns.
(via @malika_andrews) pic.twitter.com/GmHjeApZrv
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 22, 2024
Immediately after the Suns were swept in the playoffs, The Athletic’s Shams Charania released a story detailing some of the frustrations in the Suns’ locker room, including with Durant:
“Meanwhile, Durant, among the best scorers in NBA history, was not always happy with how he was used. Sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Durant never felt comfortable with his role in Phoenix’s offense alongside Booker and Beal this season. Those sources said Durant had persistent issues with the offense, feeling that he was being relegated to the corner far too often and not having the proper designs to play to his strengths as the offense was built around pick-and-rolls. At the same time, some teammates and people close to the organization believed Durant needed to voice his concerns more adamantly and directly with (Frank) Vogel and his coaching staff.”
Less than a couple weeks after this report came out, the Suns moved on from Vogel after one season and replaced him with Mike Budenholzer.
Because of Durant’s recent history of playing for multiple teams since he left the Oklahoma City Thunder, there will always be speculation that he could move on elsewhere.
Bleacher Report said that Durant requesting a trade would be the Suns’ “biggest fear” this offseason, and later put him atop a list of the biggest trade targets across the league.
Should the Suns listen to offers for Durant or keep their core as is?
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
