Despite several reports that the Phoenix Suns are not interested in trading Kevin Durant in the midst of the Houston Rockets trade rumors right now, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith had a different report to share on ESPN’s First Take this morning.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“I am reporting here: Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying, they want out of Kevin Durant right now,” Smith said.
.@stephenasmith reports that the Suns "want out of Kevin Durant right now."
"Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying. They want out of Kevin Durant right now. … Houston doesn't want Kevin Durant, Ime Udoka may want him. … Their plans are more long-range." pic.twitter.com/JpuJDdNWPj
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 26, 2024
Smith’s comments come after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Rockets want to trade for Durant last night. Houston traded multiple picks with the Brooklyn Nets yesterday and now has a pick swap with Suns in 2025, the Suns’ pick in 2027 and could end up with the Suns’ pick in 2029 based on contingencies. The Nets had originally acquired this draft capital when they traded Durant to the Suns in Feb. 2023.
The implications of the Rockets landing the Suns' picks? Houston wants to trade for Kevin Durant and that becomes far easier if they can return the Suns' picks that they gave up in the Durant deal to the Nets. Suns have said they're keeping Durant for now, but that could change…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
However, multiple reports have refuted that Durant will be traded this summer, and Wojnarowski himself reported the “Suns have said they’re keeping Durant for now, but that could change next season.” General manager and president of basketball operations James Jones has already said the Suns won’t be trading any of the team’s Big 3 of Durant, Devin Booker or Bradley Beal this offseason.
Durant’s agent and business partner Rich Kleiman even posted this on Instagram in response to the reports:
Kevin Durants agent, Rich Kleinman, calls cap on the Rockets wanting to trade for KD.
Woj spreading false rumors around Kevin Durant yet again smh pic.twitter.com/7I6HnC1QOr
— CantGuardBook (@CGBBURNER) June 26, 2024
Last month, Smith said “Durant in Phoenix is a problem” and that it was time to “disband” the Suns’ Big 3 after they swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first season together.
.@stephenasmith says it's time to "disband" the Suns' big three ????
"They're not a big three. They're a big three in money. They're a big three in name. But they ain't a big three in level of production." pic.twitter.com/90mqtmYzQJ
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 13, 2024
Stephen A. Smith: Rockets want Booker, not Durant
Shortly after Wojnarowski posted this report about Durant, he then said the Rockets were now “in prime position to pursue a younger Devin Booker.”
Rockets possess a pick swap with Suns in 2025, Suns' pick in 2027 and could end up with the Suns' pick in 2029 based on contingencies. If the Suns are ever faced with breaking up team, Houston's also in prime position to pursue a younger Devin Booker. For now, Phoenix is trying… https://t.co/p29C3XSpe2
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
Right after Smith said this about Durant, he then had some things to say about Booker.
“Houston doesn’t want Kevin Durant,” Smith said. “(Rockets coach) Ime Udoke may want him, but organizationally, they know they are not there yet, so their plans are more long range, and they would prefer a Devin Booker, who they know it’s a slim chance they’ll get, but that would be their preference.”
Smith was the same one to report that Booker wanted to be traded to Smith’s favorite team, the New York Knicks, earlier this offseason.
The 27-year-old Booker has been with the Suns his entire career and will be entering his 10th NBA season this fall. He will be on the first season of a four-year, $221 million supermax extension he signed back in July 2022.
It is very tough to trust Smith when he says things like this, especially with a lot of reports contradicting what he said, but we will see what ends up happening.
Insider: ‘Definite connections’ between Kevin Durant and Rockets
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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
