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Suns owner publicly shuts down Kevin Durant trade rumors

© Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia put the Kevin Durant trade rumors to rest in a post on X today.

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“NBA Draft night is the best,” Ishbia posted. “Everyone talking about the drama and storylines, some are right and some are just wrong.

“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 love draft night! Go Suns.”

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reported on First Take this morning that the Suns did not want Durant anymore.

“I am reporting here: Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying, they want out of Kevin Durant right now,” Smith said.

Ishbia’s first move as owner of the Suns was acquiring Durant, along with T.J. Warren, from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks (2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029) and a 2028 pick swap in Feb. 2023.

Last night, the Houston Rockets acquired most of these picks.

Smith’s comments come after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Rockets want to trade for Durant last night. Houston traded multiple picks back to the Nets and now owns 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.

Multiple reports had already 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 posted this on Instagram in response to the reports:

(via @CGBBURNER/ X)

Now, Ishbia has made it crystal clear where the team stands with Durant.

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.

If the Suns want to prove their loyalty to Durant, they will work to get this extension done by its deadline of July 12.

ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks reported what Durant’s extension would look like.

“Durant, 35, has two years left on his contract ($51.2 million and $54.7 million) and is eligible to sign a one-year extension, which would pay him $59.7 million in 2026-27, when the two-time NBA champion turns 38.”

All of this drama comes on the day of the first round of the NBA Draft. Get ready for an exciting next couple weeks.

Stephen A. Smith: Suns ‘want out of Kevin Durant right now’

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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

 

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