PHOENIX –The NBA trade deadline has passed, and the Phoenix Suns, who had aspirations of landing an All-Star during the deadline, only deal is a salary dumping move to get off center Jusuf Nurkic’s contract. The rumor mill for the past month was headlined by the Phoenix Suns unloading the massive contracts of either guard Bradley Beal or Kevin Durant. Both not coming to fruition for the Suns, with Beal not waiving his no-trade clause and Durant saying no to trades that would’ve sent him to Golden State or Memphis.
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Dec 13, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) and guard Bradley Beal (3) against the Brooklyn Nets at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The franchise’s current on-court struggle adds to the uncertainty of star players’ future because of the scrutiny of the front office and from the media. Those factors leave the Suns’ locker room “toxic,” according to ESPN NBA Insider Ramona Shelburne.
Phoenix’s locker room is ‘toxic’ right now, per @ramonashelburne
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )pic.twitter.com/38K9jL8WVe
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 6, 2025
Shelburne heard that Phoenix’s shootaround yesterday before their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was “awkward,” and it’s not hard to see why. The uncertainty of two of three top guys can ruin the attitude of the entire roster. There is no longer a feeling of loyalty, and it becomes harder to come back for the second half of the season with all the pressure the Suns put on themselves to trade Durant and Beal, and they failed.
It was almost a certainty a month ago that Phoenix would make a big move to salvage its season, but now that they haven’t, how will the roster respond when their future with the team was up in the air just a few hours ago? Regardless, the Suns have a lot of work to do to repair the relationship with Durant and Beal.
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Tanner Tortorella is a sports reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @TannerTSports
