PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant are working together on a potential trade that would end his tenure in the Valley, but it won’t be with the New York Knicks.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The 15-time All-Star’s business partner Rich Kleiman is aiding general manager Brian Gregory to find a package worthy for Durant that helps both parties involved. A list of six to eight teams were interested in Durant, but the top three are the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs, according to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania. The 36-year-old understands his age has hurt trade talks with some of the other teams, most notably with the New York Knicks.
NBA Inside Marc J. Spears appeared on NBA Today and discussed how Durant “wanted” to go to the Big Apple, but the Knicks have “No interest” in trading for the former MVP.
Dec 15, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots a technical foul against the New York Knicks in the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Spears on Knicks saying no to Durant deal with Suns:
“KD wanted the New York Knicks. He wanted to go there. The Knicks have no interest in bringing him in. I think these three choices are by default, he definitely doesn’t want to go to Minnesota, but I think there’s some fear from him and Rich Kleiman. They’re hoping that there is going to be some respect at Kevin’s age to give him what he wants, rather than try to trade him like he’s 31 years old, which he’s not anymore. I think they’re trying to get a major haul, but they’re hoping that they work with him and get it done.”
Mar 28, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) brings the ball up as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) defends him in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Durant played in New York with the Brooklyn Nets from 2019 to 2023 before he was traded to the Suns. The former MVP has his eyes in a reunion in New York City, but the Knicks have other plans. New York was just eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals in six games and fired head coach Tom Thibodeau. The franchise is clearly focused on finding its head coach for next season and not interested in adding Durant to the roster.
Reports have indicated that the Suns want to get a trade done sooner rather than later with the NBA draft a less than two weeks away. Teams have submitted multiple offers to Gregory to try and win the Durant sweepstakes, but it’ll be up to him on what package will be the best for the Suns heading into the 2025-2026 season.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
