The NBA trade deadline has ignited a firestorm of speculation, and at the center of it all is Kevin Durant. According to senior NBA writer Howard Beck of The Ringer, there is a growing belief among league insiders that Durant could be traded in the coming hours.
While nothing is confirmed, and no destination has been finalized, multiple sources suggest that the Phoenix Suns are at least entertaining the idea of moving the 14-time All-Star.
“There’s a dizzying amount of rumor/speculation around Kevin Durant this morning. Many folks around the league believe (emphasis on believe; no one certain) he’ll be dealt, tho destination unclear. But FWIW, Suns beat guy Duane Rankin reports that Durant, Beal and Nurkic are all at shootaround.”
This statement suggests that while Durant remains an active participant with the Suns—at least publicly—there are serious discussions behind the scenes. The situation is moving fast, and it appears that Phoenix could be approaching a franchise-altering decision.
Adding to the growing speculation, another NBA insider, Sam Amick, revealed on Run It Back TV that Durant was very close to being traded yesterday. He elaborated:
“Yeah, it’s escalated quickly, as the kids say. I think that the Warriors thing is very real. Admittedly, I’m a West Coaster like you guys, so we’re kind of getting rolling right now to figure out where the intel is at today.”
“There were moments last night where I thought, you know, this was actually gonna happen, which is wild to say because as of early yesterday, the information coming out of the Warriors was some frustration with the Suns in terms of just kind of the talks and the back and forth—mixed messaging.”
“As you guys know, there’s often layers to these talks where the formal indication might be, ‘We are not coming off Kevin Durant,’ and then behind the scenes, they’re finding ways to make it clear like, ‘Well, if you gave us the entire package, then maybe we do.'”
“Things to look at: Jonathan Kaminga is a guy that, as we reported yesterday, the Suns definitely have interest in for a possible long-term future. I think that matters. Then you’re possibly talking about a Brandon Podziemski, Wiggins in there.”
The Golden State Warriors have emerged as one of the primary suitors for Durant, setting up a potential reunion with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. However, negotiations have been complicated. The Suns have reportedly sent mixed signals, at times insisting Durant is untouchable while also exploring how much they could get in return for the two-time Finals MVP.
One of the most crucial pieces of a potential deal is Jonathan Kuminga. According to reports, Phoenix has a significant interest in the 21-year-old forward, viewing him as a potential cornerstone of their future. Additionally, other pieces like Andrew Wiggins and Brandon Podziemski have been floated in trade discussions.
The timing of Durant’s absence from the Suns’ lineup has only added fuel to the fire. It was just announced that Durant (ankle soreness) will not play tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite being present at shootaround earlier in the day. While this could be a routine injury management decision, it’s hard to ignore the trade implications, especially given how quickly the situation has escalated.
If Durant does get moved, it would send shockwaves across the NBA. His departure from Phoenix would signal a major reset for the Suns, who built their roster around the trio of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. With the trade deadline looming, all eyes are now on Phoenix to see if they will ultimately pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal.
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