It wouldn’t be an offseason in the NBA without both the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant involved in some type of drama.
This started Tuesday night after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Houston Rockets were going to make a play for Durant in a trade with Phoenix.
Another layer was added to the situation with a report from Stephen A. Smith that the Suns are pretty much done with Durant and his antics.
“I am reporting: pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying, they want out of Kevin Durant right now.”
“Also, Houston doesn’t want Kevin Durant. Ime Udoka may want him, but organizationally, they know they are not there yet. Their plans are more long range and they would prefer a Devin Booker, who they know there’s a slim chance they’ll get.”
Report on Kevin Durant trade rumors from the Phoenix Suns
This isn’t really that much of a surprise. Reports this past season indicated that Durant was unhappy about the direction of the Suns’ organization. Once they were swept out of the NBA Playoffs in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, rumors about a potential trade popped up even more.
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Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia responds to Kevin Durant trade rumors
Ishbia sent an odd post on X (formerly Twitter) immediately ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft starting on Wednesday. He made it clear where the Suns stand on KD.
“NBA Draft night is the best. 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.”
Mat Ishbia on X
Why Ishbia thought he had to take to social media to quiet the rumors is not known. It’s not typical for an owner to go that route.
As for Durant, his presence on X is less surprising. As rumors about a potential trade started to take hold, he responded to a troll (very much KD-like).
Phoenix hired championship-winning head coach Mike Budenholzer to replace the recently-fired Frank Vogel. That seems to suggest the team wants to keep its core three of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal together.
The Suns also continue to say the right things publicly.
Even then, it really isn’t going to quiet down Durant trade rumors any time soon.