One of the many tasks the Phoenix Suns need to check off their list this summer is trading Kevin Durant, but a deal could be complicated because of a player in the East. NBA insider Brian Windhorst said on the Dan Patrick Show that Durant could sit on the tarmac waiting for Giannis Antetokounmpo's future to be settled.
Windhorst said there won't be a major move around the league until there is clarity on Giannis' situation. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo is "open-minded" to leaving Milwaukee for the first time in his career, but he hasn't requested a trade. Windhorst said it would be a mistake to assume at this point that the Bucks superstar will leave, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.
Undoubtedly, every team in the NBA would be interested in Giannis if he requested a trade, even the teams that don't have the assets to get him. The Bucks' asking price would be sky high, but there are teams (like the Rockets and Spurs) that could meet Milwaukee's demands. Trade talks could drag out, meaning Phoenix would be left waiting to trade Durant.
Giannis Antetokounmpo could drag out Suns-Kevin Durant trade
Even if Giannis requests a trade and is dealt to a new team early in the offseason, that would mean one less Durant suitor for the Suns. Houston and San Antonio were two teams interested in trading for KD before the February deadline.
A trade with the Rockets could allow the Suns to receive their 2025 first-round pick that they traded to the Nets (who then sent it to Houston) as part of the 2023 Durant deal. Having a lottery pick in a solid draft class would be a good move for Phoenix, but that might be a dream scenario. ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported that the Rockets are wary of a Durant trade because of his age. He'll turn 37 before the start of next season.
None of the above could matter, especially if Giannis takes a while to decide what he wants to do. The Bucks could let the bidding war go on for weeks, diverting interest in KD. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that outside of the Nuggets, he doesn't see another team chasing after Durant, so it seems his market is already lower than the Suns want. No, that doesn't mean Phoenix should run it back next season.
Maybe Giannis will decide to stay with the only NBA organization he's ever known, which could, in turn, increase interest in Durant. Luck hasn't been on the Suns' side, but perhaps that'll change.