The Phoenix Suns have a Kevin Durant problem, one of their own making. He's still playing at a high level at 36, but Phoenix has failed to build a winning team around him. The goal of winning a championship with Durant and Devin Booker seems much farther away than in 2023 when the KD trade happened.
Speaking of a Durant trade, the Suns made the star available before the Feb. 6 deadline. Golden State wanted to reunite with him, but KD had no interest in returning to the Warriors. He remained in Phoenix past the deadline, but the belief is he'll be out the door in the offseason. It'd take a lot for the No. 11 Suns to advance past the first round of the playoffs, much less make it that far.
Durant spoke to the media about the trade talks surrounding him (subscription required) and said he understood that "anybody can be up for auction." However, he said he had never been "blindsided" before, meaning he didn't expect the Suns to partake in trade discussions about him.
KD talked about his future with ESPN's Malika Andrews at All-Star Weekend (ironically, in San Francisco). He said he didn't want to be traded to the Warriors (or any other team) because he didn't want to be moved midseason. He wants to see things through in Phoenix for the rest of the season.
When Malika mentioned the possibility of a summer trade, Durant said she'd need to "ask the front office about that." Heat legend Udonis Haslem's main takeaway from the interview was that Durant is "out of there" this offseason.
Speculation rises that Suns will trade Kevin Durant this offseason
Haslem said he thinks Durant will be gone because "anytime you start referring to the front office as 'them' and 'the higher-ups' and 'the guys upstairs,' then that means there's a disconnect because it's usually 'we' and 'us.'" Haslem added that KD has separated himself from the front office, which means that "eventually," they'll separate him from the locker room.
Durant has made it clear several times that he didn't request a trade before the deadline, but that doesn't mean he won't over the summer. Or maybe Phoenix will trade KD without him asking to be moved. The Suns have wedged themselves between a rock and a hard place.
Durant still has plenty to give to basketball, so there will be plenty of interested teams if Phoenix makes him available again over the summer. He's caught a lot of flak throughout the years, but it's not his fault that the Suns are dysfunctional. He's done his job.
The writing is on the wall that the next few months will be the end of KD's stint in Phoenix. An early exit in the Play-In Tournament (if they finish in the top 10) or playoffs will add fuel to the fire. Fans only thought that Durant would end his career with the Suns. Sigh.