The Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade dominated deadline headlines so much that the biggest storyline wasn't the Phoenix Suns making Kevin Durant available. Who knows if he'd still be in Arizona if it weren't for him not wanting to reunite with the Warriors in San Francisco?
The Suns aren't in the position they thought they'd be in when they traded for Durant before the 2023 deadline. It doesn't help that they went on to trade for Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause and reportedly wasn't willing to waive it so Phoenix could get Jimmy Butler (which could've turned out to be another disaster).
KD and the Suns' best hope of securing a playoff berth will be through the Play-In Tournament. They're the No. 11 seed in the West with a 26-28 record, a game and a half behind the No. 10 Warriors. The Mavericks are the No. 8 seed (a game and a half ahead of the No. 9 Kings), and luckily for Phoenix, Dallas imploded its season by trading Doncic. They've been hit with several injuries lately, including AD.
Phoenix came up short in the second round of the 2023 playoffs against Denver and was swept by Minnesota in the first round last year. Not making it to the playoffs would be a massive disappointment in 2025, but that's what is expected to happen. What would that mean for Durant's future?
Speculation about Kevin Durant's future with Suns has already begun
Durant is 36, but age doesn't matter much with him (at least not yet). He's averaging 27.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting 53.2% from the field and 40.4% from three. He was selected as an All-Star starter, marking the 15th All-Star honor in his career.
Several teams will be interested in Durant over the summer if he becomes available. Kevin O'Connor discussed teams on one of his recent podcast episodes that could join the KD race. He said the Magic, Sixers, Grizzlies, and Warriors are among the teams that can offer the Suns the best package.
O'Connor even mentioned the Knicks but acknowledged that they don't have the assets to compete with other teams. He did wonder if a package centered around OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges (hello, old friend!) would work, but Bleacher Report's Mo Dakhil said that's an offer New York likely wouldn't make.
KD's contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, and he will become an unrestricted free agent that summer. A team that trades for him (if that happens) will want the reassurance that he'll re-sign there, meaning Durant will need to "approve" the trade. Wherever he ends up (if he is traded), it will likely be the last team he plays for in the NBA, which everyone thought when he arrived in Phoenix.
The front office has set the organization back with various decisions over the past few years, so they should prioritize getting the best possible return for Durant to help them (maybe) better position themselves for the future. They at least owe fans that much.