Kevin Durant's tenure in Phoenix looks finished as Suns 'make major trade decision' on future Hall of Famer

Daily Mail​

7 hours ago

Kevin Durant may want to play in South Florida or Texas next season, but that doesn't matter much in Arizona 's Salt River valley.
As previously reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, the Phoenix Suns star wants to be traded to the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs or Houston Rockets this summer.
However, on Monday, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on Marc Stein's Substack page the Suns will seek the best trade they can find for Durant and not necessarily a move to one of his preferred destinations.
Daily Mail has reached out to Suns spokespeople and Durant's agent Rich Kleiman for comment.
This would open up considerably more possibilities for Durant, who is eyeing a move to a potential fifth franchise for a chance at a third NBA title at age 36.
He remained effective in 2024-25 despite his advancing age by ranking seventh in scoring at 26.6 points a game thanks to 43-percent accuracy from beyond the arc – better than all but 10 players in 2024-25.
Although it's unclear who the Suns are speaking with about Durant, The Athletic's Kelly Iko reported earlier this month that Phoenix has gradually reduced its asking price for the Olympic gold medalist.
Durant was the crown jewel of the team makeover after owner Mat Ishbia bought the Suns in 2022. The former Texas Longhorns star did not come cheaply, however, as Phoenix surrendered four unprotected first-round picks and a future pick swap as well as Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal.
At the time, then-ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported the trade was Ishbia's idea, writing it was 'very much on the ownership level' between the Suns boss and Nets governor Joe Tsai.
Ishbia pushed back on that reporting soon after, saying the decision was unanimous.
'It wasn't a tough decision,' he told reporters in Phoenix. 'We really didn't want to give up some of the guys, because we love those guys. They were winners and we didn't want to give them up.
'But at the end of the day the right decision was, what do we do to maximize our team for today and for the next three to four years? This is going to be what the Phoenix Suns are about.'
The Suns would go on to add high-scoring Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal to a core that already included Devin Booker, while Ishbia reiterated his desire to keep Durant in Phoenix.
Ishbia shot down any trade speculation in 2024 when the Rockets were reportedly interested.
'Everyone talking about the drama and storylines, some are right and some are just wrong,' Ishbia wrote on social media. '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.'
The billionaire even told reporters in November he expected to sign Durant to a contract extension.
Then the Suns fell off the map, missing the playoffs at 36-46 as Durant, Booker and Beal once again struggled to gel under coach Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after the season.
Ishbia owned up to the debacle with reporters after the season finale.
'Embarrassing season, right?' Ishbia said. 'Disappointing. Awful. I watch every game like all you guys do and no one's proud of it, no one's happy with it, from me, to the front office, to the coaches and players, to the marketing executives to the security guards.
'It was a failure.'
If Ishbia did have one success in 2024-25, it was his popular decision to reduce concessions prices with a new $2 menu.
Although they don't currently have their own first-round pick, the Suns do have the 29th selection in this month's NBA Draft.
As for the head-coach vacancy, the Suns have brought in Jordan Ott, whom Ishbia said 'embodies the culture of excellence and accountability we're going to prioritize.'
Ott had worked under 2025 NBA Coach of the Year Kenny Atkinson in Cleveland after the two previously worked together in Brooklyn