Suns' Josh Bartelstein Dismisses Kevin Durant Trade Rumors, Says Star 'Loves It Here'

Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein affirmed the mutual commitment the franchise shares with star player Kevin Durant.

Bartelstein addressed the lingering speculation surrounding Durant's future in Phoenix in an interview on the PHNX Suns Podcast.

"But I think everyone's head's in the right place. He loves it here," Bartelstein said. "We talk to Rich Kleiman, who's his partner, all the time about the vision and what we're building, and everyone's really happy, and I think we're gonna have a really really good year.

"And Kevin's part of all the discussions about the vision for the team, all the stuff we're doing on the court, off the court. So the fact that we have all that dialogue, there's equity built into it. If you do those things, everything else will take care of itself."

The Suns finished sixth in the Western Conference in 2023-24 and were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. Between that and a seemingly bleak long-term outlook, some have wondered whether one of Phoenix or Durant was already angling for a breakup.

The 14-time All-Star's hopes of winning another championship are likely better elsewhere, while trading him would theoretically be a way for the front office to reset around Devin Booker without totally blowing up the roster.

Following the first round of the NBA draft, president of basketball operations James Jones was emphatic in denying that any deal may come to pass:

Durant, for his part, alluded to a report from ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that Phoenix wants "out" of the KD experience and expressed his frustration with the general narrative.

"So for somebody to say, 'Phoenix wants to get out of the KD (business),' I'm sitting here like, where is this coming from?" he said to Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill. "It bothers me that people lie like that and that the audience eats up the headline. I get sad when people buy into lies and just make up s--t."

Fair or not, this is partially what the Suns and Durant signed up for when he requested his trade from the Brooklyn Nets, though. If he already forced his way off one team, then it stands to reason he could do it again. And at 35 years old, he can't afford to wait around to too long in Phoenix if a third title is his ultimate goal.

For now, everyone is on the same page. How the Suns start the 2024-25 campaign could test that resolve.