NBA Rumors: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker Trade Inquiries 'Rebuffed' by Suns at Deadline

The Phoenix Suns are no strangers to trade discussions with rumors about Bradley Beal and Jimmy Butler circulating ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline, but they reportedly have no interest in moving their two best players.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Bobby Marks reported Thursday that teams inquiring about Kevin Durant and Devin Booker were "rebuffed" by the Suns.

That other teams would be bold enough to ask about the players isn't that surprising.

In addition to their clear talent and ability to dramatically elevate the ceiling of any team that landed them in a trade, things are not working out in Phoenix as hoped when the front office brought Durant, Beal and Booker together.

The Suns lost in the first round of the playoffs last season and are just 24-22 and in ninth place in the Western Conference standings this season. Making any type of deep playoff run from a play-in tournament position will be particularly difficult in the loaded Western Conference.

Durant has only one more season on his contract after not signing a one-year, $59.5 million extension in October. Yet Shelburne and Marks noted "there have been no warning signs that he will ask out" ahead of being eligible to sign a two-year, $124 million extension during the upcoming offseason.

"Kevin wants to be here, we want Kevin here," Suns governor Mat Ishbia told ESPN in November. "There's never been one grumbling or anything different."

As for Booker, he is signed through the 2027-28 campaign and, according to Shelburne and Marks, has never indicated he wants to leave. They suggested "Booker's loyalty is about the only solid footing the Suns are on."

The inconsistency this season while Beal trade rumors are circulating suggests Phoenix's long-term future is up in the air to say the least. Perhaps some front offices around the league would look at this trade deadline as an opportunity to reset and bolster future draft capital that is not exactly all that promising.

That line of thinking surely motivated other teams to reach out about Durant and Booker to see if that is what Phoenix's front office was considering.

But it seems like the Suns will remain in win-now mode with the veteran stars for the foreseeable future as they attempt to make a run in the Western Conference.