Video: Suns' Kevin Durant Discusses Being Part of Jimmy Butler, Warriors Trade Rumors
Kevin Durant was the subject of trade rumors last week as the Phoenix Suns looked to shake up their core group amidst a disappointing 26-26 season, namely in the Jimmy Butler trade talks and the reported discussions with the Golden State Warriors (which Durant seemingly nixed).
The superstar forward told reporters on Monday he didn't take any of it personally, however, calling it "part of the business."
He also said it wouldn't necessarily impact his future in Phoenix.
"I always had a goal of playing my contract out and see what happens. ... I know that will be a topic," he said. "That's probably the most frustrating part about being in trade talks is that microscope is going to be solely on me the rest of the season."
The Suns, to a certain degree, didn't have much choice but to take calls on Durant. The preference almost assuredly would have been to trade a player like Bradley Beal instead and keep the Durant and Devin Booker duo intact, but Beal's massive contract and no-trade clause made him basically impossible to move.
And the Suns were never going to entertain offers for Booker, the face of the franchise. So if the organization was going to make a foundational change and shake things up, it was going to require departing with Durant.
The Suns thought better of doing so, of course, and Durant framed the entire situation as a mark of respect.
"It's not a bad thing that people around the league want me to play for them," he told reporters. "It's not a bad thing my organization here is fighting off people to keep me on a team or even dangle me in a trade. Part of being in high demand."
The Suns ultimately decided to trade Jusuf Nurkić and a 2026 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micić and a 2026 second-rounder instead. It wasn't the sort of franchise-altering move they had been discussing, but it provided change to a team in desperate need of some.
Still, the Suns need to figure out how to make the trio of Booker, Durant and Beal work. Barring more trade talks involving Durant come the summer—or the Suns somehow finding a way to move Beal—it's a core group the team is stuck with until at least the summer of 2026, when Durant will hit free agency.
