NBA Rumors: Kevin Durant, Suns Could Work Together on Trade to Contender in Offseason

Kevin Durant's name made the rounds ahead of the NBA trade deadline in early February, though he was ultimately retained.

That likely won't be the case this summer, however, barring a dramatic turnaround for the 28-32 Phoenix Suns.

"Durant was blindsided when he was involved in trade conversations. But this offseason, from my understanding, what it would look like is Durant and the Suns would work together on any potential trade to a contender in a trade scenario," ESPN's Shams Charania reported Sunday. "I would expect four to six contending teams to have some serious involvement with Durant."

The Suns clearly need to make some changes, and Bradley Beal's massive contract—which includes a full no-trade clause—has made him seemingly un-tradable. Devin Booker is the face of the franchise, so that leaves Durant as the only logical trade piece.

Obviously, the Suns would assuredly prefer that this current group figured it out. Giving up a player like Durant is hardly ideal—even at 36, he's still averaging 26.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from three.

Putting Durant on the trade block threatened the relationship, especially since the Suns reportedly had a deal with the Golden State Warriors in place, before Durant expressed a disinterest in returning to his old team.

And Durant said the trade rumors didn't come from a desire to be moved.

"I mean I never planned on leaving or moving or getting traded," he told ESPN's Malika Andrews. "I didn't ask for a trade from Phoenix."

Now, however, it seems as though he may be ready to move on if the Suns can't turn things around. And in the loaded Western Conference, turning things around may be a tall task for a Suns team that currently sits in 11th place, 3.5 games back of the Dallas Mavericks for the final Play-In Tournament berth.