Windhorst: Conditions with Suns Have 'Deteriorated Since' Kevin Durant Trade Talks
The Phoenix Suns are "contemplating a future apart" from Kevin Durant, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Windhorst wrote Tuesday that "conditions in Phoenix have only deteriorated" since the team considered trading Durant at the deadline.
The Suns are set to become the first NBA team to spend more than $400 million in payroll and luxury taxes this season, per ESPN's Bobby Marks. They are also at risk of missing the playoffs.
Given Bradley Beal's no-trade clause and Devin Booker's "untouchable" status, Windhorst believes the Suns will be compelled to choose between "status quo or trading Durant as part of a roster restructuring."
The Suns were reportedly close to finalizing a trade that would have sent Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors before Durant vetoed the move ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.
Durant told reporters after the deadline that the trade rumors were "just part of the business."
"Anybody can be up for auction, so I understand that," Durant said on Feb. 10. "It’s just about getting back on the court and trying to go out and play the game that I love."
Durant later said last week in an appearance on Draymond Green's podcast that he had said no to the Warriors in part because he was "trying to see this through to the end and see what we can really do with it."
“I feel like I’m committed to my coaches and teammates and I want to see it through. I wanted to lock in on that," Durant said (h/t The Athletic's Bob Harkins.)
That hasn't halted the rumors of an upcoming split between Durant and the Suns.
Windhorst reported on Feb. 12 (h/t RealGM) that Durant and the Suns both know Durant is "probably going to get traded this summer."
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Sunday that unless the Suns go on a deep playoff run this spring, "league sources believe that there will be real changes in Phoenix" starting with a potential Durant trade.
According to Charania, Durant was "blindsided" by the Suns' deadline talk. Sharania added that the team and player would likely "work together on any potential trade to a contender" this offseason.
Charania believes there would be at least four to six contenders interested in trading for Durant, who has averaged 26.7 points through 48 games this season.
Durant has one season and $54.7 million remaining on his contract after this season.
Whether the Suns look to move that this summer could depend on how the rest of the season shakes out. Phoenix currently sits outside the Western Conference bubble thanks to a 28-33 record, but the season-ending injury to Kyrie Irving could worsen the Dallas Mavericks' struggles and open a potential path into the play-in round.
