Windhorst: 'Everything Points' to Kevin Durant Being Traded By Suns During Offseason
The buzz surrounding Kevin Durant continues to be a summer departure from the Phoenix Suns.
"It's the NBA, the last thing you ever want to do is put anything in stone so I wouldn't say for sure anything, but everything points to them making a Durant trade over the summer," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on Wednesday's episode of Pardon the Interruption.
"They did try to trade him, Windhorst added. "They talked to multiple teams at the deadline. Durant was not involved in the process and I think that bothered him as one of the reasons why he said, 'Hold on, I don't want to go anywhere.' And in the interviews he's given since, he's not been mad at the Suns for doing that, but he's said 'I want to have... I want to change teams on my terms,' which is code for, 'OK, if you're going to trade me, you can trade me, but we're going to work together and I'm going to know where I'm going to go."
As Windhorst noted, it isn't hard to see how the Suns ended up in this position.
The trio of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal will combine to make around $150 million in salary next season, a massive number, but that level of financial commitment has only translated to a 30-35 record this season. It's clear that something hasn't clicked between the three of them.
Booker isn't going anywhere as the face of the franchise and Beal's massive contract, declining play and no-trade clause make him nearly impossible to move, leaving only Durant as the only viable trade piece to shake things up.
It's not ideal, of course. Even at 36, Durant is still averaging 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three. The Suns may have issues, but it's hard to imagine it has anything to do with what Durant offers out on the floor.
Had the Suns never acquired Beal, perhaps Durant would be finishing his career in Phoenix. But that ship has sailed. The Suns need change, and Durant is the only viable path to obtaining it.
