Kevin Durant Reportedly 'Open' to New Suns Contract amid NBA Trade Rumors

It's been reported that the Phoenix Suns are likely to trade Kevin Durant this summer given their ongoing struggles and his reported unhappiness that they tried to move him before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. However, the door isn't fully closed on him staying in Phoenix next season.

Per The Ringer's Logan Murdock, Durant is "open" to remaining with the Suns. He will be eligible to sign a two-year, $122 million extension this summer.

The Suns have put themselves in a very difficult situation in both the short and long term. They have the most expensive roster in the NBA with $366-plus million in financial commitments this season between payroll and luxury-tax payments.

Despite that, the Suns (35-40) are currently one game behind the Sacramento Kings for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament.

Phoenix hasn't won a playoff game since Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets on May 7, 2023. The Suns were swept in their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.

After the Suns explored trading Durant to the Golden State Warriors earlier this season, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported the two-time NBA Finals MVP was "not happy" to be the subject of rumors.

The Suns' path out of this purgatory is extremely complicated. Ishbia told ESPN's Tim MacMahon that he has no interest in trading Devin Booker. Even if the Suns were able to find a taker for Bradley Beal, he has a full no-trade clause that allows him to scuttle any deal.

That leaves Durant as the one big trade piece the Suns have left. Even though he will turn 37 before the start of next season, few players in the league score as efficiently as he does.

Durant is averaging 26.6 points on 52.7 percent shooting (43.0 percent from three) in 62 games this season. He will be entering the final guaranteed year of his current contract with a $54.7 million expiring salary in 2025-26.

Given how weak the top of this summer's free-agent class looks—especially if LeBron James stays with the Los Angeles Lakers—Durant could fetch a significant haul in a trade for a franchise that needs an infusion of long-term assets.

If the Suns believe they can make a swift turnaround with Durant and Booker in the fold, it's not hard to imagine them talking themselves into extending the future Hall of Famer. If Durant is open to staying in Phoenix, the Suns could at least sell tickets with him and Booker playing together, even if they aren't in legitimate championship contention.