Kevin Durant Returning to Suns Not 'Fully Ruled Out' amid NBA Trade Rumors
Despite being a popular trade candidate this offseason, Kevin Durant may not be as far out the door for the Phoenix Suns as it would seem.
Per NBA insider Jake Fischer, Durant returning to the Suns is not being "fully ruled out" at this point.
In the lead-up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline, the Suns had discussions with the Golden State Warriors involving the two-time Finals MVP. The deal didn't come together in part because Durant didn't want to return to his former club.
"I don’t feel like there was a need to make that big a change right now," Durant said on Draymond Green's podcast about the situation (h/t The Athletic's Bob Harkins). "It didn’t make sense to me."
After the Suns wrapped up a 36-46 season in which they missed the playoffs and play-in tournament, it would seem to make sense now for a Durant trade.
The organization has been adamant that Devin Booker won't be moved, but they need to do something both to get out of the second-apron purgatory they find themselves in and add long-term assets they can use to turn things around.
Durant may not bring back as much as his name recognition would suggest, given his age (he will turn 37 on Sept. 29) and potential desire for a new contract with just one year remaining on his current deal.
There were already rumblings about the Philadelphia 76ers potentially using the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA draft to help facilitate a deal for Durant, though that has been refuted as a potential option for the Sixers.
The Houston Rockets are another team that has been frequently cited as a landing spot for Durant. He is rumored to have interest in playing for the club, but it's unclear if the club feels strong enough to go all-in with an offer.
Any trade discussions will really start to ramp up in about a month since the draft starts on June 25.
If the Suns feel like they are closer to being a contender in the Western Conference than their record this season would suggest, it's possible they could justify keeping Durant.
Amid all of the Suns' struggles, Durant put together another strong season. The 15-time All-Star averaged 26.6 points on 52.7 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in 62 starts.
