Suns Reportedly Know Kevin Durant Trade Return Won't Be 'Anywhere Close to' Nets Deal

The Phoenix Suns are well aware of their limited leverage with star forward Kevin Durant on the trade block this summer, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Stein reported Sunday the Suns "know they won't be able to come anywhere close to matching (gulp) what they gave up to get Durant but appear heartened by the level of interest" in the 15-time All-Star.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on June 11 that Phoenix is hopeful of securing a "comparable package" to what it sent the Brooklyn Nets for KD at the 2023 trade deadline. The cost to acquire him was forwards Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson along with four first-round picks and a 2028 pick swap.

First-year general manager Brian Gregory will have to be a wizard or master negotiator in order to recoup all of that.

Durant will be three years older on opening night than he was when he got moved. More importantly, he's on an expiring contract. A franchise that's not on his short list might only get him as a one-year rental.

Clarifying the Suns' believed asking price, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Saturday they want "a measure of quality draft capital," which would include "at least one meaningful selection" in the 2025 draft.

If push comes to shove, prioritizing draft picks over proven talent makes sense because the Suns badly need to reset with young cost-controlled players. More picks would also mean more sweeteners to include in a trade to get off Bradley Beal's contract.

Gregory is in a tough spot because Durant's exit feels inevitable and his value has dipped since February 2023. A bidding war of sorts is still possible if multiple teams are seriously engaged in negotiations.