Kevin Durant appears not to be going anywhere.
Just hours before Wednesday’s NBA draft, Phoenix Suns’ owner Matt Ishbia implied on X that their superstar forward is not being traded.
“NBA Draft night is the best,” Ishbia wrote. “Everyone talking about the drama and storylines, some are right and some are just wrong. My turn. Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we are competing for a championship this year because we have the team to do it. Gotta love draft night! Go Suns.”
Tuesday saw rumors swirling around Durant as the Houston Rockets completed a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, involving several future draft picks.
Brooklyn gave up a 2027 first-round pick via Phoenix and the right to swap for the Suns’ 2025 first-rounder. In return, Houston secured the more favorable 2029 pick between Dallas and Phoenix.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke down Tuesday’s trade, writing on X, “The implications of the Rockets landing the Suns’ picks? Houston wants to trade for Kevin Durant and that becomes far easier if they can return the Suns’ picks that they gave up in the Durant deal to the Nets. Suns have said they’re keeping Durant for now, but that could change next season. But now, Houston has the picks to make the Suns whole again.”
Stephen A. Smith of ESPN contributed to the mix, saying on “First Take” that the Suns want to trade Durant.
“I am reporting here. Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying — they want out of Kevin Durant right now,” he said.
Smith also added that Houston’s head coach Ime Udoka wants to trade for Durant but the organization is not convinced.
“Also, Houston doesn’t want Kevin Durant. Ime Udoka may want him, but organizationally they know that they are not there yet, so their plans are more long-range. And they would prefer a Devin Booker, who they know it’s a slim chance they’ll get, but that would be their preference.”
However, sources informed The Arizona Republic that the Suns aren’t looking to part ways with the NBA star and they are “riding” with their trio of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Durant.
In their debut season together, the “Big 3” played 41 regular season games and the Suns went 26-15 in those contests.
Durant had a great year, averaging 27.1 points in 75 games — a career-high since recovering from a 2019 Achilles injury. However, he expressed some dissatisfaction back in April.
Afterthe Timberwolves eliminated Phoenix in the first round, The Athletic reported Durant was displeased with his role this season under Frank Vogel, who was fired after just one season and replaced by Mike Budenholzer.