As the 2024-25 NBA season unfolds, the Phoenix Suns face mounting challenges. Their current record stands at 28-32 entering Sunday’s NBA slate. The team’s ongoing struggles have sparked speculation about potential significant roster changes this offseason, particularly involving Kevin Durant, whose tenure with the Suns appears to be closing.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently emphasized that Durant’s days in Phoenix are numbered. “Kevin Durant will be traded in the offseason, and he knows that,” Windhorst reported recently on NBA Today, noting that “everybody’s intentions are crystal clear.”
This statement aligns with Durant’s sentiments on The Draymond Green Show, where he articulated a desire to end his career “on my terms. ” He didn’t want a mid-season trade to the Golden State Warriors due to the significant adjustments it would entail without time to adjust.
Despite a roster featuring talents like Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, the Suns have been unable to achieve consistent success, leaving them outside the playoff picture. This has led to discussions about the need for a significant restructuring to revive the team’s fortunes, with Durant’s potential trade being a central element of this strategy.
NBA Rumors: Dallas Mavericks Urged to Trade for Kevin Durant
Following the Dallas Mavericks’ controversial trade to send Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, they will aim to bolster their talent around Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis this offseason. It remains to be seen exactly what path they will take to accomplish that.
Speaking on his Club 520 podcast, former NBA player Jeff Teague suggested that Mavericks’ GM Nico Harrison could significantly alter public perception with such a high-profile acquisition.
“If he [Nico Harrison] gets Kyrie, AD, and KD on the same team, what are we talking about? ‘Yeah, I traded Luka for that. Yeah. Nobody mad, Dallas is back up, ‘Nico, Nico, Nico,'” Teague said.
Teague believes such a trade could appease the Mavericks’ fanbase and enhance the team’s performance, especially with Anthony Davis currently sidelined due to injury. Dallas will have a challenging hill to climb to finish the season strong amid injuries, with a short window to contend for a championship. A bold trade could be pursued to regain support.
NBA Rumors: Phoenix Suns to Trade Kevin Durant?
Barring a surprising postseason run through the Suns, the interest that Durant will command is expected to be significant, including a range of four to six contending teams, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Durant has averaged 26.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, making him an attractive trade target. As the Suns and the Mavericks evaluate their options, a potential trade involving Durant would require a significant trade package that would drastically alter both teams.
Durant will play the final season of a four-year, $194.2 million contract during the 2025-26 season. If Irving or Davis were not included in a trade package, the Mavericks would need to include most of its rotation to match a salary necessary to complete a trade.
The Suns could use a Durant trade to retool the roster around Booker. However, Beal’s no-trade clause will continue to be a roadblock that Phoenix must solve before meaningfully overhauling its roster.
