On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Suns superstar Kevin Durant is eligible for a new contract extension this season and the latest intel suggests that he already has a plan in place for the immediate future. During a recent appearance on NBA Today this week, league insider Shams Charania revealed why Durant would rather wait to sign a two-year deal.
"Let's start first with the future Hall of Famer, Kevin Durant," said Shams. "He is extension eligible but I am told there will not be an extension for Kevin Durant. He has two years left on his deal but he's only eligible for a one-year, $60 million extension this offseason before Monday's deadline. Next summer, he's gonna be eligible for upwards of $120 million. And so that's really where Durant and the Suns' focus has been. They've both been focused on getting a deal done in the two-year range, not the one-year extension."
Kevin Durant initially signed a 4-year, $194 million contract with the Nets in 2021 but he's on the Suns' payroll now after he forced his way West in 2023. As a longtime veteran and NBA journeyman, nobody knows how long Durant will stay in Phoenix but it appears that both sides are prepared to extend their partnership for years to come.
Durant, a 14x All-Star, was drafted back in 2007 by the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the Thunder, he rose to prominence in the league and even won the MVP for leading his young team to an impressive standing in the West.
As a 6'11" sharpshooter with handles and a relentless passion for the game, it's no wonder why Kevin is so effective with the basketball. His long arms are good for shooting over defenders and his slender frame allows him to navigate tight spaces under the rim.
After 10+ years in the NBA, the expectation was that Durant would eventually slow down and fade into obscurity on the Phoenix Suns. But since his arrival, Durant has been the savior of the team and he's put them in a position to make a run for the title in 2025.
Last season, with averages of 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, Durant played at an MVP level for the Suns and his performance was the only thing keeping them in play for the title.
Despite the lack of playoff success, the vibes have been pretty good in Phoenix and they still have one of the best rosters in the league on paper. If they can stay healthy for any prolonged stretch of time, it'll give us a chance to see just how good they really are.
Regardless of how things play out this season, Durant is content to stay where he is and the Suns are happy to keep him around as long as he's playing at a high level. At 36 years old, Kevin Durant has yet to slow down and it'll be another three seasons at least that he's among the league's highes-paid players.
All that's left for the Suns is to maximize Durant's talents by adding the necessary help and implementing a system that enhances every player's strengths. With another extension looming, the Suns have more time now to improve the team and address some of their most glaring flaws.
More must-reads:
- New evidence casts doubt on when Clippers cut ties with fraudulent company
- New Jimmy Butler report raises red flags
- The 'Switch-hitter single-season HR leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
New evidence casts doubt on when Clippers cut ties with fraudulent company
The Los Angeles Clippers said they had cut ties with jersey sponsor Aspiration during the 2022-23 season. New reports about their owner's investments with the company cast doubt on that timeline. When Pablo Torre first reported on Aspiration's suspicious $48M endorsement deal with Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers responded in a statement to the Los Angeles Times that stated, "The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations." Ballmer invested millions in March 2023 But owner Steve Ballmer invested an additional $10M into the company on March 9, 2023, when there were just 14 games remaining in the 2022-23 season. Perhaps the team officially "cut ties," but as Ballmer owns 99% of the team, it's hard to argue the team was separate from the man who owns them and continued to give them money. The team gave Aspiration $118M over an 18-month span, nominally to purchase carbon credits well in advance of their new arena opening. One of their pre-payments of $32.4M coincides with Leonard signing his infamous, no-obligation $28M endorsement deal with the company. If the Clippers were really cutting ties with a company that supposedly tricked them and defaulted on its obligations, then why was their primary owner still pouring money into the company? At this point, the NBA investigation is underway, but there's enough evidence of sketchy behavior that Ballmer and the Clippers need a better explanation for their conduct than simply claiming they were duped.
Maple Leafs have strong reason to believe they can sign Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid has still not extended his contract with the Edmonton Oilers as he enters his eighth and final year of his current agreement. McDavid, 28, will be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in 2026 if he does not reach an agreement with the Oilers, and according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Toronto Maple Leafs are wondering "what’s happening" with the Canadian center. “Just like 15 other teams around the NHL, until Connor makes his decision, there are teams that are gonna want to know, ‘Do we have to keep our powder dry for the summer of 2026?’ The Leafs are among them,” said LeBrun. In fact, there is a strong reason to believe that Toronto could sign McDavid, and it is that the Oilers player has recently made statements that could be an important clue about what the future holds for him. The center's words, curiously, are very similar to what Mitch Marner used to say at the time, before moving to the Leafs from the Vegas Golden Knights. Is McDavid's speech a farewell from Edmonton? In September 2024, Marner seemed committed to Toronto, without giving many details about his true intention. “It’s another year of wanting to be the best you can be and help this team win hockey games,” he said then, via the NHL official website. "That’s where my mind is, it’s not thinking of a contract year, and you have to be doing this and that. It’s just another hockey year where you want to be the best you can be to help this team win hockey games and get to the ultimate goal," added Marner. For his part, McDavid's speech goes practically along the same lines. "I’ll take my time and go through everything. I have every intention of winning in Edmonton. It’s my only focus," he said at the end of August of this year, via Sportsnet. "I want the group to be as focused and dialed in and ready to roll from Day 1 as much as possible, and we don’t need any distractions," added McDavid. Unfortunately for the 28-year-old Canadian, his contractual situation has already become a big distraction. History tells us that it is more than likely that in 2026, the center will be defending another jersey.
Packers TE Tucker Kraft (knee) uncertain for Week 3
Green Bay tight end Tucker Kraft has not missed a game since the Packers drafted him in the third round in 2023, but a knee injury may sideline the team's leading receiver on Sunday against the host Cleveland Browns. Kraft, 24, was added to the injury report after Thursday's practice and was getting looked at to determine the extent of the injury, according to multiple media reports. Per the reports, the Packers believe that he will not miss significant time. Green Bay (2-0) already is without a pair of wide receivers, leaving quarterback Jordan Love without key pieces of the passing game. Jayden Reed could return this season after breaking his collarbone last week against Washington and also undergoing foot surgery for a preseason injury. Christian Watson remains out after ACL surgery in January and is on the physically unable to perform list. Kraft, who posted 50 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns while playing all 17 regular-season games in 2024, leads Green Bay this season with eight grabs for 140 yards and a pair of scores. Last Thursday, he notched his first 100-yard game with six catches for 124 yards and a score in a 27-18 home win over the Commanders. In his third NFL season, the native of Timber Lake, S.D., has compiled 89 receptions for 1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns in 36 regular-season games. Kraft also has 10 catches for 50 yards and one TD in three playoff games (all starts).
Scout identifies key issue behind Arch Manning's underwhelming start
To overcome his early struggles, Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning should follow a classic bit of advice from former UCLA Bruins men's basketball head coach John Wooden. Wooden once said, "Be quick, but don't hurry." The tip could make a massive difference for Manning, who has completed a below-average 55.3 percent of his passes through three starts. Longtime scout Todd McShay explains how Arch Manning is rushing while reading defenses In a story published Thursday, McShay explained the QB is trying to read defenses too quickly. Rushing this process is affecting his throwing mechanics, which have been scrutinized throughout the season. "When a quarterback is pressing, the game is moving faster in his mind, which can cause rushed mechanics and inaccurate passes," McShay wrote. "There's no rhythm — it's like watching a frustrated golfer swing or tracking the beats of a broken metronome." Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt, a former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, shared a similar assessment of Manning. On a Wednesday episode of his podcast, Klatt further explained how this can impact his accuracy. "He's going from one to two before the picture ever materializes. He's ahead of the timing of the offense," Klatt said. "When that happens, you typically lose balance, you lose your pocket presence, your eyes go down because you're anticipating; the clock is moving too fast." Now, this issue seems fixable. It's just a matter of Manning taking a deep breath and assessing what the defense is giving him. When he does that, the results have looked good. He did so when he threw an 83-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Parker Livingstone in a Week 2 win over San Jose State. In his Monday news conference, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said these "rhythm throws" are when Manning is at his best. It's incumbent upon him and his staff to create those opportunities for the 21-year-old QB. Hitting on more of those groove throws will be critical for Manning in Saturday's home game against Sam Houston State at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+, SEC Network+). It will help him build his confidence and slow down. When that happens, the game should start coming more easily to him and the rest of Texas' 88th-ranked passing offense (200.3).
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
