With the Phoenix Suns struggling through a turbulent season, currently sitting 11th in the Western Conference at 27-31, speculation about an offseason roster overhaul is mounting. Kevin Durant, in particular, was at the center of persistent trade rumors as the February deadline approached, with many believing a move was imminent.
However, no deal materialized. Since then, Durant has spoken openly about the situation, revealing that his former team, the Golden State Warriors, explored the possibility of bringing him back—but he ultimately dismissed the idea of a midseason trade.
"I want my career to end on my terms," Durant said on the Draymond Green Show. "As far as the Warriors, I didn't want to move. Then, as a player like me, I cost a lot. Me going into your team in the middle of the season, it's going to be a big blow to any team I'm going to.
“I get why you want to trade me, simple fact that's business but for me looking at it, it just don't make sense for either side right now to go through that when we can play the season out and if that's the decision you want to make in the offseason, then we figure it out.”
Durant’s comments suggest that a reunion with the Warriors could still be on the table in the future. Financially, such a move would be challenging, considering what the Suns gave up to acquire him—Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks and a pick swap—in the 2022-23 season.
With Durant off the market, Golden State pivoted to Jimmy Butler, parting ways with Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Dennis Schroder and a protected first-round pick. The trade has rejuvenated both Butler and the Warriors, who have gone 6-1 since his arrival and are climbing back into the playoff race.
Durant has one year remaining on his contract after this season, worth $54.7 million, before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2026. While Phoenix may look to trade him before then, the 15-time All-Star may have his sights set on a Warriors reunion—one final run with Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
More must-reads:
Who doesn't love playing in a big market like New York, Los Angeles, and some of the other prime destinations that the NBA has to offer? Kevin Love certainly doesn't mind them. In fact, the former All-Star prefers them. Jake Fischer recently offered insight into where the aging big man may end up as his next destination. The NBA insider reaffirmed previous reports that stated Love prefers a big market. Fischer said, "So with Kevin Love, to my understanding, he really only wants to be in the big glamour markets. I do think it would mostly be something along the lines of Kevin Love going to a New York or a Los Angeles type of situation. So, we'll see if that can materialize for him." With the New York Knicks still in the market for a boost to their depth, Love could be a natural connection for the team to explore. The recently-traded big man will await his buyout from the Utah Jazz. If or when those terms are settled, the Knicks could add the former champion to a spot on the bench. Veteran presence of Kevin Love not without value for New York Love is certainly long past his days as a double-double machine, like he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The floor-spacing big man is not even what he used to be with the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, writing him off entirely would be unwise. If there is not key thing Love can still offer to any team, it is undoubtedly his 3-point shooting. The 36-year-old shot 35.8 percent from beyond the arc last season for the Miami Heat. No one is saying to offer Love a prominent bench role, or anything of the sort. However, when the situation calls for an offensive lift and a spaced out floor, the former top five pick can still fit the bill in that scenario.
There is not a bigger sporting event in North America than the Super Bowl, and tickets are only getting more expensive every year. There is also a ridiculous secondary market for tickets where seats sell for well above the original face value. It is usually fans or ticket resellers going for a quick profit. But as was reported on Friday, sometimes it can be players in the NFL looking to make a profit. According to multiple reports, including the Associated Press and ESPN, more than 100 players are facing fines and potential suspensions for selling their allotment of tickets to this year's Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs for above face value. Players are reportedly facing fines of one-and-a-half times the face value they originally paid for the tickets, while they are also prevented from purchasing tickets to the Super Bowl for the next seasons. The Associated Press obtained a memo from the NFL detailing the violation and investigation. That memo was as follows: “Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the Policy. This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less. We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of ‘bundlers’ who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value.” If players are not willing to pay the fine, they could be facing suspension from the league. It seems unlikely that any of the players — none of whom have been named, or their teams — would refuse to pay such a fine. It's also one of those moments where you can say, professional athletes — they're still normal people trying to make a quick buck. The most logical answer here is perhaps some of the players caught up in this are younger players who have not yet struck it rich on a big contract or perhaps even practice squad players who are not making top dollar.
Athletics rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz already had an impressive start to his career. Kurtz entered Friday having posted a .288/.360/.622 batting line in 265 plate appearances, hitting 19 homers and 17 doubles. Despite making his major league debut on April 23, Kurtz has been the A's most valuable player, leading the team with 2.6 bWAR. He appeared to be on the cusp of becoming the superstar the A's needed to sell the team to the residents of Las Vegas. That performance set the stage for what may have been the most impressive game for any rookie in major league history. Kurtz became the 20th player in MLB history to have a four-home run game and the first rookie to achieve that feat. Kurtz's performance also put the 2025 season into baseball history. Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez had a four-home run game on April 26, making this the third time that there have been two four-homer games in a season. That had happened in 2002 (outfielders Mike Cameron and Shawn Green) and 2017 (utility man Scooter Gennett and left fielder J.D. Martinez). Kurtz did not stop with those four homers. He was 6-6 in the A's 15-3 victory over the Astros, with a double and eight runs batted in. The favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year award, Kurtz put an emphatic stamp on an already impressive season with his barrage on Friday.
One veteran NFL defender is ready to trade the football field for the golf course. Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks announced in a post to social media on Friday that he is retiring from the NFL. Hicks is calling it quits after 10 career seasons with four different teams. “I walk away with peace knowing I gave football all I had, and that the best is yet to come,” Hicks wrote in his post. You can see the post in full here. Now 33 years old, Hicks was a third-round draft pick by the Eagles in 2015. He spent the first four seasons of his career with them and was a member of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-winning team in the 2018 campaign. Hicks later went on to play for the Arizona Cardinals, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Cleveland Browns as well. The former University of Texas star Hicks was one of the more versatile linebackers of his era, capable of playing all three positions (inside, middle, and outside). He tied for third in the NFL with five interceptions during the 2016 season and also later ranked third in the NFL with 150 combined tackles during the 2019 season. Hicks made 12 appearances in 2024 for the Browns but is now content with walking away from the game. He also dealt with a dangerous physical condition that required hospitalization a couple years ago and has thus decided to move onto his next chapter.
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!