Report: ‘Strong Indications’ Suns Will Trade Kevin Durant No Matter Who New Coach Is

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, there are “strong indications” that the Phoenix Suns will trade Kevin Durant this offseason, no matter who the new head coach is. 

The Suns have been linked to Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Dave Bliss, Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Jordan Ott and Johnnie Bryant, Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney and Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn.

“There have been strong indications during the search process, sources say, to reinforce the notion that Phoenix is likely to move on from Kevin Durant after Durant’s 2 1/2-season run in the desert,” Stein wrote.

“It has been anticipated for some time that Phoenix, no matter who is hired as the new coach, will explore its Durant trade options this offseason — in collaboration with the future Hall of Famer and his business manager Rich Kleiman — after Phoenix unilaterally pursued a Durant trade in February that the 36-year-old ultimately urged them not to make.”

The Suns acquired Durant from the Brooklyn Nets in 2023. Phoenix lost to the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2023 playoffs and was swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

The Suns missed the playoffs and play-in tournament this year despite having Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Mike Budenholzer was fired as head coach after one season. 

Durant turns 37 in September. The future Hall of Famer averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Suns this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line.

A two-time champion, Durant has one year left on his contract. He’ll make $54,708,609 next season. 

Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Nets and Suns. He’s a two-time Finals MVP. 

Since leaving the Warriors in the summer of 2019, Durant hasn’t gotten back to the NBA Finals. He’s also been swept in the first round of the playoffs twice.