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Suns Predicted to Trade Kevin Durant to Team Up With 21-Time All-Star Trio
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported on Wednesday that Kevin Durant staying with the Phoenix Suns "has not been fully ruled out." 

It was a noteworthy report since most NBA observers expected the Suns and Durant to part ways this offseason after the team missed the playoffs this year and fired Mike Budenholzer as head coach after one season. 

Durant, 36, has one year left on his contract. He was almost traded to the Golden State Warriors in February before letting it be known behind the scenes that he didn't want to get traded during the middle of the season. 

After finding out that Durant didn't want to get traded, the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. Golden State made the playoffs this year and beat the Houston Rockets in the first round in seven games. 

However, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Warriors in the second round in five games. 

Even though Fischer is reporting that Durant could remain with the Suns, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report is predicting that the Warriors will acquire KD this offseason.

"The Warriors potentially check all of those boxes—assuming, of course, the Suns would be interested in their draft picks, pick swaps, young players (like Moses Moody or Brandin Podziemski) and a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade," Buckley wrote. 

"That's a big assumption for now, but our crystal ball thinks that's the best Phoenix can do in a Durant deal and also believes the 15-time All-Star will come around to the realization that he won't find a better hoops home than his previous digs."

Durant played three seasons with the Warriors. He won two championships and two Finals MVPs. The future Hall of Famer hasn't gotten back to the NBA Finals since leaving Golden State for the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2019. 

Durant, who turns 37 in September, 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 3 and 83.9% from the free-throw line. 

It will be fascinating to see if Buckley's prediction comes true. If it does, Durant will team up with Butler, Steph Curry and Draymond Green, a trio that has combined to make 21 All-Star teams. 

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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