Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant appears to be on the move this offseason as the team prepares for a soft rebuild. The Suns missed the playoffs this year and were eliminated in the first round in 2024. They seem ready to move on and even attempted to trade Durant at this season’s NBA trade deadline.
On Wednesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the "Suns and Durant's business partner, Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman, have met multiple times over the past week and are sifting through trade scenarios."
Charania also named teams that have shown strong interest in the 37-year-old, including the "Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. Several wild-card suitors have made inquiries on Durant in the past seven to 10 days, sources said."
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) enters the game during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at Moody Center.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) enters the game.
Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
On Thursday night, ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins gave his top five "dream destinations" for the 2014 league MVP. After listing the Spurs at No. 5, the Rockets at No. 4, the Timberwolves at No. 3 and the Detroit Pistons at No. 2, Perkins shouted, "Bam!... The Knicks!"
"Coming in at number one, I'm putting it up there. Bam! Putting it up there loud. The Knicks! The Knicks!" Perkins said. "They just went to the Easter Conference Finals. You talking about putting Kevin Durant alongside of Jalen Brunson. Forget whatever else is over there. Karl-Anthony.... Jalen Brunson and KD alone. Right? We're talking about JB, who's one of the best, if not, the best player in the Easter Conference. You put him alongside with Kevin Durant in New York City, the Big Apple's gonna be lit again."
The Knicks are clearly in the hunt for major changes, despite reaching their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. They recently fired head coach Tom Thibodeau and are likely looking for another player to pair with two-time All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson.
Durant is a two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star and arguably one of the greatest scorers of all time. His four NBA scoring titles are proof of that.
The 6-foot-11 power forward is entering the final season of his four-year, $194 million contract and averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this year.