Kevin Durant's stay with the Phoenix Suns is potentially coming to an end as the organization is considering trading him this offseason if they don't qualify for the playoffs.
The news follows after Durant was caught off guard by trade discussions during the February deadline, as sources confirm that Phoenix management had discussed with other teams without telling him.
Phoenix Suns Rumored to be Shipping Durant After Season
The Suns are exploring their options and could re-open trade talks this summer, according to ESPN's senior NBA insider Shams Charania. Durant confirmed that he was not aware of the discussions in Phoenix, including one deal that would have returned him to the Golden State Warriors.
Reporting for ESPN NBA Countdown on the Suns, Kevin Durant and what's at stake: pic.twitter.com/69UeeowSOP
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 2, 2025
Phoenix was willing to trade the super-star forward before the deadline but could not close a deal. Now that the Suns are struggling in the Western Conference standings, the option of trading Durant has become popular.
Durant Wants to Stay and Fight for the Playoffs
Despite trade rumors, Durant is still committed to guiding Phoenix into the playoffs. He denied being traded during the season and indicated that going back to Golden State was not on his agenda.
"People say crazy things about me all the time. At the end of the day, I just didn't want to move, and I wanted to ride it out with my guys in Phoenix and see what we could do for the rest of the season. I'm happy that I'm still there," Durant explained to ESPN.
The Suns are 11th in the Western Conference with a 28-33 record, five games behind the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves. With the season coming to a close, their playoff hopes are dwindling, so the offseason will be important for Durant's future.
With Jusuf Nurkic out of the Suns' equation now, the team had to gamble on some adjustments in the frontcourt.
Houston Rockets Surfacing as a Top Contender
The Daily Guardian reports via The Athletic's Sam Amick that the Houston Rockets are top suitors to grab Durant if the Suns choose to trade him away. The Rockets have been searching for Durant since last season and apparently are ready to make a keen bid to have the superstar play for them.
Additionally, Houston has expressed interest in Suns guard Devin Booker. However, acquiring both Durant and Booker would require a significant roster change, especially considering the emergence of young forward Amen Thompson.
"We know that the Houston's of the world have been looking at Devin Booker and KD. So they're certainly going to have a market, and we'll see what ends up happening with him this summer," Amick stated.
For now, Durant is committed to supporting Phoenix in making a playoff push during the final weeks of the season, but if things don't get better, the NBA offseason may see yet another marquee superstar in migration.
If the Rockets are not an option for Durant, he still has four more potential choices including the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, and Oklahoma City Thunder, according to SB Nation.
© Copyright 2025 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.