Report: Suns seeking 3 first-round picks, young player in a potential Kevin Durant trade

Report: Suns seeking 3 first-round picks, young player in a potential Kevin Durant trade

While he was almost moved ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, it seems like it’s a matter a “when,” and not “if,” Kevin Durant gets traded this upcoming offseason.

The 16-year NBA veteran will be entering the final year of his current deal at $54.7 million. The Suns will be restricted with how they can trade because of the punitive second apron, but that doesn’t mean the price for the aging star will come cheap.

“Sources informed The Republic the most ideal return on a Durant trade is regaining three first-round picks and a young player as part of a multi-team deal tied to getting under the second apron,” Suns insider Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic reported earlier this week. “Houston and San Antonio make sense as trade partners for first-round picks. Oklahoma City has gobs of them, but this would have Durant returning to the franchise he left for Golden State, a move that still isn’t sitting well with some Thunder fans — and that happened nearly 10 years ago.

“Taking Ishbia’s approach to draft picks into account, the Suns could then use those picks acquired in a Durant trade to help move Bradley Beal as well. … Moving Durant screams rebuild, something that goes against Ishbia’s championship-at-all-costs mindset. So, the Suns could look to obtain two rotational players combining to make right around the $54.7 million Durant is due next season to avoid a rebuild – and acquire a draft pick or two.”

Durant will be entering his age-37 season in 2025-26. He’s not at the peak of his powers, but he is one season removed from making second-team All-NBA and is still averaging 26.8 points and 6.2 rebounds on 52.9/41.3/83.0 shooting splits.

The Suns have been in a tailspin since beginning the season 9-2. They are currently 30-36 and 2.5 games removed from the play-in race in the Western Conference.

What we know is it’s very difficult to build a championship caliber team with more than three players on max contracts. The reigning champion Boston Celtics, for example, have Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum on max contracts–but they did a good job getting ahead of the curve with the second apron by adding Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis in the summer of 2023 on bloated cap figures.

Top-heavy rosters don’t work under this current CBA, and the Suns are having to learn the hard way. Owner Mat Ishbia thought this mess was fixable, and it’s been anything but. Trading Durant and getting a quality return–as well as potentially trading Beal (if that’s even possible, at this point)–should be the utmost priority.

Phoenix needs a full reset around Devin Booker; who knows what his future looks like, too?!? They currently don’t plan on trading him, but anything is possible in today’s NBA.

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