Breaking Phoenix Suns drops asking price for Kevin Durant in trade talks, NBA insider claims EnglishHeadline

The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets aren’t actively discussing a Kevin Durant deal, however that might change shortly as summer time commerce season heats up, in accordance with The Athletic’s Kelly Iko.

The explanation, as Iko studies, is that the Suns have steadily decreased their asking value for the longer term Corridor of Famer in any commerce situation. And whereas ‘aggressive’ Phoenix has but to entice Houston, there’s a value level the place the Rockets would grow to be , in accordance with Iko.

This season the Suns missed the playoffs for the primary time since 2020, whereas the Rockets completed second within the West earlier than struggling a first-round playoff upset to the Golden State Warriors.   

Though he’s 36, Durant was nonetheless efficient this season, averaging 26.6 factors a sport and hitting a exceptional 43 p.c of his 3-point makes an attempt. He additionally averaged six rebounds and 4.2 assists per sport, that are kind of in step with his profession marks. 

Durant was the crown jewel of the workforce makeover after proprietor Mat Ishbia purchased the Suns in 2022. The previous Texas Longhorns star didn’t come cheaply, nonetheless, as Phoenix surrendered 4 unprotected first-round picks and a future decide swap in addition to Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets within the deal.

On the time, then-ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported the commerce was Ishbia’s concept, writing it was ‘very a lot on the possession degree’ between the Suns boss and Nets governor Joe Tsai.

The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets aren’t actively discussing a Kevin Durant deal, however that might change shortly as summer time commerce season heats up, in accordance with The Athletic’s Kelly Iko

Ishbia pushed again on that reporting quickly after, saying the choice was unanimous.

‘It wasn’t a troublesome choice,’ he advised reporters in Phoenix. ‘We actually did not wish to hand over a number of the guys, as a result of we love these guys. They have been winners and we did not wish to give them up.

‘However on the finish of the day the best choice was, what will we do to maximise our workforce for as we speak and for the subsequent three to 4 years? That is going to be what the Phoenix Suns are about.’

The Suns would go on so as to add high-scoring Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal to a core that already included Devin Booker, whereas Ishbia reiterated his want to maintain Durant in Phoenix.

When the Rockets have been reportedly all in favour of Durant in 2024, Ishbia shot down any commerce hypothesis.

‘Everybody speaking concerning the drama and storylines, some are proper and a few are simply fallacious,’ Ishbia wrote. ‘My flip. Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we’re competing for a championship this 12 months as a result of we’ve the workforce to do it.’

The billionaire even advised reporters in November he anticipated to signal Durant to a contract extension.

Then the Suns fell off the map, lacking the playoffs at 36-46 as Durant, Booker and Beal as soon as once more struggled to gel underneath coach Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after the season.

Suns proprietor Mat Ishbia launched a $2 menu in 2024-25, giving followers one thing to cheer about

Ishbia owned as much as the debacle with reporters after the season finale.

‘Embarrassing season, proper?’ Ishbia mentioned. ‘Disappointing. Terrible. I watch each sport like all you guys do and nobody’s happy with it, nobody’s pleased with it, from me, to the entrance workplace, to the coaches and gamers, to the advertising executives to the safety guards.

‘It was a failure.’

If Ishbia did have one success in 2024-25, it was his common choice to scale back concessions costs with a brand new $2 menu.

Though they do not presently have their very own first-round decide, the Suns do have the twenty ninth choice on this month’s NBA Draft.

And as for the workforce’s teaching search, Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott have each been named as candidates by The Related Press.