Kevin Durant was “not happy” he was included in trade talks involving the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat this week, especially because he wasn’t informed he was even in them. Durant had the opportunity to be traded to the Warriors, but he communicated he didn’t want a return to his former team.
“The prevailing thing from the trade deadline was what didn’t happen, which was Kevin Durant stayed put,” said Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective. “He was not happy he was put into trade talks. I think it’s unpredictable what will happen for the next few months because it’s the nature of the sport, but I think right now it is reasonable to forecast that Durant will be breaking up with the Suns in the summer. He didn’t break up with them today, but it doesn’t look for the long-term forecast because he was really frustrated.
“I spent a long time today on the phone with people involved with this situation. People from Miami. People from Golden State. People from Phoenix. Other people. I would just say that the biggest thing Kevin Durant was upset about, I think, not knowing he was involved in trade talks.
“Generically, a star player of his level likes to be involved in trade talks. That was an issue. The thing about it was the Suns ended up not getting anything.”
The one trade the Suns made at the deadline was a salary dump of Jusuf Nurkic after they had spent weeks pursuing a trade of Bradley Beal for Jimmy Butler. After it became clear there was no path to acquiring Butler, the Suns began to listen to trade offers on Durant.
Beyond the Warriors, the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves also reportedly had interest in Durant. The Houston Rockets have also been linked with Durant over the past year.