The Phoenix Suns could be days away from a franchise-altering move.
The situation surrounding Phoenix Suns All-Star forward Kevin Durant continues to evolve by the day, with momentum building toward an imminent trade, possibly as soon as next week. While the destination remains uncertain, the league is bracing for a seismic shift, one that could alter the landscape of the Western Conference in an instant.
Gambo saying he’s expecting Kevin Durant to be traded next week https://t.co/mvlTBBkLZS
— Heat Diehards (@HeatDiehards) June 12, 2025
Jake Fischer, writing for The People’s Insider on The Stein Line, released a detailed multi-page report that dives deep into the Suns’ ongoing trade efforts. The piece outlines potential landing spots, internal motivations, and the delicate balance between Durant’s preferences and Phoenix’s priorities. It’s not just a trade in the works. It’s a franchise-defining decision in motion.
“It is abundantly clear, no matter the eventual return, that the Suns have no plans of entering a rebuild,” Fischer writes.
Miami and Minnesota have elbowed their way to the front of the line, each bringing their own brand of complications to the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. Miami’s got ammo. Names like Andrew Wiggins (yes, still somehow tradable) or Duncan Robinson, plus a stash of first-round picks they could unload. Minnesota? They’ve got Rudy Gobert, a player who, for all his flaws, would actually give Phoenix a pulse at center, something they’ve sorely lacked.
San Antonio’s lurking too, armed with draft capital and patience, but so far their player offers haven’t exactly blown the Suns’ doors off.
And then there’s Durant. The lingering question: Will he accept a landing spot that doesn’t align with his carefully curated wishlist? That part remains a mystery. What’s not a mystery is Phoenix’s stance. They’ve made it clear they’re prioritizing return, not KD’s real estate preferences.
One key detail Jake Fischer highlighted is the potential inclusion of Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale in a Durant trade pieces that could help grease the wheels of a larger, multi-team deal. It’s a notion that aligns with scenarios I explored earlier this week in a mock trade involving the Suns, Clippers, and Jazz, where auxiliary contracts like theirs serve as critical tools for salary matching and flexibility under the league’s restrictive second-apron rules.
Per @JakeLFischer:
“There has been a good bit of chatter this week about the Suns’ willingness to explore trades involving Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale as part of the Durant discussions, sources say, to reduce their tax bill further.” pic.twitter.com/Ypsa5gh4Lx
— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) June 14, 2025
Whether the final move drops before the NBA Draft or just after, make no mistake, this deal will ripple. It’ll define the Suns’ next chapter and could tilt the balance of power in the Western Conference all over again.
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