The Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat had advanced talks on a trade that would have sent Kevin Durant to the Warriors with Jimmy Butler going to the Suns. The general parameters of the deal were put into place, but the Warriors decided not to move forward with the trade once it became clear that Durant did not have interest in returning to the franchise he left as a free agent in 2019.
“This can be qualified I think as a genuine what if,” said Brian Windhorst on Get Up on Thursday morning. “Because there was a trade, sort of, in place between Golden State, Phoenix and Miami that would have returned Kevin Durant to Golden State. But Durant stepped up and made it known he did not want a reunion. And once that that deal fell apart, then Golden State pivoted and tried to get Jimmy Butler.”
Stephen Curry and Durant spoke at some point this week and it became clear to Curry that the Warriors had underestimated Durant’s coldness toward returning to the franchise where he won two NBA championships. Durant is now expected to remain with the Suns past the deadline, while the Warriors moved forward with their trade for Butler.
“It is amazing to think that this was close to being Jimmy Butler in Phoenix Kevin Durant in Golden State,” added Windhorst.