Recent updates indicate that the Phoenix Suns are contemplating the prospect of parting company with Kevin Durant. Would you agree that this decision is plausible?
Rumors circulating within the league suggest that the Suns are exploring the option of trading Durant, with the Houston Rockets emerging as a potential interested party. At 35 years old, Durant has had a disappointing first-round elimination with the Suns in the ongoing playoffs. This has led to the desire to seek out younger talent, which is not entirely surprising.
In a televised statement, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith declared that the Suns may have different intentions from what they publicly state, with the ultimate goal of separating from Kevin Durant swiftly.
Insights from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst also indicate that the Rockets are not merely observers in this scenario but are actively considering their next steps.
The Rockets seem to be hinting at a willingness to engage in discussions regarding Alperen Sengun, their emerging center in the frontcourt, by retaining the third draft pick to potentially select Donovan Clingan from UConn. This strategy change post-Sengun’s injury has showcased some commendable performances, even experimenting with Jabari Smith at the center position last season. The selection of Clingan might suggest to basketball enthusiasts that the Rockets are open to discussing a deal involving Sengun.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the potential link between Durant and the Rockets was initially hinted at.
In the 2023-24 season, Durant maintained impressive averages of 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, with shooting percentages of 52.3% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc, and an 85.6% accuracy from the free-throw line. The talented player is set to earn $49.9 million in the upcoming season.
NBA reporters Shams Charania and Doug Haller from The Athletic mentioned that Durant was dissatisfied with his role in the Suns’ game strategy.
According to Charania and Haller, insiders revealed that Durant’s struggle to adapt to the Suns’ offensive tactics, primarily revolving around pick-and-roll plays and often positioning him in the corner, did not align well with his skill set as a top scorer.
Furthermore, there was a widespread belief among Durant’s peers and those associated with the Suns organization that he should have expressed his concerns regarding the team’s tactics more openly to Frank Vogel and the coaching staff.
Since departing from the Golden State Warriors, Durant’s performance in the playoffs has been subpar, only advancing past the first round twice and experiencing early exits through sweeps on two occasions.
In a significant coaching change, the Suns enlisted Mike Budenholzer, previously responsible for leading the Milwaukee Bucks to victory against them in the 2021 NBA Finals.
