The Phoenix Suns are one of the two NBA teams mentioned as preferred landing spots for Kevin Durant after he requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. The only other team that was mentioned was the Miami Heat, as they were the first-place finishers in each conference this season.
Those were the only two teams mentioned, but far from the only teams involved. Toronto has been mentioned as a real possibility and at least half the league has reportedly gotten in touch with Brooklyn.
It is going to take a historic package to land Durant as the price for him likely went up following the Minnesota Timberwolves trading five players and four unprotected first-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz for Rudy Gobert. The Suns are going to do everything they can to meet that asking price, but they have some hurdles to get over first.
The biggest one could be the restricted free agency of Deandre Ayton. While Phoenix is hoping to use him as part of the trade package to acquire Durant, other suitors are expected to pursue him.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Nets-Pacers-Suns Trade Unlikely Involving Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton, Myles Turner
With the moratorium now over, teams won’t be as hesitant to extend him an offer sheet as the two-day window for a team to match begins immediately after the paperwork is filed.
As Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report described, an Ayton to Indiana Pacers deal is what could doom the Suns.
“If Ayton signs into Indiana’s cap space, that could actually impact Durant’s trade request. Even an Ayton sign-and-trade to Indiana would complicate the cleanest path for Phoenix to acquire Durant—Ayton’s free agency. In that scenario, it’s unlikely that Phoenix and Indiana could create a combined package that would entice Brooklyn to part with Durant.”
Ayton’s representation is likely in contact with Phoenix as they try to figure things out. But, at the end of the day, his representation is going to do what is best for their client; they could care less about how it impacts the Suns.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Nets-Pacers-Suns Trade Unlikely Involving Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton, Myles Turner
A three-team trade between the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets may not be feasible at this point as meeting the asking price for Durant isn’t easy, even if it’s been mentioned as unlikely in NBA trade rumors. Brooklyn reportedly already turned down an offer that included Ayton, Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges and draft picks.
If that wasn’t enough, it is hard to imagine anything that Indiana would be willing to include helping push the package closer to what the Nets are looking for.
