Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns forward, was abruptly catapulted into the heart of trade rumors around the deadline. Despite widespread rumors that the failing Suns would trade Durant, he ended up staying with the Suns past the deadline.
Near the deadline, Kevin Durant blocked the Warriors trade.
The Golden State Warriors were one of the teams who expressed interest in him, but Durant ended the talks before anything happened. The superstar told ESPN’s NBA Today that the reason for canceling the reunion had nothing to do with the franchise itself.
“I’m constantly the subject of wild speculation. That wasn’t the reason I didn’t want to return; I just didn’t want to get traded midway through the season,” Durant explained. “It was nothing against my time with the Warriors, and I heard it was because I dislike Draymond [Green]. At the end of the day, I didn’t want to move, and I wanted to finish the season with my squad in Phoenix and see what we could do.”
Durant spent three seasons at Golden State from 2016 to 2019, after signing with them in free agency. He won two championships with the Warriors and was awarded Finals MVP twice.
Durant’s wish to remain in Phoenix caused the Warriors to swiftly change course.
Durant would have joined a Warriors club that was far from as strong as it was nearly a decade ago. However, adding Durant would have made Golden State a legitimate danger in the Western Conference, since he remains one of the league’s best players despite being 36 years old.
Durant’s averages for the Suns this season are 27.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. However, the Suns have struggled this season, ranking 11th in the Western Conference with a 26-28 record, which could explain the trade rumors.
In order to keep Durant in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future, the Warriors swiftly changed their strategy and signed Jimmy Butler III to a two-year, $121 million contract deal after acquiring him from the Miami Heat. The Warriors are trying to bounce back after hitting a wall after their explosive start to the season, and they are 3-1 since adding Butler III.
Fans will have to wait until the offseason for anything significant to possibly happen, even if a reunion between Durant and the Warriors would have been enjoyable for nostalgic reasons.
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