At the age of 36, Kevin Durant has shown no signs of slowing down. He was just selected to his 15th All-Star game. He is averaging 27 points per game to go along with seven rebounds and four assists on 52 percent shooting and 39 percent from three-point range. He is performing at an All-NBA level. So what’s the problem? Well, his efforts are all for naught.
The Phoenix Suns are an abject disaster and have been since they traded for Bradley Beal in 2023. They got swept in the first round by the Timberwolves last season, fired Frank Vogel after one year, and brought in Mike Budenholzer to replace him. The coaching change has not yielded positive results either, as the Suns are only 23-21 and hanging onto the 8th spot in the West for dear life.
Center Jusuf Nurkic recently said that the organization already has enough chaos, and he doesn’t even have a relationship with Budenholzer. Add that to the swirling Beal trade rumors and Phoenix is creating more headlines than wins. In the midst of it all, Durant is still playing at an elite level but it is not enough for the team to contend.
Kevin Durant must demand a trade out of Phoenix to give himself one last chance to pursue a title.
Durant is no stranger to leaving teams or requesting trades. He left the Warriors after winning two rings after a dust up with Draymond Green. He requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets in 2022 because he didn’t like the direction the team was heading in and thought they lacked identity. The Suns have similar issues.
Tension is rising in the locker room. The team is full of parts that don’t fit. They are stuck in the second apron and have limited flexibility to make moves. Beal is the most expensive bench player in the league, and no team wants his contract unless the Suns attach significant draft capital.
They reportedly want Jimmy Butler, but does he really fix their issues? There’s no feasible path to contention in Phoenix right now in a tough Western Conference. Thus, Durant should jump ship.
He is only getting older and won’t have many more chances to compete for a championship. A trade would give him a chance to win and for the Suns to reset their roster. Given the elite level he is still playing at, it would be wise for the Slim Reaper to plan his exit.