Kevin Durant Trade: What Suns Are Demanding From Lakers, Other Teams
Kevin Durant Trade: What Suns Are Demanding From Lakers, Other Teams
The Phoenix Suns appear ready to part ways with Kevin Durant during the upcoming offseason. According to recent reports, the team has established an initial asking price that includes three first-round draft picks and a promising young player as part of a potential multi-team transaction.
Durant, who will be 37 after the 2024-25 season, is set to earn $54.7 million in the final guaranteed year of his contract. Despite his age, his performance remains elite, with the superstar forward averaging nearly 27 points per game this season while maintaining impressive 53/40/83 shooting splits.
The Suns’ financial considerations are playing a significant role in their decision-making process. With the NBA’s highest payroll at approximately $220 million, Phoenix is actively seeking to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. One potential approach involves taking back around $35 million in salary for Durant, which would save the organization roughly $20 million in payroll expenses.
Key Factors in a Potential Durant Trade:
- Three first-round picks requested
- Young player inclusion
- Multi-team deal possibility
- Salary relief objectives
- Bird rights transfer to acquiring team
The return package Phoenix is seeking represents a significant decrease from what they originally invested to acquire Durant. In their 2022 trade with the Brooklyn Nets, the Suns surrendered Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks, and a 2028 pick swap to secure Durant’s services.
Phoenix’s willingness to move their superstar makes strategic sense given their current situation. Despite fielding a roster with three max-contract players, the team holds a disappointing 30-34 record. Furthermore, the Suns lack control over any of their own first-round draft selections until 2032.
At least six teams have reportedly expressed interest in pursuing Durant this offseason. Any transaction would likely require complex maneuvering due to the Suns’ limitations under the second apron restrictions, which constrain both outgoing and incoming assets.
The trade discussions reflect a realistic assessment by Phoenix’s front office. Their championship window appears to be closing, shifting organizational priorities toward rebuilding their asset base and achieving greater financial flexibility for the future.
Durant’s Bird rights represent an additional valuable component in any trade, as they allow the acquiring team to offer him the most lucrative contract terms when his current deal expires.
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
