Kevin Durant was strongly linked with a late Phoenix Suns exit as the recent trade deadline drew to an end.
Despite staying put in Phoenix for now it looks likely that he may be back on the chopping block come the end of the season.
Durant was heavily linked with a return to the Golden State Warriors, but he reportedly was against a return to the team where he won two NBA Championships.
The Warriors were desperate to reunite Curry and Durant, and KD’s recent comments on his former teammate make his apparent refusal to rejoin the Warriors more confusing.
Durant all praise for Curry
Despite competing with each other regularly in the Western Conference the pair of Durant and Curry were put together during the All-Star game for team Shaq.
Curry was named the All-Star MVP as helped his side win the tournament. Curry scored 12 points in the Final while putting up 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists across the Semi-Final and Final.
The pair were a formidable duo during their time with the Warriors and in truth, both of their careers have dipped ever so slightly from the highest of heights during their run together.
NBA expert Colin Cowherd recently stated that Kevin Durant ‘tanked’ his career by leaving the Warriors to join the Brooklyn Nets.
Despite Durant reportedly turning down a Warriors return he was all praise for former teammate Curry following the All-Star weekend, saying: “He doesn’t have a demanding personality, plays within the flow of the game and those are the type of players are easy to play with.”
Durant’s Suns future
Despite Durant averaging an impressive 27-6-4 he’s been unable to turn the Suns fortunes around as the side sit 11th in the Western Conference with a 26-28 record.
Owner Matt Ishbia is not afraid to make bold calls with the team and it’s clear that their super team attempt has far from paid off. It now looks like they will likely break it up.
Bradley Beal has found himself dropped to the Suns bench and Durant himself has been linked with an exit. It appears the team will now focus all of their attention on building around Devin Booker who recently became the Suns’ highest-scoring player of all time.
There will be no shortage of interest in Durant if the Suns do look for a trade, the Miami Heat were closely linked with the star, as well as the Warriors and the Washington Wizards.