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Even though the deadline has passed, don’t expect the Kevin Durant trade rumors to be dying down anytime soon.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst is leading the charge.
“He’s probably going to get traded this summer,” Windhorst said Wednesday. “He knows it. The Suns know it. The rest of the league knows it. They’re going to enjoy him while they have him. It’s not really controversial in all honesty. They’re under .500. They have a $230 million payroll, then add over $100 million on tax on top of that…
“I would expect Durant and the Suns this summer to work together to find a new home.”
It was reported that 20 percent of the league made calls to the Suns about Durant before the deadline.
These teams included Dallas, Golden State, Miami, Houston, Memphis and Minnesota.
Once the deadline has passed, KD told reporters, “It’s just part of the business. Everybody’s bought and sold in this league. Anybody can be up for auction, so I understand that…I always had a goal of just playing my contract out and seeing what happens. I can’t focus on a year and a half down the line. I know that will be a topic.”
Though, Windhorst reported he was “really frustrated” with the Suns for being included in trade talks.
The teams still willing to trade for KD are the Heat, Mavericks and Rockets, who are expected to make one final push to acquire Durant this summer in a trade package, Windhorst says.
However NBC Sports say it might be in Phoenix’s best interest to hold onto KD for one more season.
“The Suns’ challenge is that, because of salary matching rules, trading Durant means taking on almost as much salary from another team,” the outlet said. “Thus, the Suns don’t save much money against the tax and will likely get worse (whoever they get back for Durant will not be better, but maybe younger). The Suns might be better off playing out next season with KD and then letting him walk as a free agent in 2026, retooling the roster around Devin Booker at that point.”
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