Suns could trade Kevin Durant and add Jimmy Butler – Arizona Sports

PHOENIX SUNS
Feb 5, 2025, 12:13 PM | Updated: 2:12 pm BY ALEX WEINERDiamondbacks reporter, ArizonaSports.com editorThe plume of Kevin Durant trade smoke is growing more and more visible as the Phoenix Suns hurtle toward the trade deadline without a Bradley Beal-for-Jimmy Butler deal at this point.Arizona Sports‘ John Gambadoro said on Wednesday that it is “definitely a possibility” the Suns trade Durant and get back Butler at the deadline. Such a deal would be complicated, and Durant has not asked to be traded.The Suns and Warriors worked on a deal to send Durant back to Golden State, but him not wanting to return to there made that deal highly unlikely, Gambadoro said.The latest from @Gambo987 on the Phoenix Suns as the trade deadline approaches. @WolfandLuke https://t.co/eu3hIkCTzS— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 5, 2025The Warriors had been aggressive in their pursuits of the 15-time All-Star, and Gambadoro reported earlier this week they are not the only team that has called Phoenix about him.The Athletic’s Sam Amick said on FanDuel’s Run it Back the Durant to Golden State situation “escalated quickly” on Tuesday night.ESPN’s Brian Windhorst added on Get Up that the Suns have entertained a Durant trade, reiterating Golden State’s interest in reuniting with the two-time NBA Finals MVP.“I do not want to imply anything is going to happen,” Windhorst said. “I have no idea how you go back on this if it doesn’t work because now the world knows, the world does know the Warriors are trying to get KD back.”According to The Athletic, Golden State had some frustration with the talks given Phoenix’s “exorbitant” asking price. Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga were listed as players Phoenix would be interested in.NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer published a report that said Durant has “serious reservations” about another stint in Golden State. “There is a distinct sense percolating now that Durant does not want to be traded at all this week,” they wrote in The Stein Line. The Suns were not shopping Durant, by the way, but they’ve listened to offers.The trade landscape is still very much evolving, as the Suns have been hyper focused on adding Butler from the Heat and struggling to get a deal done. Beal’s no-trade clause hampers Phoenix’s ability to do so considering his deal would be needed to pair Butler with Durant and Booker. The Heat are not interested in taking on Beal’s contract, which has another season plus a player option attached.Durant has one more season under contract beyond this year with a cap hit of $54.7 million. Butler has a $52.4 million player option for 2025-26. Both players could be extended.There is also a real chance Phoenix makes smaller moves around the edges without a dramatic restructuring of the roster.The Suns enter Wednesday night’s game at the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 25-24 record. Durant is not expected to play due to a sprained left ankle.Gambadoro said a trade sending out center Jusuf Nurkic for Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas has been discussed but only as part of a bigger deal.Nurkic began the season as Phoenix’s starting center but has been removed from the rotation. He has not played since Jan. 7.Valanciunas is a 32-year-old veteran big who averages 11.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season for the Wizards.Gambadoro and Windhorst were both clear that the Suns will not trade Devin Booker.Follow @alexjweinerBrandon Cadiz
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