ESPN Predicts Durant Returns to Brooklyn; Suns Aren't in Play

In more of their 2022-23 projections, ESPN's NBA insiders believe Kevin Durant isn't even a close option for the Phoenix Suns.

It feels as if the Phoenix Suns have been in pursuit of Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant since the dawn of time. 

In reality, it's been over a month since Durant first requested a trade and had the Suns and Miami Heat at the top of his list. 

Through so much speculation that ranged from Durant being a sure thing to end up in Phoenix to recent developments that suggest the Nets are nowhere close to dealing the star scorer, a plethora of teams have come and gone in the race for KD. 

Toronto. Miami. Phoenix. Golden State. New Orleans. Boston. Philadelphia. If they have touched a basketball court, they likely picked up the phone to express their interest in Durant. 

Yet in ESPN's latest batch of predictions for the 2022-23 season, an overwhelming majority of insiders believe Durant will stay with Brooklyn for the start of the season. 

"Durant became the story of the offseason when he requested a trade from the Nets just one year after signing a five-year extension with the team.

"The Nets acknowledged Durant's request and have explored trade offers but have not found a partner that can meet their terms so far, so Brooklyn is still the favorite for Durant's services to start the season:

1. Brooklyn Nets: 83.3% of total votes

2. Boston Celtics: 5.6%

3. Miami Heat: 5.6%

4. Toronto Raptors: 5.6%

The Athletic's Shams Charania offered this days ago:

"Could Phoenix come up with some kind of package around Mikal Bridges and four/five/six first-round picks to send to another team and try to get back in this race? Because once Deandre Ayton had his contract offer sheet from Indiana, that four-year, $133 million, once it was matched by Phoenix, it really created a position for Phoenix [where] they didn't have many assets besides Mikal Bridges and a bunch of draft picks," said Charania.

“We'll see where Phoenix [is], to me, they are still very, very far behind from the rest of the pack." 

Also of note: The Suns received two third-place votes in the "team turmoil" category, a metric that rates how much drama will surround a team this season. The Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz topped that category. 

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