Kevin Durant to Phoenix Becoming Real Possibility?

Numerous outlets and reports suggest Durant landing in Phoenix has gained relevancy in recent weeks.

Part of the fun that comes with cheering on any NBA team (specifically the Phoenix Suns) is suggesting your team in any potential trade talks for a great player who becomes available. 

What follows is a series of laughable edits, memes and potential trade scenarios until eventually the star player is dealt somewhere else.

That was the case for Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant and the potential of him landing in Phoenix. For weeks, nothing but jersey swaps and connected dots occupied the Suns' social media atmosphere. 

But now it doesn't seem so laughable. 

Reported friction between the Nets and guard Kyrie Irving (who Durant wanted to join forces with before going to Brooklyn) has grown to a potential point of no return. The Los Angeles Lakers are heavily expected to pursue Irving in a sign-and-trade scenario, and as a result of the downfall, Durant has (reportedly) not spoken to the Nets in weeks. 

ESPN Insiders on Kevin Durant-Brooklyn Exit

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Durant's current relationship with Brooklyn:

"The uncertainty surrounding Irving's future with the Nets continues to leave the franchise vulnerable to a Kevin Durant trade request, but that has yet to materialize, sources said. Durant has four years left on his contract and remained an advocate for the Nets to commit to a long-term deal for Irving, sources said. Numerous teams around the league are preparing to pursue Durant, one of the elite players in the sport, if he becomes available."

Fellow ESPN NBA insider Zach Lowe echoed that same sentiment:

"I can tell you this, teams are already operating under, not the assumption, 'we need to prepare for the contingency' that Kevin Durant is available via trade in 6-7 days."- Zach Lowe

Durant has had fairly nice things to say on key Suns pieces, which includes coach Monty Williams and shooting guard Devin Booker. 

Durant on Monty Williams

“He knows how to talk to people, for one. He knows how to communicate and he’s honest,” Durant said on Williams' coaching style.

“That’s lacking in our world in general. It’s just truth. Especially when you’re talking to him on the basketball court, you have a group of guys that will get better. He has a young core that is hungry to get better and is hungry to have some success.”

Durant on Devin Booker

"I just think he’s really mastering who he is right now. He’s figuring it out, like how to play at an elite level and still win. He’s always scoring the ball but he knows how to win," Durant said of Booker earlier this year. 

“Why would Kevin Durant ever want to play for that poverty franchise the Suns”

Kevin Durant… pic.twitter.com/eYshUez7yD

— BK (@blakekimball) June 22, 2022

Suns Gaining Traction for Kevin Durant

Phoenix is also reportedly high on Durant's list of landing spots, according to Suns insider "FLEX From Jersey" who recently appeared on Fox 10 Phoenix's "Sports Night" and gave the Suns a "70-75% chance" to land Durant if Irving is traded. 

Numerous sportsbooks believe the Suns are the favorites to land Durant if he departs the Nets, which seems like the most likely outcome at this point in time.

Of course, every team in the NBA should be interested in acquiring Durant, who is widely considered to be one of the league's best scorers of all time. The Suns also have a nice package of young players to offer Brooklyn, ranging from Cam Johnson to Mikal Bridges and even Deandre Ayton potentially going back to Brooklyn. 

Now, will Phoenix deem those above pieces worthy of trading for Durant? Those are discussions that will take place if/when the time actually comes to do business with the Nets. 

For a team that has been one of the best in basketball the last two years, on top of comments from general manager James Jones insisting the Suns will do everything to keep their core players together, it's understandable Phoenix wanting to run it back with their current roster. 

However, the allure of pairing Durant-Booker-Paul together may almost be too good to pass up for the Suns. 

It's nearly July, so the entire state of Arizona has already been hot for a few months. However, things are about to reach new levels of heat in Phoenix during the next 30 days. 

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