Kevin Durant, Rockets Trade Rumors Dismissed by Suns GM After 2024 NBA Draft Day 1

While reports began circulating earlier this week that the Houston Rockets are interested in trading for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, it sounds like he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

While speaking to reporters after the first round of the NBA draft, Suns general manager James Jones said of trade rumors involving Durant, “It’s the stuff that gets clicks and that everyone wants to talk about, but I think I said it specifically back on May 19th when I was asked are we trading Kevin Durant. I said no then, I’ll say no now. I’ll continue to get asked.”

Suns owner Mat Ishbia echoed Jones’ sentiments, tweeting before the draft on Wednesday that the team has no intentions of shipping Durant away:

After the Rockets made a trade with the Brooklyn Nets that allowed them to acquire draft picks previously owned by the Suns, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that they “positioned themselves to be aggressive in future trade scenarios with the Suns should that franchise need to disassemble.” Wojnarowski named Phoenix star Devin Brooker as a trade target for Houston and added that “Durant could become a possibility, too.”

The Suns were expected to be one of the top contenders for the NBA title after they acquired veteran shooting guard Bradley Beal to pair with Durant and Booker. However, Phoenix dealt with injuries and depth issues that derailed their season.

After finishing sixth in the Western Conference with a 49-33 record, the Suns were disappointingly swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Phoenix is expected to keep its core together in hopes of chasing a title next season, but if the team gets off to a slow start, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team explores the possibility of trading one of its star players. The Suns don’t own much draft capital in the coming years, so they need to find the best way to replenish resources.

At 35 years old, Durant’s sole focus is competing for an NBA championship. If the Suns aren’t in a position to contend, they will risk having an unhappy superstar who could force his way off the team.