Phoenix Suns make progress in Kevin Durant’s negotiations Stein Line.
New general manager Brian Gregory makes the wheels start after Jordan Ott hires. Durant has shifted to focus as the team loses hopes in the trade with Giannis Antetokounmpo. This means we can view a deal in the next week or so.
The expected return package Suns looks for is a large amount of quality draft capital, including the choices in this year’s draft. The Suns currently have the 29th and 52nd picks. There is also speculation that the Sun will hope to include Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neal as part of the Durant trade.
Phoenix is believed to have had the most interactions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Miami Heat during the discussion. The Wolves have the 17th overall pick in this year’s draft, while the Heat will pick the 20th place. A deal involving either of these two teams may involve at least a third team.
League executives speculate that the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets should also be considered. Here are the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Durant is believed to be most looking to bounce back to Texas with the Spurs or Rockets.
Which team is most meaningful to the Suns?
If it is indeed the draft pick at the heart of this deal, then you have to imagine the Rockets and the Spurs at the top.
Houston finished the 10th pick in this year’s draft, and there are many future picks to trade. Investing young assets can dominate, they must be the leader.
If the Spurs are interested, they must be second. San Antonio is the second pick in this year’s draft, and future picks can also be traded with young players.
The Clippers do not have the necessary draft capital. It’s hard to imagine the Raptors will acknowledge the required draft capital without guaranteeing Durant will re-sign. Despite winning the championship with Kawhi Leonard, he continued to move forward since then.
In this deal, Toronto abandoned Demar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, with only one protected first-round draft pick. Danny Green was also acquired by the Raptors.
Gov. Mat Ishbia said he wants the team to remain competitive at Devin Booker. In this case, it may come down to who can help the best players currently with the required draft capital.
