What’s the matter after the Kevin Durant trade, what’s back to Suns?

On By Littum

Phoenix Suns had a blockbuster, franchise -changing movement in the works to send Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors and Jimmy Butler to the valley, but their trade deadline is expected to look a little more earthly after it fell through.

A large Suns trade is now unlikely, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro. The trade deadline is Thursday at. 13.00

Durant made it clear to Warriors star Stephen Curry – who spoke to head coach Steve Kerr, who spoke with ownership – he was disinterested in a reunion, and Warriors did not want to add a unhappy star with just one year back on his deal. Athletic’s Anthony Slater wrote“The Golden State Warrior’s ownership group and Front Office ‘underestimated’ Durant’s cold to a return, as a team source put it.”

The almost completed trade that would have involved Suns Center Jusuf Nurkic and Warriors Frem, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga Fizzled out. Golden State was about trading for Butler himself and ending Phoenix’s month -long persecution of the former Miami Heat Star.

Warriors treated Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a protected first round pick to the heat. Dennis Schroder went to Utah Jazz and Lindy Waters III to Detroit Pistons. Detroit also received Josh Richardson from Miami, while Heat added PJ Tucker from Utah. Tucker was redirected to Toronto.

Espns Shams Charania reported Thursday that other teams have been aggressively pursuing Durant since Warrior’s Deal Fizzled out, so maybe there is another option if Phoenix decides to move on.

What else could Suns do at the trade deadline?

Gambadoro reported that Suns will continue to work on getting off the Nurkic contract, which has another year for $ 19.4 million on it.

He has not played since January 7, and any agreement would probably require the broadcast of draft capital.

As for potential goals, Suns look at adding size to help with rebounding -deficiencies (25. In NBA in boards per Fight with 42.3).

“I know they have looked around at some power forward and tried to get themselves a power forward, someone who can give them a certain size because they have so many problems with the offensive rebounds,” Gambadoro told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta Thursday morning. “I look at a few power forward, maybe at the eastern conference.”

Suns traded Josh Okogie and three elections in the second round last month to Charlotte Hornets for Center Nick Richards and another round of elections. Phoenix also acquired three lower priority choices of the first round from Utah for their unprotected 2031 first rounds of merchant flexibility.