Kevin Durant pulls from trade prat – ‘part of the business’

Phoenix-Kevin Durant is still with Phoenix Suns and ready to get back on the field after last week’s event deadline full of speculation that the franchise was open to dealing with the 15-time all-star.

“It’s just part of the company,” Durant told journalists on practice on Monday. “Everyone has bought and sold in this league. Everyone can be at auction, so I understand it. It’s just about getting back on the field and trying to go out and play the game I love.

“It’s part of the business though – we all need to understand that.”

Suns ended up having a relatively quiet trade deadline and was about dissatisfied center Jusuf Nurkic to Charlotte Hornets, but kept the rest of their core intact. The team’s big three of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are still together as the franchise is trying to win the grounds.

Phoenix went in Monday night with a record of 26-26 and tied with Sacramento Kings for ninth place at the western conference.

Durant and Beal were the subject of violent trade rumors before last week’s deadline. Phoenix General Manager James Jones did not offer many clues to how seriously he was considering moving both players when asked Friday.

“It always gets noisy when you don’t win,” Jones said. “And we’re not winning.”

The 36-year-old Durant has been sitting in the last three games due to a sprained ankle, but hopes to return to Tuesday’s match against Memphis Grizzlies. Suns are only 2-11 this season when the 6-foot-11 front is out of the lineup.

Durant is still one of the game’s elite scorers, on average almost 26.9 points of 52.4% shooting. The veteran is under contract with Suns next season and said his goal has always been to play his appointment.

“It’s not a bad thing that people around the league want me to play for them,” Durant said. “It’s not a bad thing my organization here is fighting for people to keep me on the team or even dangle me in a trade.

“That’s part of being in great demand.”