Phoenix Suns drops the asking price for Kevin Durant in commercial conversations, claims from NBA Insider

The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets do not actively discuss a Kevin Durant deal, but that could change quickly if the summer trading season warms up, according to The Athletiek’s Kelly Iko.

The reason, as IKO reports, is that the Suns gradually reduced their asking price for the future Hall of Famer in every trade scenario. And although ‘aggressive’ Phoenix Houston still has to seduce, there is a prize where the rockets would be interested, according to IKO.

This season, the Suns missed the play-offs for the first time since 2020, while the rockets finished second in the west before they ran a first round Playoff, upset by the Golden State Warriors.

Although he is 36, Durant was still effective this season, on average 26.6 points per match and a remarkable 43 percent of his 3-point attempts. He also took an average of six rebounds and 4.2 assists per match, which are more or less in line with his career markings.

Durant was the crown jewel of the team-make-over after owner Mat Ishbia bought the Suns in 2022. However, the former Texas Longhorns star did not come cheap because Phoenix four unprotected picks of the first round and a future pickwaps and a future pickwaps and a future pickwaps and a future Pickwaps and a future Pickwaps and a future Pickwaps and a future Pickwaps Pickwaps and a future pick waps and a future pick waps and a future pick waps and a future picking waps and a future pick waps and a future pick waps and a future pickwaps and a future pickwaps and a future Pickwaps and a cameron and cameron and cameron and cameron and cameron and cameron and cameron and camera bruggen and cameron and cameron and cameron.

At the time, the then NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the trade was the idea of ​​Ishbia and wrote that it was ‘very much at the level of ownership’ between the Suns Boss and Nets Governor Joe Tsai.

Ishbia pushed that report back shortly thereafter and said the decision was unanimous.

“It was not a difficult decision,” he told reporters in Phoenix. ‘We really didn’t want to give up any boys, because we love those guys. They were winners and we didn’t want to give them up.

‘But at the end of the day was the right decision, what do we do to maximize our team for today and for the next three to four years? This is going to be what the Phoenix Suns are about. ‘

The Suns would continue to add high-scoring Washington Wizards Guard Bradley Beal to a core that already included Devin Booker, while Ishbia repeated his wish to keep Durant in Phoenix.

When the missiles were reportedly interested in Durant in 2024, Ishbia shot every trade speculation.

“Everyone talks about the drama and the storylines, some are right and some are just wrong,” wrote Ishbia. “My turn. Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we are competing this year for a championship because we have the team to do it. ‘

The billionaire even told reporters in November that he expected that he would durant sign for a contract extension.

Then the suns fell off the map and the play-offs missed 36-46 when Durant, Booker and Beal again struggled to gele under coach Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after the season.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia launched a $ 2 menu in 2024-25 and gave fans something to cheer about

Ishbia owned the debacle with reporters after the season finale.

“Shameing season, right?” Said Ishbia. ‘Disappointing. Terrible. I look at every game as you do and nobody is proud of it, nobody is happy with it, from me to the front office to the coaches and players, to the marketers’ marketing managers.

“It was a failure.”

If Ishbia had one success in 2024-25, it was his popular decision to lower concession prices with a new $ 2 menu.

Although they currently do not have their own first round pick, the Suns have the 29th selection in this month’s NBA concept.

And with regard to the coaching search of the team, Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott are both mentioned by the Associated Press as candidates.