Kevin Durant was hyped after ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that he’s getting traded to the Houston Rockets after a tumultuous two-and-a-half seasons in Phoenix.
Durant was in the middle of his guesting at the Fanatics Fest in New York on Sunday when the crowd’s phone was abuzz with the blockbuster trade news.
Durant could not hide his excitement as he broke into a wide smile.
Aftterward, Durant sent a message to Suns fans following his departure.
“They wanted me to go,” Durant told Kay Adams of the “Up and Adams” show. “They got what they wanted, and I got what I wanted. We can move on, and good luck to them going forward. Always remember my time there, but we’re on to something else.”
The Suns took the first step towards a major reset following the spectacular failure of their Big Three experiment with Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
With Durant in town, Phoenix never won a playoff series. They were swept in last year’s first round of the playoffs. Then they missed it altogether this season, finishing 11th with 36-46 record, which hastened Durant’s departure.
Durant, who will turn 37 this September, leaves Phoenix after averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 62 games this season.
‘Underwhelming’ Return Package
The Suns went with the best deal they could possibly get after Durant’s other suitors did not step up with their offers.
In the end, the Suns ultimately settled for former No. 2 pick Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, this year’s No. 10 pick and five second-round picks.
It was an “underwhelming” package, per Arizona Sports’ Kellan Olson.
“It’s hard not to feel like Phoenix got punked in this deal based on what the player return is and isn’t, backed into a corner forced to cough up their lunch money,” Olson wrote on June 22.
It did not come close to what the Suns gave up four first-round picks and a pick swap on top of Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges for Durant at the trade deadline in 2023.
According to ClutchPoint’s Brett Seigel, the Suns pushed for the inclusion of Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard but the Rockets stood firm. Instead, they sent the Suns five second-round picks.
Those picks are the No. 59 selection in this year’s draft, two in 2026, one in 2030 (from Boston) and one in 2032, per ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks.
Charania added that the Heat, the finalist in the Durant’s sweepstakes, ultimately turned down the opportunity to put together Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick and other draft assets in a deal without center Kel’el Ware, who was the Suns’ initial target.
Updated Suns’ Salary Cap, Draft Capital
The Suns now have three first-round picks and eight second-rounders, which they can use to continue reshaping their roster around Booker and get under the second apron or from the luxury tax altogether.
As it stands, the Suns remain on the second apron with $230 million on payroll after the trade. They are expected to make more moves under new general manager Brian Gregory.
Aside from selecting the No. pick on June 25 during the first round of the 2025 NBA draft, the Suns also have decisions to make on Vasilije Micic‘s $8.1 million team option and Cody Martin‘s non-guaranteed $8.7 million salary for next season.
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