The San Antonio Spurs are not too excited to pay the Phoenix Suns‘ rich asking price for a soon-to-be 37-year-old Kevin Durant.
That’s because they are holding off their draft assets for a younger star who could become available next.
According to Brett Siegel of Clutchpoints, the Spurs have Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown on their radar.
“Other than a potential trade for Giannis in the future, the Spurs have also monitored Jaylen Brown’s status with the Boston Celtics through the years, sources said. Now that the Boston Celtics are primed to take a step back and are looking to cut costs, the 28-year-old Finals MVP is suddenly worth talking about,” Siegel wrote.
Antetokounmpo is likely staying in Milwaukee as multiple reports suggest. There is more uncertainty in Boston than in Milwaukee due to a new ownership, a staggering $500 million payroll and Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles injury that will keep him out for most, if not all of next season.
Jaylen Brown Not Available
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesSpurs’ superstar targets Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown.
While the Celtics are going to slash their payroll via trade this summer, there has no indication that Brown, despite his mega-size contract (four years left on his five-year, $304 million supermax extension), is available.
Instead, they have been fielding offers instead for their veterans Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.
So unless the Suns’ asking price for Durant comes down, a trade to San Antonio isn’t happening even if Durant has them on top of his list of preferred destinations.
“Internally, the Spurs have discussed what the aftermath of a Durant trade would do to their future, sources said. While there is a level of interest that exists, this organization will not sacrifice a big chunk of what they have built through the years for the aging star,” Siegel wrote.
Suns’ Asking Price For Kevin Durant Remains ‘Too High’
Duane Rankin ofThe Arizona Republic reported on June 17 that the Suns’ asking price remains “too high” despite losing their leverage once Durant’s camp leaks his preferred destinations.
Rankin described the Suns’ strategy as pitting Durant’s various suitors against each other to extract the best deal possible. But so far, no one’s biting, including the Spurs, who have drawn a firm line on the sand.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Spurs’ offer has not excited the Suns.
“Sources add that Phoenix is not enamored with the players San Antonio has made available in the teams’ talks to date. It is obviously presumed that Durant would relish the opportunity to play alongside Victor Wembanyama, but it is also believed that the Spurs are only willing to discuss veterans such as Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes. The Spurs just managed to acquire De’Aaron Fox from Sacramento largely on their terms and the notion now of surrendering newly named Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle or the No. 2 selection in this month’s draft is simply a non-starter,” Fischer wrote on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter.
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