Suns Make Jimmy Butler Decision After Kevin Durant News.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant is on his fourth NBA team. Acquired by Phoenix in a 2023 trade with the Brooklyn Nets, Durant has played 121 games for the franchise. Averaging 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 38 games this season, Durant is posting numbers almost
identical to his career averages at age-36. With Phoenix just 25-23 entering Monday, which ranks eighth in the Western Conference standings, trade rumors have continued to surround the team. On Monday, it was reported by Jake Fischer of The People’s Insider that teams around the league
have been calling Phoenix about the possibility of a Durant deal. Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35). © Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images © Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images “Phoenix, entering Monday’s business, continued to signal that it does not plan to move Durant before the deadline, sources said, but the Suns are believed to be listening at the very least to various teams’ pitches for the 35-year-old scoring legend,” Fischer reported. Amid this news, Phoenix has reportedly made the decision to keep Durant, and instead pursue a Jimmy Butler trade with the Miami Heat. “To reiterate – The Suns main focus remains to find a way to acquire Jimmy Butler in a
deal for Bradley Beal,” John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix reported on X. “IF they can’t make that happen, they are working on a few smaller deals that can help the team now and in the future. And yes the Warriors did call on KD as have others.” This Butler decision from
the Suns reveals their planned direction at the NBA trade deadline. Rather than dealing Durant and entering a rebuild, an option seemingly on the table, Phoenix instead plans to remain all-in on a championship pursuit with this core. Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause continues serving as a significant obstacle in Phoenix’s pursuit of Butler, because as Gambadoro noted, the Suns are trying
to deal the three-time All-Star. In the third season of his five-year, $251 million contract, Beal reportedly has no plans to waive his no-trade clause. “The unrelenting word continues to be that Beal has no desire to bless a trade pretty much anywhere and prefers to remain in Phoenix, where his family has been settling after finally leaving the nation’s capital,” Fischer added in his report. While Phoenix has reportedly decided to pursue Butler, despite the news of potential Durant offers, getting a trade done without Beal’s contract is close to impossible. The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday at 3 p.m EST.
