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The Phoenix Suns are receiving more interest in Kevin Durant after trade talks with the Golden State Warriors reportedly fell through on Wednesday.
“From what I’m told, there are multiple teams making really aggressive calls to the Suns on Kevin Durant,” Charania said Thursday on NBA Today.
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“From what I’m told, there are multiple teams making really aggressive calls to the Suns on Kevin Durant.”@ShamsCharania on what he’s watching as the trade deadline approaches 👀 pic.twitter.com/Hwd6N48mGg
Charania noted that Durant has not requested to be traded from the Suns.
“It’s my understanding that most of all these conversations this week have been somewhat blindsiding,” Charania said.
Bob Myers also reported on NBA Today (h/t RealGM) that the Memphis Grizzlies were among the teams that reached out to the Suns about acquiring Durant.
A potential trade that would have sent Durant to the Warriors previously fell through after Durant “informed the team he did not want to return to Golden State,” per Charania and Brian Windhorst.
Charania’s latest report comes about two hours before Thursday’s trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET.
Windhorst additionally reported Thursday on Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective that “there was a window for Kevin Durant to be traded to the Miami Heat” after the Warriors bowed out.
Talks fell short because the Suns were looking for a return of more than just Jimmy Butler in exchange for Durant, according to Windhorst. The Heat ended up sending Butler to the Warriors instead.
“I think the Suns were willing to negotiate. I don’t think they were anxious to trade Durant,” Windhorst said.
These reports indicating the Suns are listening to offers for Durant could potentially have drawn additional clubs to the negotiating table ahead of the deadline.
Durant is signed through next season with annual cap hits of more than $50 million, limiting the number of teams that could conceivably add him.
The Mavericks could be looking for another star after sending out Luka Dončić to pair Anthony Davis with Kyrie Irving.
However, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Tuesday that there was “no tangible expectation percolating in Dallas” that the franchise would attempt to trade for Durant.
The Rockets meanwhile could contemplate adding a veteran player like Durant because their rebuild is progressing faster than expected, Amick, Aldrige and Slater noted.
Making room for Durant on the roster could require sending out Fred VanVleet, who is making $42 million this season. But the trade could reunite Durant with Ime Udoka, who worked with him during his tenure as a Brooklyn Net, while potentially further pushing up the timeline of when Houston can expect to contend for a title.
Durant sat out Wednesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Whether he is in the lineup for Friday night’s home game against the Utah Jazz could depend on what happens by 3 p.m. ET.
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