When Mat Ishbia took over as the Phoenix Suns’ owner, he made aggressive moves to build a championship-contending team. He invested heavily, acquiring Kevin Durant and later trading Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton for Jusuf Nurkic and Bradley Beal. However, these decisions haven’t yielded the expected results.
In Durant’s three seasons with the Suns, the team has declined. Currently, Phoenix holds a 28-32 record, ranking 11th in the Western Conference, four games behind the 10th-seeded Dallas Mavericks. With only 22 games left in the season, the Suns are running out of time to secure a playoff spot. Although they’ll need a strong finish led by Durant and Devin Booker, their struggles suggest a potential offseason shakeup. Reports indicate the team may work with Durant to find a trade destination, while Booker remains untouchable as the franchise player.
One potential landing spot for Durant stands out to ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith, who made his case on Get Up.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder should go and get Kevin Durant back,” Smith stated.
Oklahoma City is among the few teams with the assets to trade for a player of Durant’s caliber. However, financial constraints could complicate a deal, given the team’s investments in its star trio and supporting cast. The Thunder also possess an abundance of draft picks, which could facilitate a trade if they decide to pursue a reunion.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves and other teams are also expected to express interest in the future Hall of Famer.
