NafisaThe Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant are anticipated to collaborate on a trade this summer after failing to reach the playoffs this year. Durant, who will be 37 in the fall, has one year remaining on his contract. He’ll earn $54.7 million next season.
A two-time Finals MVP, Durant has been connected to multiple teams, but one of his former teammates believes the two-time champion will join a Western Conference playoff contender.
Former center and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins predicts the Suns will trade Durant to the Houston Rockets this summer. The Rockets were the No. 2 seed in the West this year but fell to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs in seven games.
“Kevin Durant is going to end up in the Houston Rocket uniform,” Perkins said.
“They have the pieces. If I’m the Rockets, I’m going all in. Jabari Smith, Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore and some picks for Kevin Durant. And don’t come give me Kevin Durant don’t have it no more.
“The one thing Kevin Durant will do when he gets to Houston is respect Ime Udoka because we know they have a great relationship. You pair him alongside the Thompson twin with Sengun, Fred VanVleet, the Rockets looking to make some noise. That was the one thing that they were missing in this series was a closer and Kevin Durant provides that.”
Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists for the Suns this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from 3, and 83.9% from the free-throw line. He hasn’t returned to the NBA Finals since departing the Warriors in the summer of 2019.
Houston lost Game 7 to Golden State by a final score of 103-89. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report believes the Rockets need Durant to vie for a championship.
“They might be a go-to scorer away from contending for a championship. Their defense and tenacity are already built for basketball’s biggest stage, but they don’t have the creation and shot-making to survive four playoff rounds. Do a deal for Durant, though, and suddenly one of history’s greatest scorers could take care of that,” Buckley wrote.
Durant has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Suns. He has career averages of 27.2 points.
Nafisa
