Is Kyrie Irving Clearing Suns' Path to Land Kevin Durant?
Sound the alarms.
The Phoenix Suns' hypothetical pursuit of Kevin Durant is taking off. Despite sportsbooks believing Durant could very well become the newest member of the Suns' roster, that always appeared to be a pipe dream.
While Durant to Phoenix still appears to be a very far-fetched idea, the suggestion for the Suns acquiring one of the greatest scorers in NBA history may have gained a tad more traction this week.
Kyrie Irving, Nets Stagnant in Conversations
The Athletic's Shams Charania reported on Monday the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving are "at an impasse" on his future with the team.
With Irving's future with the Nets in question, the conversations around Durant's time with Brooklyn has also been brought up. Suns fans have been giddy at any hint of Durant joining forces with Devin Booker in Phoenix.
After watching James Harden depart Brooklyn, the absence of Kyrie Irving would be a huge blow to the Nets and their immediate fight for a title run almost regardless of what they received back in a potential sign-and-trade deal.
Would Kevin Durant Want Out of Brooklyn?
Would Durant be enticed by Ben Simmons and the rest of the lineup to return? The 33-year-old hasn't been shy about wanting to compete for a championship. He also hasn't been shy about showing love to head coach Monty Williams.
“He knows how to talk to people, for one. He knows how to communicate and he’s honest,” Durant said of Williams.
“That’s lacking in our world in general. It’s just truth. Especially when you’re talking to him on the basketball court, you have a group of guys that will get better. He has a young core that is hungry to get better and is hungry to have some success.”
His relationship with Devin Booker is also notable, as the Team USA teammates enjoy a good relationship. Durant has been complimentary of Booker since he arrived in the league.
"I just think he’s really mastering who he is right now. He’s figuring it out, like how to play at an elite level and still win. He’s always scoring the ball but he knows how to win," Durant said of Booker earlier this year.
Nets' Asking Price May be Too Much for Suns
In a potential trade back, the Nets would undoubtedly ask for key Suns players ranging from Cam Johnson to Mikal Bridges or perhaps even Chris Paul.
That's a large no from many Suns fans. And as of now, Phoenix's intentions to bring on Durant don't appear to be greatly serious.
However, the offseason continues to bring the fun findings of speculation almost daily, and however you view a theoretical move to get Durant in Phoenix, the door for him wanting to leave may have just opened a bit more.
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