Mat Ishbia Comments On Kevin Durant Trade Rumors: "We Are Competing For A Championship"

The Phoenix Suns have been involved in trade rumors after ESPN reported that the Houston Rockets are aggressively pushing to land Kevin Durant this summer. Suns' owner Mat Ishbia has cryptically responded to the rumors , emphasizing that Phoenix loves Durant and that Durant shares those feelings about the city.

"NBA Draft night is the best. Everyone talks about the drama and storylines, some are right and some are just wrong. My turn. Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we are competing for a championship this year because we have the team to do it. Gotta love draft night! Go Suns."

Ishbia didn't issue a declaration that Durant is off the market entirely, just saying that the city loves the player and the player loves the city while reinforcing their desire to compete for a title. Could Durant be on the move in a deal that Ishbia and the Suns believe will improve their winning chances? That's hard to say because very few players can help the Suns improve their roster in a Durant trade.

The Rockets acquired a bunch of future Suns picks to give the franchise control over their future again but at the price of offloading Durant. It doesn't seem like that'll be of interest to the Suns, who still need to compete for wins with Devin Booker on the roster.

Unless the Rockets prepare a trade package that's even better than what the Knicks gave the Nets for Bridges, Durant will likely start the season wearing a Suns jersey.

Stephen A. Smith Says We Should Disregard What The Suns Say About Durant

Stephen A. Smith's reputation while reporting on basketball in recent seasons hasn't been the best. He understands his role as an analyst and doesn't often go about citing things he says on-air as reports, but he made it clear that he was reporting earlier today when he revealed that the Suns want out of the Kevin Durant business.

He made it clear that everyone should not pay attention to what the Suns are saying to the world .

"Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying. They want out of Kevin Durant right now. That's number one. Number two, also, Houston doesn't want Kevin Durant. Ime Udoka may want him, but organizationally, they know that they are not there yet, so their plans are more long-range. And they would prefer a Devin Booker, who they know it's a slim chance they'll get, but that would be their preference."

Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season. Even though the Suns were swept in the first round, they'll want to keep Durant on the roster for another title push in 2024-25. But with the inflexibility of moving Bradley Beal, Durant likely is the only player that the Suns could realistically trade for assets.

Devin Booker has been rumored in these talks, but he's a franchise superstar who hasn't indicated he wants to leave the Suns at any point. If Durant is traded, the Suns could get a new lease on life in the NBA and build a competent and deep roster.

Related: The Brooklyn Nets Get Massive Overall Package For Kevin Durant After Knicks Acquire Mikal Bridges

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