NBA insider thinks Kevin Durant wants Suns to trade him to Rockets in offseason

NBA insider Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated thinks Kevin Durant wants the Phoenix Suns to trade him to the Houston Rockets this offseason. 

The Suns are widely expected to trade Durant this offseason and the Rockets are interested in trading for the future Hall of Famer, an NBA source told Hoops Wire. 

“It’s no secret that Phoenix will split with Durant this summer,” Mannix wrote. “Durant has one year left on his contract and even approaching 37 still has incredibly high value. I think—and this is just my opinion—that Durant wants to wind up in Houston. I think if the Rockets wanted Durant before the trade deadline, it would have happened. Durant has a lot of respect for Ime Udoka and in Houston he could be a missing piece to a title contender. I’d keep an eye on that after this season.”

Durant will make $54.7 million next season in the final year of his contract.

The Suns are expected to consult Durant on any trade discussions involving him this offseason. 

Durant is a four-time scoring champion, a two-time champion, a two-time Finals MVP and a one-time MVP. The NBA icon has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns.

“I’ll just say that we’re going to evaluate in the offseason,” Suns owner Mat Ishbia told ESPN. “We’re going to find a way to win, and it’s probably a lot easier winning with Kevin Durant than without him. But at the same time, yes, if we’re not good enough in this iteration of the Phoenix Suns, we’re going to find a way to be better next year.”

Durant is averaging 26.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists this season for the Suns, who are in 10th place in the Western Conference standings with a record of 33-37. 

One of the greatest scorers in NBA history, Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists.