Report: Suns to ‘retool’ around Devin Booker, work with Kevin Durant on trade

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, the Phoenix Suns will “retool” around Devin Booker and work with Kevin Durant on a trade this summer. 

The Suns fired Mike Budenholzer as head coach on Monday after just one season. 

“This iteration of the team did not work, however, and the franchise is set to retool around Booker,” Charania wrote. “This marks the first action in a summer of change coming to the Suns. Phoenix is expected to engage in trade conversations involving Durant and will have discussions on the future of Beal, according to sources. Multiple teams will seriously pursue Durant, who finished another stellar season, and the franchise is expected to work with Durant and his business partner and Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman on the next landing spot for the future Hall of Famer.”

The Suns went 36-46 this season. They are the third team in NBA history to start 8-1 or better and miss the playoffs. 

Booker, who has spent his entire career with the Suns, averaged 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists this season. He didn’t have a good relationship with Budenholzer.

Booker has scored the most points in Phoenix franchise history. He was the 13th pick in the 2015 draft. 

Meanwhile, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season. He was almost traded to the Golden State Warriors in February before making it known behind closed doors that he didn’t want to return to the Warriors. 

Durant has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He’s a two-time champion and a two-time Finals MVP. 

Durant was open to getting traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat or San Antonio Spurs at this year’s trade deadline. 

An NBA source told Hoops Wire that the Timberwolves, Rockets, Heat, Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers will pursue Durant this offseason.