2023/24 has been a roller coaster season thus far for the Suns. After starting off 4-6 amid injuries to Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, Phoenix reeled off seven straight victories after Booker returned to hold an 11-6 record.
However, the Suns have gone 3-8 since and are currently an underwhelming 14-14 heading into Monday’s game against Dallas. Beal has only appeared in six games, first dealing with a back injury and then spraining his ankle, which will likely keep him out until January.
Appearing on NBA Countdown, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said star forward Kevin Durant is growing frustrated by the situation in Phoenix (YouTube link).
“Start with Kevin Durant. You talk to people in Phoenix and around that organization, you know, they can feel the frustration with Durant,” Wojnarowski said. “Part of that certainly is the missed games for Brad Beal. This team was build around those three stars.
“The underwhelming supporting cast that comes from those massive trades for Durant and Bradley Beal that really gutted the organization and left them having to sign a lot of minimum players to fill out the payroll. And then an understanding that they lack the assets, the draft picks, the trade capital to really improve this team.
“This is something they’re going to have to manage in Phoenix with Kevin Durant. You’ve seen it before. And it reminds you — it is a stark reminder — of how short of a window, and how this team has to win big, and they have to win big quickly, based on how it was constructed. And having Kevin Durant still playing at an All-NBA level, and a healthy Kevin Durant. There’s a lot at stake for this organization. It’s got to change soon.”
As Wojnarowski alluded to, it’s ironic that Durant is frustrated by a situation he specifically asked to be traded into — and not just once, but twice. Brooklyn eventually acquiesced and sent him to the Suns in February 2023, but he initially asked to be traded in the summer of 2022.
The Nets received Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round swap from the Suns for Durant (plus a couple second-rounders from the Bucks for Jae Crowder). One of those Suns picks has already conveyed — Brooklyn selected Noah Clowney 21st overall in 2023.
Durant is 35 years old, so some level of win-now frustration is understandable to an extent. And Wojnarowski is certainly correct that the 13-time All-Star continues to play at an elite level, as Durant is averaging 30.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.4 APG and 1.1 BPG on .521/.473/.871 shooting in 24 games (36.6 MPG). His 47.3% mark from three-point range currently leads the NBA.
The Suns don’t have many options leading into the February trade deadline. They don’t control any of their future first-round picks, and Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen and Nassir Little — who were all acquired in the offseason as part of the trade that sent Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara to Portland and Damian Lillard to Milwaukee — are the only the only mid-sized contracts on the roster.
Of course that diva is.
I don’t even know if diva is the right word. He was miserable winning championships in Golden State too. I think he’s just an unhappy guy in general.
When is the last time Kevin Durant was happy for like 4 consecutive months?
When you create a super team and you have like 4 guys making most of the cap you won’t have a good supporting cast.
You would think he would have figured this out by now.
The ballers in the NBA should learn a few things about how Otani’s contract allowed the Dodgers to acquire huge pieces to form a super team.
ugh, you realize that the CBA for the MLB and NBA are entirely different. one has a salary cap, w/ hard cap implications the other doesn’t. MLB allows deferred money, pretty sure NBA does not.
Same KD who left the best situation??? He should be the last person to get frustrated…
Cupcake mentality
You reap what you sow.
Call the Wahhhhhhhhbulance for Durant! Harden, Durant, and Irving should all be together forever.
Well they were, and Durant effd it up
These teams will never learn. Selling out your future for guys like Durant and Hardin never works. Durant won in GS because they were already good enough to win.
Maybe Durant shouldn’t team hop every chance he gets? Dudes way worse than LeBron. Him and kyrie just join the same team, the complaints would be astronomical
LeBron started this crap
They did in Brooklyn. Where you been?
“KD requests super team that requires stars and scrubs roster; frustrated about stars and scrubs roster”
Woj trying to make headlines again.
It’s his job. So, yeah.
LeBron does this every year and I don’t hear any of you whining about that. LeBron gets away with piggy backing and ring chasing. I need more help. I feel bad for Durant though. GS should send a offer of Chris Paul, Payton Jr, Joseph, Kuminga and picks for Durant and Bol Bol. Suns waive some players and GS looks at free agents.
LBJ does what every year? What did Durant actually say? Shut up
How many picks are going in that trade? GS would need to send like six unprotected 1sts because the rest of that offer is garbage.
When will Durant own his team’s results? Ever?
What fault does he have in this?
He’s a foundational star on the team. Those are the guys who most determine whether a team wins or loses games.
KD’s ONLY job is to make wins. Not to make shots. He has no standing to be frustrated with the supporting cast, because he knew what it would be when he forced his way there. He thought he was good enough to win big with that supporting cast. He was wrong. His fault for not being good enough to win with that supporting cast. His fault for being wrong by believing he was.
Beal has been injured the last 3-4 seasons, did he magically think the guy would be healthy? KD going to whine his way out of another hand picked situation?
Tobias, Springer and 3 FRPs for Durant sounds about right. lol
What about Harris, Reed, Melton, Springer, Korkmaz, KJ Martin and some 1sts for Durant, Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon? Suns waive some players. Those Poole, Paul and Beal trades were horrible. Philly resigns Danny Green
Dudes frustrated because his team isn’t performing to the standards that he thought they would, imagine that? They’re 14-14 when they’re supposed to be contending for the title. It doesn’t make him a diva or cupcake. If you’re happy when you’re team is losing them that would be a problem.
He was unhappy when the Nets were 4-5th seed with a winning record.
He was unhappy when they were winning championships in oakland.
He was unhappy because Draymond called him a b*tch and much more and know one in management said a word to him about it.
Lol.
KD was acting like one, so yeah
Lots of teams are losing.
Durant is not a leader in tough times. He has to deflect responsibility for team failures away from himself for some deep-seated reason. Golden St had strong leadership so they only needed his physical talents. Every player has weaknesses and that is his. Great basketball skill should not be conflated with great leadership. Durant, Irving and Harden are three examples of players who lack the mental or emotional skills to be successful leaders.
Great leadership in GS during tough times? Hilariously wrong. Glad you’re using Irving and Harden still as your examples too. Your brain is stuck in 2021. Westbrook and Ben Simmons am I right guys?!
What team was Simmons considered the leader of? AAU?
This is to stir Durant up nothing more. Might be true might not. Slow news day and now reporters can bother Durant into a response. He might be frustrated enough to give one which would validate Woj.
You love to see it
Interesting that everyone is believing this report and taking it as Durant is about to request a trade. Calm down
Only you sound emotional about it…
No most of these comments sound emotional as if Durant have an interview and actually said these words. EACH AND EVERY STAR PLAYER ON A TEAM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CONTENDER WOULD BE UPSET IF THEY WERE PLAYING FAR BELOW EXPECTATIONS!!!
you gonna cry?
Doesn’t Brad Beal have the rare “no-trade” clause?
You’d think playing with Simmons would have made Durant used to teammates losing time.
lmao hasn’t even been a year
OKC should be calling soon :)
And then he got destroyed on Christmas by Luka
I love these comments lol. Durant has said not one word about being frustrated but when Wojnarowski needs something to talk about he brings up KD.
The large majority of people on here who hate basketball but love drama grows every season. The only time they talk ball is online and to no response. No discourse. No discussion. Just their half baked thoughts that have been cooking for a whole 5 seconds before blurted on to a message board.
We see you. You are not part of this. Keep screaming.
Yeah, but you’re one of the leaders of this drama faction. You don’t even know what shape a ball is.
bonercats you’re one of the most contentious posters here. I’ve never ever once read a post where you started off by saying, “hey great point, I agree with you, that’s an excellent take.”
100% of the time you come in either arguing or even worse, ridiculing a person or their post.
But I will say this. I agree with your very first paragraph. I think you’re correct.
It’s your second paragraph that is off base in my mind.
KD is this one of your burner accounts?
He’s exhausting. Same could be said about him back in Brooklyn when he had all of his petty little injuries and either Harden or Irving had to go solo. He needs to look into a mirror.
Durant and Booker should be good enough for this team. What’s the problem here?
Mortgage magnates mourn middling matchups — mutiny mounting?
Seriously? Sucky sources say suspect storylines. Successful second sojourn sans some Suns should stay straight.