New Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia wasted no time shaking up the franchise.
The Suns are acquiring NBA superstar Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the deal is official.
The deal will send Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks to the Nets, in addition to a pick swap in 2028. The Suns will getting Durant – a 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP – and forward T.J. Warren.
The Durant trade comes in the wake of the Nets trading Kyrie Irving, who signed along with Durant, 34, in Brooklyn in 2019. Moving Durant marks a hard reset for Brooklyn, which is now set to receive Phoenix’s first-round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029.
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For the Suns, who just officially introduced Ishbia earlier Wednesday, trading for Durant is an all-in move for a team seeking its first NBA title.
Phoenix reached the NBA Finals in 2021 and posted the best record in the NBA last season but has scuffled along this year (30-26) with star guard Devin Booker missing extensive time due to injuries.
Durant, the 2013-14 NBA MVP, has three more years left on his contract after this season – $46.4 million in 2023-24, $49.8 million in 2024-25 and $53.2 million in 2025-26.
ESPN first reported news of the deal.
Story Credit: usatoday.com