Kevin Durant Benched Amid Suns-Thunder Clash and Trade Buzz!

The forward will miss Wednesday’s game amid increasing trade speculation.

The future of Kevin Durant with the Phoenix Suns is up in the air as the NBA trade deadline approaches, with his name popping up in numerous trade discussions. The 14-time All-Star forward is a hot topic in the league’s rumor mill.

Adding to the speculation, Durant will not participate in the upcoming game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to ankle soreness, as reported by NBA insider Chris Haynes. This marks his first absence since a game on December 8 against the Orlando Magic, making his timing of sitting out, just a day before the trade deadline, particularly noteworthy.

Durant’s potential destinations include several teams, with the Golden State Warriors being a prominent possibility. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, discussions about Durant returning to the Warriors were nearing a conclusion on Tuesday night. Amick also mentioned that Golden State considered trading away Draymond Green to facilitate Durant’s comeback.

Recent moves, like the Dallas Mavericks trading guard Luka Doncic, suggest that no player is safe from trade considerations, and Phoenix might deal Durant if the right offer comes along.

Currently, the Suns are ranked ninth in the Western Conference with a 25-24 record, and with Durant approaching the final year of his contract in 2026, new owner Mat Ishbia might be considering major changes.

In the 2025 season, Durant has been performing strongly, averaging 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in his third year with the Suns since being traded from the Brooklyn Nets in the 2022-23 season.

If Durant remains with Phoenix past the deadline, his next opportunity to play will be against the Utah Jazz on Friday.

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