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Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is off to a good start!
I’ll get to Kevin Durant below, but first, I just wanted to remind everyone the Arizona Hockey Union team is hosting a charity event in Gilbert tonight to help combat the participation decline that’s been seen since the departure of the Arizona Coyotes. It’s raising money for multiple great causes, and you all know hockey is so near-and-dear to my heart, so we need to stick together!
More details can be found in the Quick Hits section below. On to the show!
Kevin Durant’s True Suitors Begin to Emerge
Where, oh where, will Kevin Durant end up?
Your guess is as good as mine, but it sure seems like he’s on his way out of The Valley in a hurry. For a minute there it felt like pretty much everyone was interested in the 36-year-old superstar, but that list has narrowed.
NBA Insider Jake Fischer wrote in Monday’s Stein Line there are a few more teams that may be in on KD — more on that below — and Marc Stein also said Durant was interested in joining the Knicks, but that interest was not mutual.
As of now, multiple reports indicate the Heat, Rockets and Spurs are the front-runners, along with Minnesota, and Stein confirmed that on today’s PHNX Suns podcast, which you can find farther down this email.
Why the Suns Need to Deal Either Durant or Beal
Someone’s got to go, and it sure doesn’t look like it’s going to be Bradley Beal.
The Suns have been looking to move Beal’s albatross of a contract since before the 2024-25 NBA Trade Deadline, to no avail. As Fischer pointed out in yesterday’s Stein Line, that point was complicated even further by the fact that Beal has complete control over where he’ll end up given his full no-trade clause.
Durant doesn’t have that luxury, so he’s likely the odd man out.
Here are some of the newest teams that have popped up recently with potential interest, as highlighted by both Fischer and Stein:
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Stein said on yesterday’s PHNX Suns podcast that Minny is open to a trade, even if Durant isn’t interested in re-signing.
- Toronto Raptors: With the No. 9 overall pick, it offers the Suns a chance to move up significantly in this year’s draft … if the price is right.
- L.A. Clippers: Could two future first-rounders whet general manager Brian Gregory’s appetite to ship KD to L.A?
- Boston Celtics: Fischer also indicated the Suns have done a little “background work” on 29-year-old center Kristaps Porzingis, so the Celtics may be in play, as well!
Just when it seems like the list of destinations is decreasing, a few more surprise locations pop up, but if something is going to go down, it will likely happen before the 2025 NBA Draft, which is right around the corner!
Make sure you stay tuned to our incredible PHNX Suns team, because they have been all over each and every rumor, and will keep you in the loop no matter what develops!
Marc Stein’s Take (from yesterday’s PHNX Suns podcast: “It’s pretty clear that the Suns, at this point, are going to make the best trade they can conceivably make, because I’m pretty sure you guys do not want me to run through the litany of players and draft picks they surrendered to get him in February 2023, and we do not want anyone in the chat bursting into tears.”
Shootout Central: As I mentioned above, I hope you are able to make it out to AZ Ice in Gilbert tonight to help keep hockey thriving in The Valley, all while contributing to a great cause! You can find more details about the event and how to attend on our old friend Craig Morgan’s substack — I hope you can make it out!
Road Trip: The D-backs kick off a nine-game road trip in Toronto today (4:07 pm), playing three against the Blue Jays before heading to Colorado and Chicago (White Sox) to close things out. Arizona is entering a critical stretch of baseball before the All-Star break, and looks to close the gap in both the NL West and Wild Card races.
It’s Getting Drafty: KD trade talk isn’t the only thing dominating headlines, as the NBA Draft is right around the corner! Make sure to check out the NBA Diehard Draft Guide — Led by ALLCITY draft analysts Derek Bodner of PHLY and Will Gottlieb of CHGO, this guide is your one-stop-shop as teams across the league gear up to reshape their rosters!
Note the Diehard draft guide is best viewed on desktop or tablet!
Tip Of The Hat By Branded Bills
Insider information from Marc Stein 👀
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