<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-how-heat-feel-jimmy-butler-bradley-beal-trade-swap');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: How Heat feel about a Jimmy Butler-Bradley Beal trade swap');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/How-Heat-feel-about-a-Jimmy-Butler-Bradley-Beal-trade-swap.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: How Heat feel about a Jimmy Butler-Bradley Beal trade swap</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T07:45:20-08:00">December 23rd, 7:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T07:48:49-08:00">December 23rd, 7:48am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Miami Heat star forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jimmy-butler-trade-grades-for-espn-hypothetical-suns-heat-76ers-deal#:~:text=Suns%20trade%20grade%3A%20A&amp;text=This%20season%2C%20Butler%20is%20averaging,exit%20against%20the%20Minnesota%20Timberwolves.https://clutchpoints.com/jimmy-butler-trade-grades-for-espn-hypothetical-suns-heat-76ers-deal#:~:text=Suns%20trade%20grade%3A%20A&amp;text=This%20season%2C%20Butler%20is%20averaging,exit%20against%20the%20Minnesota%20Timberwolves.">Jimmy Butler has been at the center of trade discussions</a>, most notably with the Phoenix Suns and Bradley Beal. Although the deal would have some Suns fans rejoicing, a transaction wouldn’t be as simple as it seems. For starters, Beal has a no-trade clause. Meaning that he has the final say in where he wants to go. Even if the Suns and Heat have the perfect trade arranged, if Beal says no, then it can’t go through.</p><p>However, there’s more to the puzzle than simply Beal saying no. The contracts are interesting as well. NBA national reporter Marc Stein <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-all-my-latest-nba-trade?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=153497921&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">made an intriguing point</a> that “Beal is a $50 million player this season, has two seasons left on his contract worth $110 million, and has missed 36% of his games as a Sun across a season-and-change in the desert.</p><p>“Phoenix, furthermore, cannot aggregate contracts in any trade, holds no control over its first-round draft pick for the next six years, and has only one future first-round pick (2031) and three second-rounders to package with Beal in a Butler trade offer.”</p><p>After previously giving up four first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets and two to the Washington Wizards, the franchise won’t have their draft pick for quite some time. Although they want to win an NBA championship right now, having assets for the future is important, too.</p><h2><b>The Heat and Suns would need other teams to make a Jimmy Butler and Bradley Beal trade happen</b></h2><p>A typical trade machine could have a straight-up deal occur. With a no-trade clause, salary constraints, and an expiring deal in the mix, many factors have to go both team’s ways. To make salaries work and to prevent taxing complications, the two teams would need a third or fourth team to facilitate.</p><p>Regardless of the speculation, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-bradley-beal-keeps-it-real-jimmy-butler-trade-rumors">Beal kept it real about a possible Butler trade.</a> It’s part of the business, and Beal explained in that article that it’s happened his entire career. While Phoenix has been a primary team engaged in a trade talk with the stars, many factors will have to go their way to secure a deal.</p><p>On the flip side, the Heat won’t likely want Beal on their roster. After all, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/bradley-beal-admits-that-heat-not-suns-were-his-initial-favorite-in-trade-talks/" rel="noopener">he wanted to go there before Phoenix</a>, and they didn’t make an effort to pursue him. It could leave a feeling of bitterness if the Suns guard ends up in Miami. Still, many factors need to play out to make the second blockbuster trade under Mat Ishbia’s ownership group happen.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: How Heat feel about a Jimmy Butler-Bradley Beal trade swap

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-bradley-beal-keeps-it-real-jimmy-butler-trade-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Bradley Beal keeps it real on Jimmy Butler trade rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Suns-news-Bradley-Beal-keeps-it-real-on-Phoenix-Jimmy-Butler-trade-rumors.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Bradley Beal keeps it real on Jimmy Butler trade rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T13:32:24-08:00">December 20th, 1:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T13:32:24-08:00">December 20th, 1:32pm</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/latest-jimmy-butler-zach-lavine-nba-trade-rumors-siegels-scoop">Jimmy Butler trade rumors</a> continue to circulate about the Phoenix Suns and Bradley Beal. The Suns guard explained via Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports after Friday’s practice that <a href="https://x.com/GeraldBourguet/status/1870207447765278985" rel="noopener">he’s not worried</a> about any potential trade.</p><p>“The same thing until one of them comes and says something to me and talks to me. It’s just out there. I’m a Phoenix Sun, and I’m here, and I’m in a uniform, but I don’t pay attention to that, man. They did that with me for 10 years”</p><p>Beal was involved in trade discussions throughout his time with the Washington Wizards. To him, this is simply white noise. However, a Butler trade could happen. There would be salaries to work out, and the Suns are <a href="https://arizonasports.com/story/3559754/suns-second-apron-towns-trade/" rel="noopener">currently in the second tax apron</a>. Meaning that they would have to pay out of pocket for more contracts going over the NBA salary cap.</p><p>Suns owner Mat Ishbia has made it clear that he’s not worried about spending money to win. Despite that, though, the Suns traded for Bradley Beal before the 2023-24 season and started a Big 3. It hasn’t worked out in their favor, as they were swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fast forward to this season, and the trio hasn’t been healthy.</p><h2><b>Could the Suns trade Bradley Beal for Jimmy Butler?</b></h2><p>There’s an interesting component of any realistic trade involving Beal and Butler. The Phoenix guard has a no-trade clause, meaning he can veto a trade if one is presented. Also, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-bradley-beal-reveals-why-desired-miami-trade-never-happened">Beal originally wanted to go to the Miami Heat</a>, but they didn’t want to trade for him. Now, the roles could be reversed. The Heat could want Beal, but he may not want to go.</p><p>Furthermore, the salaries would have to match. The two teams couldn’t do a trade straight up, so some help is necessary. A third and possibly fourth team is likely to make a trade work. Still, incorporating more teams could make matters worse for both teams. Regardless, Beal will look to keep the main thing, the main thing.</p><p>With Devin Booker’s injury, Phoenix is limited in its star power. After all, Kevin Durant and Beal have both missed significant time this season. While it can be an opportunity for Beal to up his trade stock, that’s not the main objective. It’s about producing wins and building a good rhythm with one of the top options out. Even with the news circling Beal, he’ll have to keep focusing on basketball and establish camaraderie with his teammates through the injury troubles surrounding the team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Bradley Beal keeps it real on Jimmy Butler trade rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-jimmy-butler-trade-does-not-interest-suns');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Jimmy Butler trade does not interest Suns');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1079.jpeg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Jimmy Butler trade does not interest Suns</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-11T17:45:27-08:00">December 11th, 5:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-11T17:45:27-08:00">December 11th, 5:45pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With NBA trade season approaching, one name that could be<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-breaks-silence-on-latest-trade-reports"> available via trade is Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler</a>. While ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-suns-potential-jimmy-butler-trade-destinations">Butler is a prime trade candidate</a> with a list of preferred destinations, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-agent-calls-out-shams-charania-amid-trade-rumors">Butler’s agent refuted those reports</a>. One of the teams mentioned as a Jimmy Butler trade destination was the Phoenix Suns.</p><p>However, that might be pure conjecture as well. The Suns are <a href="https://x.com/GeraldBourguet/status/1866998371312861192" rel="noopener">reportedly not interested</a> in pursuing a Butler trade, as per Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports.</p><p>Bourguet reports that the Suns are content with their current roster when healthy. Before an ankle injury to Kevin Durant, the Suns were 11-2 and one of the top teams in the Western Conference standings. Since then, they’ve gone 1-10 and are hovering slightly above .500 at 12-11.</p><p>There are also concerns and potential restrictions surrounding the dreaded second apron that might prevent a trade between the Heat and Suns getting completed.</p><p>The Heat are currently 12-10 and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Now in his 14th season in the NBA, Butler is still playing at an All-Star level and would be an asset to any team, including if he remains with the Heat.</p><p>He’s appeared in 18 games for the Heat this season at a little over 32 minutes per game. He’s been averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals with splits of 55.7 percent shooting from the field, 36 percent shooting from the three-point line and 78.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>This could potentially be Butler’s last season with the Heat. He has a player option for next season that he could decline and hit unrestricted free agency in the offseason. The six-time All-Star has spent six seasons with the Heat after arriving in 2019 via a sign-and-trade deal including Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers.</p><p>Butler’s current tenure with the Heat includes two NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Jimmy Butler trade does not interest Suns

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-suns-potential-jimmy-butler-trade-destinations');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Suns join list of potential Jimmy Butler trade destinations');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Suns-join-list-of-potential-Jimmy-Butler-trade-destinations.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Suns join list of potential Jimmy Butler trade destinations</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-11T15:58:00-08:00">December 11th, 3:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-11T16:25:37-08:00">December 11th, 4:25pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the NBA season heats up, so are various trade rumors around some of the league’s biggest stars. Miami Heat forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-jimmy-butlers-preferred-trade-destinations-with-heat-open-to-offers">Jimmy Butler has been at the top of that list</a>, with numerous teams linked to the two-way veteran star over the last few weeks. On Wednesday, the Phoenix Suns entered the race.</p><p>The Suns are another team that Butler would be <a href="https://x.com/shamscharania/status/1866990392870310018?s=46" rel="noopener">open to playing for</a> if a trade were to go down at some point this season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.</p><p>“The Phoenix Suns are another team that Jimmy Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that the six-time All-Star is open to as a destination while Miami listens to trade offers, sources tell ESPN, joining Dallas, Houston and Golden State,” Charania reported on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Assuming the Suns are unwilling to give up wither Devin Booker or Kevin Durant in any potential trade, a Butler deal would have to include Bradley Beal, who would likely go to a third team. Promising rookie Ryan Dunn is also a valuable trade chip that the Suns could add into the deal and would give the Heat a young piece that can make an impact on both ends.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-breaks-silence-on-latest-trade-reports">Butler’s numbers are down this season</a> relative to what he is usually able to produce. He is averaging just 19 points per game to go with 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in just over 32 minutes a night. he has also missed five games this season for the 12-10 Heat.</p><p>Butler’s scoring is down, but it has nothing to do with his efficiency. He is taking just 11.3 shots per game and still shooting almost 56% from the floor, so he’s filling it up when his number is called. Instead, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-tyler-herro-drops-worthy-all-star-admission">Heat have relied more on the emerging Tyler Herro</a>, who leads the team with 24.2 points per game, to do a lot of the heavy lifting on the offensive end.</p><p>Combine that efficiency and clear willingness to take a back seat to other talented scorers, and you can see why the Suns would be interested in adding Butler to the roster alongside Booker and Durant. He is also still able to get it done on the defensive end the he’s fully engaged and could turn the Suns into a true title contender.</p><p>It should be noted that Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-agent-calls-out-shams-charania-amid-trade-rumors">vehemently denied Charania’s report</a> on social media shortly after the news came out.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Suns join list of potential Jimmy Butler trade destinations

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-injury-return-target-date');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Kevin Durant’s injury return gets target date');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kevin-Durants-injury-return-gets-target-date.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Kevin Durant’s injury return gets target date</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-10T07:33:10-08:00">December 10th, 7:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-10T07:33:10-08:00">December 10th, 7:33am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-kevin-durant-miss-time-ankle-injury-recently-returning">Kevin Durant sustained an ankle injury</a> that’s sidelined him for over a week, the Phoenix Suns forward has a potential return date. Durant could either <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/42878390/shams-charania-nba-pass-trade-intel-jimmy-butler-brandon-ingram-golden-state-warriors" rel="noopener">return for Friday’s action</a> against the Utah Jazz, or the Suns’ home matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.<br><br>Phoenix will need its third star back as quickly as possible. With him in the lineup, they post a dominant 11-2 record. However, without Durant in the lineup, their record does a near 180. The Suns are 1-9 in those games without him. Not to mention, both sides of the ball are naturally better.<br><br>For instance, KD’s presence gives Phoenix the 11th-best offense and 11th-best defense in the league. While head coach Mike Budenholzer isn’t known for his defensive philosophy, that side has been night and day with Durant on the floor. Let’s rewind to what life looks like without Durant on both sides of the ball.<br><br>During the nine losses, Phoenix has been a shell of itself. They have a -8.6-point differential in those games, along with a horrific defensive metric. The Suns currently have a 123.3 defensive rating, which would be the worst in league history for a full season.</p><h2><b>Suns will be grateful for Kevin Durant to return from injury soon</b></h2><p>The <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/suns/analysis/grading-phoenix-suns-role-players" rel="noopener">role players have stepped up</a> in a nice way, compared to the two members of the Big 3, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. Guys like Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, and Tyus Jones have increased their scoring numbers and efficiency. In a situation like this, it’s normally an issue of role players needing to rise to the occasion. However, it’s Beal and Booker who haven’t done so.<br><br>This all ties back into the flow of the Suns offense. Much of it is predicated on off-ball movement, and pick-and-rolls, both areas that Durant excels in. He’s averaging nearly 26 points per game and shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three. He’s been the consistent member of the Suns Big 3 so far this season. However, it’s unrealistic to rely on solely him for the entire season.</p><p>Durant is averaging 35.7 minutes per game this season. Although he’s been efficient and productive, there’s a lot of the season left. Phoenix has poised itself as a playoff team and one that wants to contend for a championship. In order to do that, they’ll have to rely on KD less and less. As <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-kevin-durant-very-positive-ankle-injury-update">Durant received a very positive injury update</a> on Sunday, the Suns will hope for their leading scorer to come back sooner rather than later.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Kevin Durant’s injury return gets target date

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-rockets-kevin-durant-trade-interest-overstated');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Rockets’ Kevin Durant trade interest ‘overstated’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/0Rockets-Kevin-Durant-trade-interest-overstated0.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Rockets’ Kevin Durant trade interest ‘overstated’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-24T11:35:38-08:00">November 24th, 11:35am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-24T11:35:38-08:00">November 24th, 11:35am</time><address><a>Matt De Lima</a>Matt De Lima is an Associate Editor for NFL and college football at ClutchPoints. He has been covering sports for over 12 years at sites like Sports Illustrated, The Game Day, and countless others. Born and raised in California, he is a graduate of Virginia Tech and a diehard Hokies fan who now resides in southern Maryland.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite the many <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-blockbuster-trade-proposal-lands-suns-star-kevin-durant">NBA trade rumors to the contrary</a>, the Houston Rockets just aren’t that into Kevin Durant. Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia discussed in an ESPN interview that he expects Durant to sign a contract extension with the team this offseason. Over the summer, it was reported that the Rockets <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-all-my-latest-from-the-c5f" rel="noopener">were determined</a> to trade for Durant; however, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, Houston’s interest in Durant has been “overstated.”</p><p>“A) The Rockets’ interest in Durant has been overstated from the jump.</p><p>B) Houston is determined to prioritize internal development this season with its youthful roster off to a 12-6 start and has been miscast by rival front offices as a team looking to make a splashy move before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.</p><p>C) The Rockets, most importantly, intend to prioritize timeline considerations as much as talent and fit when they do make their next major trade, according to league sources. This is a roster, remember, that — beyond veterans Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams — features seven first-round picks who are 23 or younger and who were selected between No. 2 (Jalen Green) and No. 20 (Cam Whitmore) overall.”</p><p>Stein also recently reported the Rockets <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-all-my-latest-from-the-ef3" rel="noopener">are considered</a> “a potential down-the-road trade suitor for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.”</p><h2><b>Breaking down the Rockets’ hot 12-6 start</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Suns-Kevin-Durant-courtside.jpg"><figcaption>Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>A couple of months ago, Houston was considered a young, big potential but middling, and perhaps below-average team that would need to grow into the 2024-25 season. That may still be the case, but for now, the Rockets are surprising and overperforming to begin the year.</p><p>Head coach Ime Udoka deserves a ton of credit for getting the most out of the Rockets’ young talent, as highlighted by Brett Siegel in his latest edition of ClutchPoints’ <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-power-rankings-24-25-week-4-rockets-warriors-turn-back-clocks">NBA Power Rankings</a>.</p><p>“Even with a lot of basketball yet to be played, it is clear that Ime Udoka deserves to be the frontrunner for Coach of the Year. We saw glimpses of the Rockets’ full potential last season when they made a late push for the play-in tournament, but now they are cementing themselves as one of the best teams in the NBA power rankings from the Western Conference.</p><p>“While they may not have that marquee win against one of the better teams in the league, the Rockets are handling business with their tough defensive approach. Houston is currently the best when it comes to limiting their opponents’ assists, and this team also ranks second in opposing teams’ field goal percentage. Between their length and athleticism, the Rockets have the tools to be a similar defensive team as the Orlando Magic from a season ago. There is no doubt that this is the most improved team in the NBA right now, hence their rise in the power rankings.”</p><p>After a couple of days off, the Rockets travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves on Tuesday, November 26, at 8:00 p.m. EST.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Rockets’ Kevin Durant trade interest ‘overstated’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/wnba-rumors-kevin-durant-pursuing-expansion-team');   ga('set', 'title', 'WNBA rumors: Kevin Durant pursuing expansion team');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kevin-Durant-pursuing-expansion-team.jpg"></figure><h1>WNBA rumors: Kevin Durant pursuing expansion team</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-12T07:31:12-08:00">November 12th, 7:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-12T11:22:58-08:00">November 12th, 11:22am</time><address><a href="http://erinachenbach.com">Erin Achenbach</a>Erin Achenbach is the Lead Women’s Sports Editor at ClutchPoints, championing women’s sports coverage and media representation. Originally from Dallas, she graduated from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism in 2017. Now residing in St. Louis, the lifelong Texas Rangers fan has spent the past five years covering community news, and avoiding any Cardinals fans who remind her about Game 6 of the 2011 World Series.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Kevin Durant may soon j<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/wnba-news-patrick-mahomes-kc-current-wnba-expansion-kansas-city">oin the ranks of NBA players and other sports stars backing WNBA expansion</a> franchises, as he’s rumored to be exploring an opportunity with a prospective ownership group aiming to establish a WNBA team in Austin, Texas. Durant is <a href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/11/12/kevin-durant-austin-wnba-expansion-team" rel="noopener">part of a group</a>, represented by former WNBA champion Fran Harris, that seeks to bring a WNBA expansion team to the Texas capital, according to Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal.</p><p>Under the current NBA collective bargaining agreement, active players can own up to 4% of an independent WNBA team. This stipulation has opened the door for Durant, who played college basketball at the University of Texas, to join Austin’s bid. Harris, leading the fundraising for the potential Austin franchise, has not disclosed who will take on the lead investment role. She declined to confirm or deny Durant’s involvement, stating only that her team is “putting together some strategic people in Austin.”</p><p>If successful, Durant’s potential investment would make him one of the first NBA stars to take advantage of the league’s collective bargaining policy on WNBA ownership. This development aligns with other recent NBA player interest in WNBA expansion. Just two weeks ago, Boston Celtics’ <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-jayson-tatums-pivotal-role-in-potential-st-louis-wnba-expansion">Jayson Tatum was linked to a group aiming to establish a WNBA team in St. Louis</a>, his hometown.</p><h2><b>Other star athletes show interest in WNBA expansion alongside Kevin Durant</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kansas-City-Chiefs-quarterback-Patrick-Mahomes-and-wife.jpg"><figcaption>© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Austin is among the top candidates vying for the WNBA’s 16th franchise, with Nashville, Tennessee, and Philadelphia also in contention. A decision on the expansion location is expected by early 2025, with the franchise slated to start play in the 2027 or 2028 season. NBA owners from cities like Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston, Denver and Milwaukee are reportedly considering bids.</p><p>Durant’s potential role would align with his previous investment interests. He’s currently a minority owner in two soccer clubs, NWSL’s NJ/NY Gotham FC and MLS’s Philadelphia Union. His i<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-bring-wnba-back-to-cleveland">nvolvement in a WNBA team would join a growing list</a> of high-profile NBA players exploring ownership, as Donovan Mitchell and Stephen Curry have both hinted at potential WNBA franchise bids.</p><p>Allen &amp; Company, handling the league’s expansion process, estimates that the 16th franchise could command a price of $200 million or higher. If Durant contributes 4% to the project, his investment would be around $8 million.</p><p>Alongside Austin, Nashville and St. Louis, other potential expansion cities include Jacksonville, Florida, and Kansas City, Missouri. The latter has reportedly shown interest, including from Kansas City Chief’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, who have ownership in the Kansas City NWSL team, the KC Current. However, sources suggest the $200 million entry cost may be prohibitive. Meanwhile, Portland, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/wnba-news-league-changes-course-on-portland-expansion-plans">most recent addition to the WNBA</a>, paid $125 million for its franchise.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

WNBA rumors: Kevin Durant pursuing expansion team

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-kevin-durant-fuels-rumors-contract-extension-nba-future');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kevin Durant fuels rumors about NBA future with honest contract extension take');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kevin-Durants-honest-take-on-extension-will-fuel-rumors-about-NBA-future.jpg"></figure><h1>Kevin Durant fuels rumors about NBA future with honest contract extension take</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-17T18:53:43-07:00">October 17th, 6:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-17T18:57:02-07:00">October 17th, 6:57pm</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant have another storyline entering this season: A possible contract extension. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-prepared-to-wait-in-order-to-sign-123-8-million-contract">Durant stated that he’s willing to wait for a $123.8 million extension</a>. While the rumor train has just taken off, Durant isn’t putting his <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2024/10/17/phoenix-suns-star-kevin-durant-has-contract-extension-options/75718392007/" rel="noopener">extension on the forefront of his mind</a>.<br><br>“I’m not even thinking about it,” Durant said via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin on Thursday. “I’m just going to play out my contract really, and just focus on that. Focus on the team. I haven’t even really had conversations with anybody about a contract. Trying to focus on basketball.”<br><br>Durant can agree on a <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/41819382/nba-contract-extensions-know-ahead-monday-deadline" rel="noopener">$59.5 million deal for the 2026-27 season</a> or wait until next summer to sign a two-year extension for $123.8 million. Since July 12, Durant has been eligible for that one-year extension and has until Monday to sign it. If that’s the case, he’ll receive an extra $64.3 million if he goes with the two-year extension. <br><br>The Suns are notorious for spending big, thanks to their owner Mat Ishbia. They are the first $400 million team, which includes salaries and the luxury tax that comes with crossing the $140.6 million threshold. Ishbia has made it clear he’s willing to spend big to win big. After all, Devin Booker will be paid $57 million in that 2026-27 season. Bradley Beal has a player option that is worth $57.1 million, along with him having a no-trade clause. </p><h2><b>Kevin Durant won’t be worried about his possible contract extension</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kevin-Durants-take-on-possible-contract-extension.jpg"><figcaption>© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Durant averaged <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duranke01.html" rel="noopener">27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks</a> in 2023-24. He is set to make $49.9 million this season. Regardless of his contract situation, the Slim Reaper feels a heart of gratitude for even being in this position.</p><p>“I’ve been blessed enough to be in this position for 18 years and so I’m not focused on the money part of it,” Durant said. “I’m just trying to keep getting better and keep growing my game and see how good I can get. That’s always been my main focus. When the time comes, the time comes. Right now, I got two seasons left on my deal so I’m going to focus on those two.”</p><p>The outcome of this season is a big focal point for not only Durant but the entire organization. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-most-to-blame-for-embarrassing-playoff-sweep-at-hands-of-timberwolves">Suns were swept</a> by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. This was also the first year of the Big 3 experiment with Booker, Beal, and Durant. </p><p>If the Suns advance deep into the playoffs and win the franchise’s first NBA championship, then talks might accelerate. For now, Durant is solely focused on winning meaningful games.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kevin Durant fuels rumors about NBA future with honest contract extension take

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-mat-ishbias-big-3-truth-bomb-again-blows-trade-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mat Ishbia’s Big 3 truth bomb again blows up Suns trade rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mat-Ishbias-Big-3-truth-bomb-again-blows-up-trade-rumors.jpg"></figure><h1>Mat Ishbia’s Big 3 truth bomb again blows up Suns trade rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-07-18T10:53:50-07:00">July 18th, 10:53am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-07-18T10:53:51-07:00">July 18th, 10:53am</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University senior from Atlanta on track to graduate with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns might be in the most unenviable position in the entire NBA heading into the 2024-25 season, as the team is nowhere close to championship contention and has absolutely zero prospects for its future. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-bargain-bin-free-agent-target-round-out-roster">The Durant-Devin Booker</a>-Bradley Beal experiment was an utter failure a season ago, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/2024-nba-cup-west-group-b-breakdown-predictions">and the Suns</a> will be forced to run it back with that same group this year due to the contract situations of its three star players.</p><p>Following Phoenix’s sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of last year’s playoffs, <a href="https://x.com/DuaneRankin/status/1813738833533628475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1813738833533628475%7Ctwgr%5Ed803f114a0c9f0d6e9f709d9012b3210c0fd7cdc%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fhoopshype.com%2Frumors%2F" rel="noopener">many fans thought</a> that Suns owner Mat Ishbia and company might opt to take drastic measures, including potentially trading Durant himself, for whom there would understandably be many suitors around the league.</p><p>However, Ishbia has maintained his stance that the team he has built is compatible to compete for championships, and he echoed that sentiment in a recent appearance on the NBA Summer League broadcast.</p><p>“We didn’t put our team together for a one year try. We put our team together because we love those three guys,” said Ishbia, via Duane Rankin of AZ Central on X, the social media platform formerly referred to as Twitter.</p><p>“…1st year, we didn’t to where we wanted to be. 2nd year, we’re going to see,” said Ishbia.</p><p>The Suns’ Summer League team of course isn’t filled with many prospects for fans to be excited about due to the treasure trove of draft picks the team was forced to give up when they acquired Durant a year ago at the 2023 NBA trade deadline</p><h2><b>Can the Suns compete for a championship?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Durant-Booker-Beal-1.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>It would not appear so.</p><p>While there is no denying the individual talents of Durant, Booker, and Beal (actually, there probably can be some denying of the individual talents of Beal at this stage of his career), the three of them have so much overlap in their respective games that they at times seem to cancel out each other’s strengths and not cover for each other’s weaknesses.</p><p>The biggest issue is that the gigantic contracts of each of the three stars have made it so that the Suns have some of the worst depth in the league, relying last year on players like Eric Gordon, Josh Okogie and Royce O’Neal to make plays when they simply aren’t able to.</p><p>Phoenix hasn’t had many available routes to fix that issue heading into next season, where they are going to be very far down the list of championship favorites when things get underway. It’s also important to consider that Durant will be 36 by the time opening night for 2024-25 rolls around, meaning that a decline in production could be on the horizon, if it’s not here already.</p><p>Making matters even worse is the fact that several teams around the Suns in the Western Conference have gotten substantially better this offseason, including the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans, and obviously there were already several teams ahead of them to begin with.</p><p>In any case, the 2024-25 season gets underway in October.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mat Ishbia’s Big 3 truth bomb again blows up Suns trade rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-kevin-durants-true-feelings-on-phoenix-after-recent-trade-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns news: Kevin Durant’s true feelings on Phoenix after recent trade rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Suns-news-Kevin-Durants-true-feelings-on-Phoenix-after-recent-trade-rumors.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns news: Kevin Durant’s true feelings on Phoenix after recent trade rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-07-13T14:56:30-07:00">July 13th, 2:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-07-13T14:56:30-07:00">July 13th, 2:56pm</time><address><a>Nayan Brahmbhatt</a>Nayan Brahmbhatt is a recent graduate from Queen's University's Smith School of Business living in Toronto, Ontario. He is passionate about and has been involved in sports since a young age, and continues to reminisce about the (brief) time Kawhi spent in Toronto. Although he can talk shop about the Raptors and Ravens all day, what's really always on his mind is having finished his undergrad without having won a single fantasy or intramural league.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In the ever-volatile world of NBA trade rumors, Kevin Durant, one of the league’s premier players, finds himself in the spotlight once again. However, despite the swirling speculation, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-kevin-durant-breaks-silence-trade-rumors-calling-out-lies">Durant has made it clear</a> that he is content with his current situation in Phoenix.</p><p>In a <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1812237084423311805">candid interview</a> on the “Up &amp; Adams Show” with Kay Adams, Durant expressed his true feelings about playing for the Suns, shedding light on his mindset amidst the rumors.</p><p>Trade rumors are a perennial aspect of professional basketball, often fueled by speculation from analysts, insiders, and fans. Kevin Durant, due to his high-profile status and previous history, is no stranger to such speculation. Since his move to the Phoenix <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-kevin-durant-trade-rumors-shut-dopwn-mat-ishbia-nba-draft">Suns, rumors have periodically</a> surfaced regarding potential trades and his future with the team.</p><p>These rumors reached a new peak recently, prompting Durant to address his situation directly. When asked by Kay Adams if he was happy in Phoenix, Durant’s response was both introspective and reassuring.</p><p>“Yeah, I’m happy to be alive… Basketball is the easy part. You can figure that out… I feel comfortable in Phoenix now,” Durant said. His answer, while acknowledging his contentment with the Suns, also reflected a broader perspective on life and basketball.</p><p>Durant’s statement about being happy to be alive suggests a deep sense of gratitude and awareness beyond the game. This perspective is not uncommon among seasoned athletes who have faced the ups and downs of professional sports and life. For Durant, a player who has dealt with significant injuries and the pressures of maintaining an elite level of performance, this outlook is particularly poignant.</p><p>Durant’s comment about feeling comfortable in Phoenix is significant. Since joining the Suns, Durant has had to adapt to a new team dynamic, coaching staff, and city. Transitioning to a new team can be challenging for any player, but Durant’s seamless integration into the Suns’ system speaks to his adaptability and the welcoming environment fostered by the organization.</p><p>Phoenix, with its passionate fan base and supportive community, has provided Durant with a conducive environment to continue excelling in his career. His comfort level with the team and the city is a positive sign for Suns fans, who are eager to see their team make a deep playoff run with Durant as a central figure.</p><h2>The basketball part: Kevin Durant is figuring it out</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Durant-Booker-Beal.jpg"><figcaption>© Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Durant’s assertion that “basketball is the easy part” underscores his confidence in his abilities and his approach to the game. As one of the most skilled and versatile players in NBA history, Durant’s talent is undeniable. His ability to perform at a high level consistently is a testament to his dedication and work ethic.</p><p>By stating that basketball can be figured out, Durant emphasizes the importance of the mental and emotional aspects of the game. Physical skills and tactics are essential, but a player’s mindset and comfort level with their surroundings can significantly impact their performance. Durant’s comfort in Phoenix suggests that he is in a good place mentally, which bodes well for his on-court contributions.</p><p>For the Suns, maintaining stability and continuity is crucial in certain areas whereas significant change is required in others. Trade rumors, while part of the NBA landscape, can be distracting and unsettling for both players and fans. Durant’s clear message about his contentment in Phoenix helps to quell some of the uncertainty and provides reassurance about his commitment to the team.</p><p>Kevin Durant’s true feelings about Phoenix, as revealed in his interview with Kay Adams, offer a balanced perspective on his current situation. While acknowledging the challenges and uncertainties of professional basketball, Durant’s emphasis on gratitude and comfort highlights his maturity and focus.</p><p>For Suns fans, Durant’s contentment and confidence are encouraging signs. As the team looks ahead to the rest of the season and beyond, having a player of Durant’s caliber who is both happy and comfortable in his environment is invaluable. His perspective that “basketball is the easy part” serves as a reminder that success in sports is as much about mental and emotional well-being as it is about physical skills.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns news: Kevin Durant’s true feelings on Phoenix after recent trade rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-kevin-durant-breaks-silence-trade-rumors-calling-out-lies');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Kevin Durant breaks silence on trade rumors by calling out ‘lies’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Suns-news-Kevin-Durant-breaks-silence-on-trade-rumors-by-calling-out-lies-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Kevin Durant breaks silence on trade rumors by calling out ‘lies’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-07-07T08:59:36-07:00">July 7th, 8:59am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-07-07T08:59:36-07:00">July 7th, 8:59am</time><address><a>Owen Crisafulli</a>Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management and for a while ran his own sports website. Sports are his passion, and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions that are related to the game. He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns first season with their new big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal did not go as planned, as they were swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. As a result, questions about the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-kevin-durant-trade-rumors-shut-dopwn-mat-ishbia-nba-draft">future of the team</a> quickly began to pop up, and once again, Durant saw his name included in trade rumors.</p><p>The Houston Rockets were reportedly looking to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-rockets-mikal-bridges">make a push</a> to trade for Durant, but the Suns never seriously engaged in discussions with them from the sounds of it. Still, Durant is the guy who has to deal with his name popping up in these rumors, and it sounds like he isn’t too happy with them, as he called out the media for <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/kevin-durant-discusses-the-trade-rumors-about-him-and-his-desire-to-play-till-the-wheels-fall-off-043602667.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9ob29wc2h5cGUuY29tLw&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANBAMx2DiuStbmSVFGI-NeNdNevSPes3t2ItL8DIsqpXJA4mSZNrKJus9-6dWQaQPycVTEHN0ePXehsG2Xa03rhGoMBDElCCF5p78Ecwo7Gyz0uSCq5q2gOErktFWSTciTa-HszQoy8y7O9rxDzJlrWORyEbJxTpy3F4OfYTB9st" rel="noopener">creating lies</a> just to keep fans interested in the league over the offseason.</p><p>“You could just press the ‘KD want to leave’ button anytime you want some attention. Yes, it’s a button. What else is gonna get people going around this time? Besides, ‘Oh, the journeyman is leaving again.’ That story is always gonna hit. It’s hard not to hear what they got to say about you. Because especially when you could just make up lies and everybody gonna believe you. So for somebody to say, ‘Phoenix wants to get out of the KD (business),’ I’m sitting here like, where is this coming from?”</p><p>“It bothers me that people lie like that and that the audience eats up the headline. I get sad when people buy into lies and just make up s***. It’s bigger than ball at that point for me. I can’t control that. I feel for people. It’s a bad practice to have when you just believe anything, for one. Just believe what you see on TV. And then it’s another bad habit when you’re just lying.” – Kevin Durant, Yahoo! Sports</p><h2><b>Kevin Durant shoots down recent trade rumors</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kevin-Durant-dunking.jpeg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Suns only traded for Durant midway through the 2022-23 campaign, so it would have been fairly surprising if they were to turn around after one disappointing campaign and immediately move on from him. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Rockets weren’t interested in him, but it never seemed likely that Phoenix was going to give up on this team this quickly.</p><p>The good news is that the Suns roster is still incredibly talented. Durant, Booker, and Beal are all All-Stars; they just need time to figure things out when it comes to succeeding on the court together. Durant makes it clear that he has no desire to leave Phoenix after just a season-and-a-half, which should put these rumors to rest for good.</p><p>Durant is going to be focused on winning with Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics for the time being, but once that is over, he will focus on taking the Suns to another level next season. He won’t be getting traded anytime soon, and as KD notes here, if there are any more trade rumors swirling around him moving forward, they aren’t his doing.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Kevin Durant breaks silence on trade rumors by calling out ‘lies’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-bronny-james-still-getting-suns-buzz-draft-day');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Bronny James still getting Suns buzz on draft day');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Bronny-James-still-getting-Suns-buzz-on-draft-day.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Bronny James still getting Suns buzz on draft day</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-26T14:46:30-07:00">June 26th, 2:46pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-26T14:46:30-07:00">June 26th, 2:46pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Bronny James may just be the most talked-about draft prospect ever who isn’t projected to go in the first round of the NBA Draft. A lot of this has to do with the fact that he is LeBron James’ son, as heavy expectations fall on the 19-year-old, seeing as his father is the league’s all-time leading scorer. Another reason for the league being polarized by Bronny is the fact that he is a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bronny-james-ignoring-team-workout-requests-heading-into-nba-draft">major unknown</a> with a ton of untapped potential. This is why many teams, including the Phoenix Suns, continue to view Bronny as a legitimate option in the 2024 NBA Draft.</p><p>Outside of the Los Angeles Lakers, it has been hard to pinpoint a team as a definitive destination for James heading into the NBA Draft. This is simply because the belief around the league is that Rich Paul ultimately wants Bronny to end up in Los Angeles next to his father, regardless of what has been said.</p><p>Still, Paul is making sure there is a market for his client, and he even went so far as to name the Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/new-teams-join-bronny-james-pursuit-2024-nba-draft">other teams who could pursue Bronny</a> in the draft. As for the Suns, they have been linked to Bronny for quite some time throughout the pre-draft process. Now, with just hours until the start of the 2024 NBA Draft, the Suns are once again coming up in connection with the young guard.</p><p>Although he is expected to come off the board in the second round of the draft on Thursday, NBA insider Marc Stein reports that the Suns continue to be mentioned as a <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/all-my-latest-nba-trade-free-agency?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=146016898&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">team with interest</a> in drafting Bronny.</p><p>Entering the first round of the draft on Wednesday night, the Suns currently own the 22nd overall pick in the draft. While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/2024-nba-mock-draft-5-0-will-hawks-trade-first-pick">Phoenix has been linked</a> to prospects such as Marquette’s Tyler Kolek and Virginia’s Ryan Dunn, this could be a spot that the Suns look to trade down and gather some future assets, specifically second-round picks.</p><p>If they do end up with more draft picks and trade back from No. 22 overall, it does appear as if the Suns will give a lot of consideration to Bronny in the second round of this year’s draft. After all, this is a weaker draft than usual, and the second round will reflect this notion on Thursday. Bronny will begin the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft as one of the better players available in terms of potential.</p><p>Despite the Suns’ rumored interest in James, the wide belief around the league remains that he <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-why-lakers-drafting-bronny-james-seems-inevitable">will be on the board</a> when the Lakers are on the clock with the 55th overall pick. Bronny won’t be signing a two-way contract with any team, according to Paul, which is why minimal interest exists.</p><p>Whether or not the Suns will look to jump in front of the Lakers in the second round to pursue Bronny is yet to be seen.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Bronny James still getting Suns buzz on draft day

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-kevin-durant-trade-rumors-shut-dopwn-mat-ishbia-nba-draft');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kevin Durant trade rumors firmly shut down by Suns’ Mat Ishbia before NBA Draft');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kevin-Durant-trade-rumors-shut-down-by-Mat-Ishbia-ahead-of-NBA-Draft.jpg"></figure><h1>Kevin Durant trade rumors firmly shut down by Suns’ Mat Ishbia before NBA Draft</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-26T13:38:20-07:00">June 26th, 1:38pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-26T13:39:03-07:00">June 26th, 1:39pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As soon as the Houston Rockets acquired the Phoenix Suns’ draft picks from the Brooklyn Nets as an extension of the blockbuster <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-stunning-mikal-bridges-nets-rockets-trade">Mikal Bridges trade</a> on Tuesday night, momentum that the Rockets were going to pursue a star rapidly grew. The one name that was quickly linked to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-rockets-mikal-bridges">Rockets in trade rumors</a> was Suns superstar Kevin Durant.</p><p>There have been no indications that the Suns are willing to split up their newly formed Big 3 of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal despite being swept in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. With the 2024 NBA Draft just hours away from beginning, Suns owner Mat Ishbia took to <a href="https://x.com/Mishbia15/status/1806055201738314148" rel="noopener">social media</a> to shut down these Durant trade rumors himself, reassuring everyone that the 14-time All-Star is staying in Phoenix for the foreseeable future.</p><p>“NBA Draft night is the best. Everyone talking about the drama and storylines, some are right and some are just wrong,” Ishbia wrote. “My turn. Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we are competing for a championship this year because we have the team to do it. Gotta love draft night! Go Suns.”</p><p>Ishbia has never been afraid to voice his opinion on the state of his organization, and his social media post on Wednesday should tell everyone everything they need to know about where things stand in Phoenix.</p><p>Durant has not once said publicly that he is unhappy with the Suns, nor has he expressed a desire to play elsewhere to the Suns’ front office or Ishbia. The first year of Phoenix’s Big 3 experiment did not go well, but the entire franchise remains of the belief that Durant, Booker, and Beal present the best path to contending for a championship. After hiring Mike Budenholzer in the offseason, the Suns’ goal remains getting to the NBA Finals.</p><p>Even though he is now 35 years old and set to turn 36 during the 2024-25 season, Durant is still one of the best players in the world. In his first full season with the Suns, Durant averaged 27.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the floor and 41.3 percent from three-point range. He played in 75 total games, the most Durant has been available for since the 2018-19 season with the Golden State Warriors.</p><p>What the Rockets look to do with their abundance of draft capital, most of which originally belonged to the Suns, is yet to be seen. However, as the Suns and the rest of the league prepare for the NBA Draft on Wednesday night, Ishbia has made it clear that a trade involving Durant won’t be considered in the slightest.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kevin Durant trade rumors firmly shut down by Suns’ Mat Ishbia before NBA Draft

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-stephen-a-smith-suns-kevin-durant-experience');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Suns trade update dumps cold water on Stephen A. Smith’s Kevin Durant claim');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NBA-rumors-Stephen-A.-Smith-claims-Suns-want-out-of-Kevin-Durant-experience.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Suns trade update dumps cold water on Stephen A. Smith’s Kevin Durant claim</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-26T10:01:13-07:00">June 26th, 10:01am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-26T10:09:50-07:00">June 26th, 10:09am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-blockbuster-trade-proposal-lands-suns-star-kevin-durant">Kevin Durant received</a> quite a bit of criticism over the past several years for leaving teams. The first instance came in 2016 when Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors, with whom KD won two titles. Durant only spent three seasons with the Warriors before teaming up with Kyrie Irving (and eventually James Harden) on the Brooklyn Nets, but after fewer than four seasons in Brooklyn, Durant was traded to the Phoenix Suns. And now according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, the Suns want to trade Durant.</p><p>Durant, who is one of the most lethal scorers in NBA history, arrived in Phoenix via a trade with the Nets in February 2023. The move was new Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s first big act after buying the team, but the trade hasn’t paid off so far. Durant was injured for an extended period in 2023 and could not develop the necessary chemistry needed before the Suns were eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual NBA Champions, the Denver Nuggets.</p><p>Things didn’t go any better this season either despite Phoenix trading for Bradley Beal. The Suns, who struggled with injuries once again during the regular season, were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the postseason, calling into question if the trio of Durant, Beal, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-devin-booker-rockets-trade">Devin Booker could achieve</a> championship success together.</p><p>If the Suns believe the answer to be no, a trade involving Durant could be on the horizon. And Smith, who <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1805993976396468666" rel="noopener">clarified that he is</a> “reporting” and not giving his opinion, said the Suns want to trade Durant.</p><p>“‘Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying. They want out of Kevin Durant right now’. That’s number one,” Smith said, seemingly reading off a text message. “Number two, also, Houston doesn’t want Kevin Durant. (Rockets coach) Ime Udoka may want him, but organizationally, they know that they are not there yet, so their plans are more long-range. And they would prefer a Devin Booker, who they know it’s a slim chance they’ll get, but that would be their preference.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying. They want out of Kevin Durant right now… Houston doesn't want Kevin Durant, Ime Udoka may want him."</p><p>Stephen A. Smith 🗣️</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/FirstTake?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FirstTake</a>)<a href="https://t.co/4JAX1YJzOC">pic.twitter.com/4JAX1YJzOC</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1805993976396468666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>It <a href="https://x.com/DuaneRankin/status/1806000359263060404" rel="noopener">should be noted</a>, however, that AZCentral’s Duane Rankin said that “the Phoenix Suns aren’t looking to trade Kevin Durant and the Suns are ‘riding’ with Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Durant.”</p><p> </p><h2><b>Kevin Durant trade rumors swirling</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kevin-Durant-1.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>If the rumors or Stephen A. Smith’s report are true, then Kevin Durant would seem to be on the move sooner rather than later. Over the past few days, rumors have begun to swirl that Durant was a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-rockets-mikal-bridges">target of the Houston Rockets</a>. The rumors seemed to heat up, especially after the Rockets’ trade with Durant’s old team, the Brooklyn Nets, which involved their own 2025 and 2026 first-round draft picks Brooklyn had traded away to acquire James Harden in 2020, as well as the Suns’ 2027 first-round pick and other picks involving the Suns.</p><p>Logically, if the Suns plan to trade Durant, they would have to get some valuable draft capital back, particularly because the Suns have mortgaged nearly every draft pick they would have over the next half-decade in order to acquire Durant and Beal. If the Suns now traded Durant to Houston, the Rockets could offer Phoenix some of its own draft picks, which could be very, very valuable if the team tanks.</p><p>That being said, it is still unclear where or even if Durant will be traded. The Suns have many reasons to not ship out the aging All-Star, including upsetting Devin Booker, who spent years toiling away on one of the worst teams in the NBA. But there may be no better time to hit the proverbial reset button than right now for Phoenix.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Suns trade update dumps cold water on Stephen A. Smith’s Kevin Durant claim

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-rockets-mikal-bridges');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Kevin Durant ‘connected’ to Rockets after Mikal Bridges trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kevin-Durant-connected-to-Rockets-after-Mikal-Bridges-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Kevin Durant ‘connected’ to Rockets after Mikal Bridges trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-26T07:00:04-07:00">June 26th, 7:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-26T07:00:04-07:00">June 26th, 7:00am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from a small town in Southern California. Mistretta graduated college with a degree in broadcast journalism from Biola University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the NBA. The Phoenix Suns remain hopeful that Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal can lead the team to a championship. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/best-kevin-durant-trade-destinations-demands-suns-exit">Trade rumors have swirled</a> around the stars, however. Most recently, Durant has reportedly been connected to the Houston Rockets.</p><p>The Rockets are rumored to have interest in adding Durant. Houston displayed signs of becoming a contending team with their young core of players in 2023-24. Trading for a superstar like Durant would turn them into a serious contender.</p><p>On Tuesday, the Brooklyn Nets <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-blockbuster-mikal-bridges-trade-involving-nets-knicks-rockets">traded Mikal Bridges</a> to the New York Knicks in a deal that led to a number of picks being swapped between teams. Houston returned a Nets 2026 first round pick for a Suns 2027 first round pick. They also acquired a right to swap with a Suns 2025 first round pick. So <a href="https://x.com/ESPNRadio/status/1805925132944240786" rel="noopener">how does this impact</a> a potential Rockets’ pursuit of Durant?</p><p>“That’s what they’re setting up for (to acquire Durant),” NBA insider Brian Windhorst said on ESPN radio. “Giving up the access to the Nets draft was done with the purpose of making a deal now… They made this trade specifically to attempt to make a deal with the Suns. They did it to make a deal with the Suns now.”</p><h2><b>Kevin Durant’s interest in potential trade</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kevin-Durant.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Suns have potential to compete for a championship with their stars leading the team. Phoenix also had depth concerns this past season, though. Durant has displayed a willingness to move on from teams in the past, which is something to consider in this situation.</p><p>At the moment, Windhorst has not heard any news about Durant seeking a trade, however.</p><p>“To my knowledge, Kevin Durant has not asked for a trade,” Windhorst continued. “However, there are definite connections between Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.”</p><p>Durant enjoyed another impressive season in 2023-24. The Suns star averaged 27.1 points per game on 52.3 percent field goal and 41.3 percent three-point shooting across 75 games played. He added 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per outing. Durant’s play led to a ninth place finish in MVP voting.</p><p>Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are one of the best duos in the league. Beal endured some ups and downs in his first season with the Suns, but he still features the ceiling of a superstar. The Suns will have an opportunity to play at a high level if all three stars return.</p><p>That is certainly not guaranteed at the moment, though. Durant has been linked to a number of teams in trade rumors. Booker has also been mentioned as a possible trade candidate.</p><p>Phoenix will consider all of their options before making a move. If they receive an offer that is too enticing to pass on, perhaps they will consider trading one or both of the stars. Again, though, the Suns could look to run it back with championship aspirations. They do not need to enter a rebuild right now.</p><h2><b>Rockets outlook</b></h2><p>The Rockets are in an especially interesting position. They have been rebuilding over the years. Houston’s core of future stars makes them a landing destination for multiple stars in free agency or via trades.</p><p>It seems likely that the Rockets will add at least one more star this offseason. The question is if that star will be Kevin Durant, something that will become more clear over the next few weeks.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Kevin Durant ‘connected’ to Rockets after Mikal Bridges trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-suns-set-re-sign-key-player-4-year-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Suns set to re-sign key player to 4-year contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NBA-rumors-Suns-set-to-re-sign-key-player-to-4-year-contract.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Suns set to re-sign key player to 4-year contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-25T16:53:43-07:00">June 25th, 4:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-25T16:53:43-07:00">June 25th, 4:53pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is based in Los Angeles and currently covers basketball at every level from NBA/WNBA to men/women college and boys/girls high school.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>NBA free agency is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/2024-nba-free-agency-key-dates-available-players-what-to-know">rapidly approaching</a> and the Phoenix Suns have a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/biggest-need-suns-must-address-in-2024-nba-offseason-after-sweep">couple of decisions</a> to make regarding their roster. One key player for the Suns who is set to hit free agency is Royce O’Neale. But he might not get a chance to hit the open market once Sunday evening rolls around.</p><p>Royce O’Neale is reportedly <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-nba-chatter-on-free-agency?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=145984308&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">close to an agreement</a> to re-sign with the Suns in NBA free agency on a four-year contract as per NBA insider Marc Stein. O’Neale was acquired by the Suns in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets last season at the NBA Trade Deadline.</p><p>O’Neale suited up in 30 regular season games for the Suns, including eight starts, at a little over 25 minutes per game. He averaged 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists with splits of 41.1 percent shooting from the field, 37.6 percent shooting from the three-point line and 69.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>During the Suns four-game sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, O’Neale’s numbers dropped. He averaged 5.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists with splits of 31.8 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent shooting from the three-point line.</p><p>Despite the drop in efficiency in the playoffs, O’Neale was one of the Suns most consistent role players during a season in which their bench depth was often questioned. He’s a capable three-point shooter, rebounder and overall solid defensive player. If the Suns want to be a contender in the Western Conference, re-signing O’Neale is crucial to that end.</p><h2><b>Mike Budenholzer ushers in new start for Suns<br></b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mike-Budenholzers-introductory-press-conference.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Suns made a drastic decision following their first round playoff loss to the Wolves by firing head coach Frank Vogel after only one season. The Suns struggled to find consistent play throughout the year, but did manage to pull together to solidify a playoff spot.</p><p>The organization will now turn to Mike Budenholzer to try and right the ship. Budenholzer led the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 NBA championship. He took the past year off after the Bucks let him go following their first round playoff loss to the Miami Heat in the 2023 postseason.</p><p>Budenholzer began his coaching career in the NBA ahead of the 1996-97 season as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs. He got his first head coaching job with the Atlanta Hawks ahead of the 2013-14 season. His Hawks teams put together strong regular seasons, but were unable to turn that into playoff success. He left the Hawks following the 2017-18 season.</p><p>He inherits a roster that features a Big 3 in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The Suns starting lineup is as good as anyone in the league. It’s their bench that could use work. Backup big man Drew Eubanks has already opted in to his contract for the 2024-25 season. The team is also awaiting Eric Gordon’s decision to opt in to his contract or not.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Suns set to re-sign key player to 4-year contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-lebron-james-to-suns-has-a-lot-of-buzz-per-bill-simmons');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: LeBron James to Suns has a ‘lot of buzz,’ per Bill Simmons');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NBA-rumors-LeBron-James-to-Suns-has-a-lot-of-buzz-per-Bill-Simmons.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: LeBron James to Suns has a ‘lot of buzz,’ per Bill Simmons</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-18T22:12:28-07:00">June 18th, 10:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-19T13:19:26-07:00">June 19th, 1:19pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Given how rooted LeBron James and his family have been in LA ever since he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency back in 2018, it seems rather unlikely that James, who could be <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lebron-james-leads-2024-nba-free-agent-class">entering free agency</a> if he declines his player option for the 2024-25 season, will be leaving Tinseltown. However, crazier things have happened in the NBA.</p><p>James has always maintained that he wants to play with his son Bronny in the NBA before he retires. Now, with Bronny set to enter the NBA via the upcoming draft, whichever team takes a chance on drafting the guard out of USC figures to play a huge role in determining which team James suits up for next season. In that case, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-2-a-mavs-celts-breakdown-phillys-summer-plans/id1043699613?i=1000659208537" rel="noopener">keep an eye out</a> for the Phoenix Suns as a potential draft-night spoiler for the Lakers as they look to convince James to join Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in The Valley.</p><p>“There’s a lot of Phoenix buzz right now; I’m just going to say it. And I don’t know if it’s real or not,” Bill Simmons of The Ringer said on his eponymous podcast. “I think Bronny is going to go in the first round because I think… I think that’s going to be encouraged.”</p><p>Indeed, Bronny James has the distinction of being the son of one of the greatest players of all time, and the influence he has on LeBron’s impending free agency decision cannot be overstated. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-lebron-james-to-suns-speculation-heats-up-after-bronny-james-workout-news">Suns have the 22nd overall pick</a> of the 2024 NBA Draft, and while Bronny did not have a good freshman season in USC, there might be a chance, Simmons thinks, that the Suns could snag him in the draft in hopes of scoring a package deal.</p><p>Simmons pointed out as well that LeBron James and Mat Ishbia employ the same media strategist, which further adds fuel to the fire of this potential bombshell move. While logic dictates that the Lakers remain the most likely team that James is going to play for next season, this Suns possibility is definitely something to keep in mind.</p><h2><b>LeBron James will be the ultimate home run move for the Suns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/LeBron-James-being-guarded-by-Kevin-Durant-on-Feb.-24-2024.jpg"></figure><p>The Suns have thrown all caution out of the window over the past year or so; they broke up the core that made the 2021 NBA Finals, dealing away Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and a boatload of picks for Kevin Durant, and then in the 2023 offseason, they doubled down, sending Chris Paul away for Bradley Beal while turning Deandre Ayton into Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen.</p><p>The results haven’t exactly been pretty for the Suns. They lost in six games to the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2023 NBA playoffs, and then after building a Big 3 in the Valley, they proceeded to win a grand total of zero playoff games in 2024 after they got laughed off the floor by the Minnesota Timberwolves.</p><p>The Suns come close to <a href="https://fanspo.com/nba/teams/Suns/24/draft-picks">literally not having any</a> draft assets to spare. With one more first-round pick under their control, why not go for one more high-risk move by drafting Bronny James with the hopes of supplanting the team’s top-heavy core by adding one of the greatest players of all time?</p><p>Going for broke has been the theme of Mat Ishbia’s tenure as the Suns’ governor. They are wedded to their current core, mortgaging their future for present gain, but so far, those present gains have not been nearly enough for what they have given up. They must win big and win now, and what better way for them to boost their chances of reaching that goal by adding LeBron James?</p><p>Adding James will allow Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to settle into more of an off-ball role. James gives their offense a different dimension as someone who could get to the rim at will. He is a big-game player as well, acting as a bit of insurance for when their more jumpshot-heavy stars have bad nights.</p><p>It will take a miracle for the Suns to pull off this heist from under the Lakers’ noses, however. The Suns are already over the second luxury-tax apron, which means that the most they could offer James is a minimum contract. Even if the Suns do draft Bronny, will the privilege of getting to play with his son be worth a pay cut that could end up costing him around $70 to $80 million?</p><p>As a famous general manager once referenced, “scared money don’t make none.” The Suns are not in a position to be scared, so expect them to swing for the fences this offseason even though it’s very unlikely that James leaves the Lakers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: LeBron James to Suns has a ‘lot of buzz,’ per Bill Simmons

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-suns-mike-budenholzer-tried-to-hire-darvin-ham-after-lakers-firing');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Suns’ Mike Budenholzer tried to hire Darvin Ham after Lakers firing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Suns-Mike-Budenhozler-tried-to-hire-Darvin-Ham-after-Lakers-firing.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Suns’ Mike Budenholzer tried to hire Darvin Ham after Lakers firing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-02T20:49:28-07:00">June 2nd, 8:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-02T20:49:28-07:00">June 2nd, 8:49pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers as the team’s head coach, Darvin Ham was let go by the Western Conference franchise. He reportedly had a chance to stay in the West, particularly in the same division with the Lakers, but <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-nba-free-agent-coaching" rel="noopener">passed out on a chance</a> to work with Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, per NBA insider Marc Stein.</p><p>“League sources say Budenholzer made a run at trying to convince Darvin Ham to join his staff in Phoenix, but Ham — fired as Lakers coach on May 3 — is said to have understandably passed after two exacting seasons in Lakerland. The Suns responded by asking David Fizdale, from Vogel’s staff, to stay on as an assistant coach on Budenholzer’s new staff after initially offering him a front office role.”</p><h2><b>Mike Budenholzer attempted to lure Darvin Ham to be part of Suns staff</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Darvin-Ham-coaches-the-Lakers.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Budenholzer and Ham are very much familiar with each other, particularly from a coaching perspective. Ham worked under Budenholzer as an assistant head coach for the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2018. When Budenholzer went to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018, Ham followed him. Three years later, Budenholzer and Ham reached the pinnacle of coaching success in the league when they helped steer the Bucks to an NBA title by defeating the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals.</p><p>When the Lakers dismissed Ham, he still had two years remaining on his contract with the team. He could still be aiming to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-warriors-express-interest-in-darvin-ham-lakers-firing">continue his career</a> as a head coach in the NBA somewhere else, which may be a major reason why he turned down the opportunity to join Budenholzer on the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-mike-budenholzer-keeping-1-key-coach-frank-vogel-staff">Suns coaching staff</a>. It is also possible that Ham wants to take a bit of rest after two high-pressure years as the Lakers bench boss. Ham led the Lakers all the way to the Western Conference finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs and had Los Angeles winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament. In the 2023-24 NBA campaign, the Lakers returned to the playoffs under Ham but LA got eliminated in the first round by the same team that struck them out in the previous year’s WCF — the Denver Nuggets.</p><p>As for Budenholzer and the Suns, they will be looking to capitalize on their immense potential, something they failed to do in the only season Frank Vogel spent calling the shots for Phoenix. The Suns parted ways with Vogel —  another former Lakers head coach — after Phoenix got swept in the first round of the playoffs by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. They weren’t too shabby under Vogel, as they won 49 games, but Phoenix must have felt the team could have done a lot better considering it paraded a Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.</p><p>As a two-time winner of the NBA Coach of the Year award, Budenholzer has the Suns’ trust that he could turn Phoenix into a real NBA champion. That is going to be easier said than done, but such a scenario would also be poetic, considering that Budenholzer’s only NBA ring so far came at the expense of Phoenix. With or without Ham, Budenholzer will be determined to make a champion out of the Suns and he’ll have help from the likes of Chaisson Allen of the Utah Jazz and Chad Forcier of the Wisconsin Herd, who both have been added to Phoenix’s coaching staff.</p><p>Budenholzer has collected 484 wins against 317 losses for a 60.4 percent win rate across 801 games through his NBA career as head coach.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Suns’ Mike Budenholzer tried to hire Darvin Ham after Lakers firing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-76ers-join-lakers-suns-possible-bronny-james-draft-suitor');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: 76ers join Lakers, Suns as possible Bronny James draft suitor');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NBA-rumors-76ers-join-Lakers-Suns-as-possible-Bronny-James-draft-suitor.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: 76ers join Lakers, Suns as possible Bronny James draft suitor</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-31T14:10:56-07:00">May 31st, 2:10pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-31T14:11:41-07:00">May 31st, 2:11pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Bronny James recently made the decision to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-news-rich-paul-breaks-silence-bronny-james-staying-in-draft-eye-opening-lakers-take">keep his name in the 2024 NBA Draft</a> instead of withdrawing and working on his game for another year at the collegiate level. Throughout the entire pre-draft process, Bronny has been the player captivating NBA personnel, as everyone has been looking to gather more information on LeBron James’ son due to his lack of playing time at USC during his freshman season. While various teams have expressed interest in Bronny, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul recently <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40238364/bronny-james-heading-nba-draft-agent-rich-paul-says" rel="noopener">made it clear</a> that he is going to do what it takes to put Bronny in the best position possible.</p><p>“Bronny’s [draft] range is wide,” Paul told ESPN recently. “He’s a really good prospect who has a lot of room for growth. It only takes one team. I don’t care where that team is — it can be No. 1 or 58 — [but] I do care about the plan, the development. The team’s strategy, the opportunity and the financial commitment. That’s why I’m not doing a two-way deal. Every team understands that.”</p><p>A variety of teams have looked to secure a pre-draft workout with Bronny since his performances at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. While he has received over 10 workout requests, James and Paul are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-bronny-james-declining-draft-workout-invites-lakers-suns-interest">being selective and declining invitations</a>, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. However, Bronny will visit with the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers.</p><p>As the 2024 NBA Draft nears, more chatter surrounding Bronny and where he could possibly end up has occurred. Now, in addition to the Suns and Lakers being viable destinations for Bronny, the Philadelphia 76ers have <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1796638022433161510" rel="noopener">emerged</a> as a third possible suitor for the 19-year-old, league personnel told ClutchPoints recently.</p><p>LeBron is expected to opt out of his contract with the Lakers, making him an unrestricted free agent. In recent weeks, the 76ers have been linked to the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. There have been recent whispers in league circles about Philadelphia being an organization that would do what it takes to try and lure James from the Lakers. The Sixers were a team that originally <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-philadelphia-inquired-about-bombshell-lebron-james-kevin-durant-trade-before-deadline">inquired about LeBron’s availability</a> at the trade deadline in February.</p><p>At this juncture, all indications point in the direction of James electing to re-sign with the Lakers on a smaller contract upon opting out of his $51.4 million player option before free agency.</p><p>The notion that teams would pursue Bronny in the NBA Draft with hopes of possibly luring LeBron has been prominent in talks around the league for quite some time. Because Bronny is LeBron’s son, these discussions of the two wanting to play alongside one another will not disappear until the day the 20-time All-Star decides to retire.</p><p>Bronny, who was once projected to go undrafted due to all of the unknowns that surrounded him, is currently ranked 60th on ClutchPoints’ <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-draft-2024-big-board-2-0-top-100-prospects-bronny-james-zach-edey-post-combine">2024 NBA Draft Big Board 2.0</a>. He is currently projected to be drafted 46th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/2024-nba-mock-draft-2-0-hawks-considering-zaccharie-risacher-over-alex-sarr">ClutchPoints’ 2024 NBA Mock Draft 2.0.</a></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: 76ers join Lakers, Suns as possible Bronny James draft suitor

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-bronny-james-declining-draft-workout-invites-lakers-suns-interest');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Bronny James declining draft workout invites amid Lakers, Suns interest');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NBA-rumors-Bronny-James-declining-draft-workout-invites-amid-Lakers-Suns-interest.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Bronny James declining draft workout invites amid Lakers, Suns interest</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-28T10:28:10-07:00">May 28th, 10:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-28T10:28:10-07:00">May 28th, 10:28am</time><address><a>Matthew Schmidt</a>Matthew Schmidt has been writing about sports since 2011 and is based in New Jersey. He primarily specializes in NFL these days, but has also extensively covered the NBA and MLB and has written for numerous websites.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Bronny James may not have interest in playing for any NBA team other than the Los Angeles Lakers or the Phoenix Suns.</p><p>James has gotten over 10 workout invites for the NBA Draft, but apparently, he is only going to attend a couple of those workouts. That includes the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-draft-news-bronny-james-suns-lakers-workout-after-nba-combine-boost">Lakers and the Suns</a>.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Bronny James has over 10 workout invites… I’m told he’s only going to visit a couple of those, and that’s going to include the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns” 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> with the latest on Bronny James <a href="https://t.co/DlvjeM7tAT">pic.twitter.com/DlvjeM7tAT</a></p><p>— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/RunItBackFDTV/status/1795463378636357884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This is certainly intriguing given the recent speculation that LeBron James could <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-lebron-james-to-suns-speculation-heats-up-after-bronny-james-workout-news">potentially join Phoenix</a> in free agency this summer.</p><p>The fact that Bronny is drawn to the Lakers is not surprising, given that the most likely scenario for his father, LeBron, is that he will remain in Los Angeles. LeBron has expressed an obvious desire to play alongside of his son, so right now, the Lakers appear to be the most probable destination for Bronny.</p><p>Bronny is absolutely not considered a top prospect by any means, as he averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists over 19.3 minutes per game at USC while posting 36.6/26.7/67.6 shooting splits last season.</p><p>However, teams may interested in drafting Bronny for the simple fact that it may lure LeBron in free agency.</p><h2><b>How could LeBron James and Bronny James team up on the Suns?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bronny-James-and-LeBron-James.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Suns currently have Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on their roster. So, they don’t have any cap space. You would think that would eliminate them from the LeBron James conversation in free agency, but there is another avenue Phoenix and LeBron can take: the veteran’s minimum.</p><p><a href="https://x.com/esidery/status/1794803883933364251" rel="noopener">LeBron would have to sacrifice</a> in the neighborhood of $50 million if he joins the Suns, but at this point in James’ career, money may no longer be a top priority. After all, LeBron is a billionaire, so the extra money that another team can pay him may not be worth it to him.</p><p>If Phoenix drafts Bronny and LeBron signs there, the father-son duo would actually have the opportunity to win a championship together next season.</p><p>It is unquestionably a riveting thought, and it is one that LeBron and his son may be giving serious consideration to. Hence the reason why Bronny has the Suns on his very short list of teams he would like to play for.</p><p>Of course, it’s also entirely possible that Bronny is viewing the Suns as Option B if he isn’t able to join his dad on the Lakers. In that scenario, he would be linking up with Durant and a star-studded cast. So perhaps he is considering Phoenix even if LeBron remains in LA?</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-rich-paul-eye-opening-lebron-james-free-agent-slip">Rich Paul recently slipped</a> and said that LeBron will be a free agent this offseason, meaning he will be opting out of his deal. That was pretty much expected, so there isn’t a whole lot to see there. James also played it coy when asked about his impending free agency after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs last month.</p><p>One thing is for sure: this next month will be full of speculation, conjecture and projections from fans and the media, and we’ll all probably be wrong on most of it.</p><p>But hey, that’s what makes this stuff fun.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phoenix
Suns RUMORS

PHOENIX

SUNS

PhoenixSuns RUMORS

PHOENIX

SUNS

Phoenix
Suns RUMORS