Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein provided an update on where the relationship between the team and Kevin Durant stands.
Kevin Durant is dominating on the Olympic stage once again, leading Team USA as one of their leading scorers at Paris 2024. Durant will return to the Phoenix Suns in September when training camp begins, with team CEO Josh Bartelstein opening up on their relationship with the 36-year-old star. Bartlestein also shared a minor contract extension update.
“The most important thing is Kevin loves being here and we love having Kevin here… He’s focused on the Olympics, but we’re always having dialogue. The relationship is what matters the most. The relationship is in a great spot. I talk to (Durant’s agent) Rich Kleiman, who works with Kevin, all the time. Conversations are great not just on extension stuff, but on all things that have been going on.”
Durant is currently eligible for a contract extension, though that window will close on October 21. His current contract lasts until 2026, so there’s no rush to sign a new deal right now. Durant will likely not be signing a deal right now, as he will only be entitled to a one-year extension due to him being hamstrung by the over-38 rule, which restricts the additional years a player who will be above 38 can receive in an extension.
Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season, showing his consistent level of play though the Suns struggled and finished as the No 6 seed in the West. They were swept out of the first round of the Playoffs, showing the team with Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal couldn’t be contenders.
After a summer where Durant was heavily linked with a trade to the Houston Rockets, it’ll be interesting to see if the strong offseason the Suns have had gives him more reason to commit to an extension to try and bring the Suns a title.
The Phoenix Suns Are Pushing To Contend
The team has made some strong offseason deals, headlined by signing Tyus Jones on a minimum to allay the point guard issues that have plagued the franchise.
He was a phenomenal backup guard on the Grizzlies and has proven to be a shrewd decision-maker on-ball. He was the best-remaining free agent on the market for weeks but has taken a risky one-year minimum deal to prove his value to teams around the NBA to hit free agency again next season, where more teams are projected to have salary space.
The Suns managed to have a phenomenal NBA Draft as well, selecting Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighadaro. While Ighadaro might not be a rotational player this season, Dunn has been hailed as a win-now player who’s one of the best perimeter defenders coming out of the draft in years. His offense isn’t ready for the NBA’s pace, but he could be a valuable defensive piece when required.
The hiring of Mike Budenholzer was arguably the first move of their championship push, with Frank Vogel being pushed out of another superteam as head coach. Coach Bud will be expected to bring fresh energy and create a winning culture to satiate the team’s stars like Booker and Durant.
It’ll be interesting to see what role Bradley Beal plays on the team this season, as he genuinely could be more impactful as a sixth man behind a Jones-Booker backcourt, but that likely won’t happen. The Suns are positioned to push for a title, but the stars will need to show up if they want to emerge as champions.