Kevin Durant may be on his way out of Phoenix as the "Suns" look to reduce their massive luxury tax bill before next season. According to sources cited by The Arizona Republic, Durant could be traded as early as next week.
The "Suns" assembled the NBA's most expensive roster last season, placing them among just three teams above the second apron threshold, alongside the "Timberwolves" and "Celtics". Now, team management appears determined to get under that threshold for the 2025-26 campaign.
"There has been a good bit of chatter this week about the Suns' willingness to explore trades involving Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale as part of the Durant discussions, sources say, to reduce their tax bill further," reported NBA insider Jake Fischer.
The financial implications are substantial. Durant is set to make approximately $54.7 million in 2025-26, while Allen ($16.9 million) and O'Neale ($10.1 million) represent significant cap hits as well. By moving these three players, Phoenix could drop from their projected $257 million payroll all the way below the first apron threshold of roughly $207.8 million.
Getting under the second apron isn't just about saving money. It would unlock several roster-building tools, including access to the taxpayer midlevel exception, ability to trade draft picks further into the future, and more flexibility in structuring multi-team deals.
Of course, the basketball impact can't be ignored. Durant averaged 26.6 points per game last season on efficient 52.7/43/83.9 shooting splits. Allen contributed 10.6 points while hitting nearly 43% from three-point range, and O'Neale connected on 40.6% of his deep attempts.
Interestingly, the "Suns" aren't strangers to complex trade negotiations. After spending the winter engaged in "non-stop trade discussions with various teams," they've gained experience in orchestrating multi-team deals - a skill that might prove useful in the coming days.
The question now: Can Phoenix find the right balance between financial flexibility and competitive firepower? For a team with championship aspirations, that's the multi-million dollar dilemma.
