A Golden State reunion?
Don’t rule out Kevin Durant going back to the Bay this offseason.
As highly unrealistic as that sounds, Durant appeared on Draymond Green‘s podcast and left the door ajar for a potential return.
Durant of course vetoed and axed a trade that would have sent him back to the Bay this season, but explained his decision and rationale on not wanting to make the move (yet).
“I want my career to end on my terms,” Durant said.
“That’s the only thing I’m worried about because I see a lot of dudes that don’t get that opportunity.
“I want to keep putting in that work to make that choice on my own.
“But as far as the Warriors, I didn’t want to move. As a player like me, I cost a lot.
“Me going to your team in the middle of the season, it’s going to be a big blow to any team I’m going to.
“I get why y’all want to trade me, simple fact, that’s just business, but for me, looking at it, it just didn’t make sense for either side right now to go through that.
“When we just play the season out, and if that’s the decision you want to make in the offseason, then we figure it out.”
What if the Warriors still want Durant once the offseason arrives?
He said they would “figure it out.”
That is a change of stance than the one Durant had just a couple of weeks ago when he shut down the initial trade that Golden State tried to complete with Phoenix.
Durant further explained.
“If I can stop it, then why not?” Durant questioned.
“Then the narratives that are going to come with all that s***.
“I can play under the noise. It’s a simple fact that I didn’t feel like it was a need to make that big of a change.
“Look at what y’all doing right now, Dray, y’all looking good.
“Jimmy and then you still got Kuminga on the way back.
“So I didn’t think it made sense.
“I just want to see it through, you know when you commit to something in a season like that.
“Nobody’s had big injuries, everybody’s in the lineup, I’m trying to see this through to the end and see what we can really do with it.
“I feel like I’m committed to my coaches and teammates, and I want to see it through. So man, I wanted to lock in on that.”
Durant is committed to being a Sun.
As he said, he wants to see that through.
Phoenix has been one of the most disappointing teams in the league this season, sitting at just 27-31 on the year.
They are eleventh in the Western Conference and nearly three full games behind the tenth seed for a spot in the play-in game.
It’s been a disaster, and that is why teams inquired about Durant’s availability at the trade deadline, and why the Warriors were so close to bringing him back to the Bay.
Anything can happen this offseason, it’s the NBA after all, but until then, where and how the Suns and Warriors finish this season will be extremely telling for what’s to come.