April 2024 Phoenix Suns Wiretap

Kevin Durant Eligible To Extend With Suns Beginning July 8th

Apr 29, 2024 2:44 PM

Kevin Durant can extend his contract with the Phoenix Suns this offseason beginning on July 8th.

Durant can add one more season at just under $60 million for the 26-27 season when he will be 38. Durant will turn 36 at the start of training camp in September. 

The decision made by Durant and the Suns on an extension will be monitored across the league as a signal of how both sides view the pairing long-term.

Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal will combine to make approximately $150 million for the 24-25 season.

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Kevin Durant Never Felt Comfortable With Suns Offense

Apr 29, 2024 1:53 AM

Kevin Durant reportedly never felt comfortable playing alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the Phoenix Suns' offense, sources told Shams Charania and Doug Haller of The Athletic.

Durant had "persistent issues" with being relegated to the corner with the offense built around pick-and-rolls instead of his strengths.

Teammates and those close to the organization felt like Durant should have voiced his concerns more directly with Frank Vogel.

Kevin Young, now at BYU, was responsible for the Suns' offense. Players questioned the coaching staff's ability to maximize a lineup of Durant, Beal, and Booker.

The Suns are reportedly taking a "hard look" at making full changes to the coaching staff this summer. 

Shams Charania & Doug Haller/The Athletic

Tags: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Suns To Take 'Hard Look' At Coaching Change; James Jones Expected To Remain As GM

Apr 29, 2024 1:42 AM

The Phoenix Suns are expected to take a "hard look" at a full coaching change for the second straight offseason, sources told Shams Charania and Doug Haller of The Athletic.

The Suns will, at the very least, make changes to Frank Vogel's staff.

The Suns were swept by the Timberwolves in the first round.

Vogel said before Game 4 that he has the "full support" of Mat Ishbia.

James Jones is expected to remain as the general manager next season. 

Shams Charania & Doug Haller/The Athletic

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Frank Vogel Says He Has 'Full Support' Of Mat Ishbia

Apr 28, 2024 10:46 PM

Frank Vogel said he felt "very" confident that he would return as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns next season.

"I've got full support of [Suns owner Mat] Ishbia," said Vogel before Game 4 on Sunday.

Vogel originally signed a five-year deal in June 2023. 

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA

Discuss
Kevin Durant Plans To Play 'Until The Wheels Fall Off'

Apr 26, 2024 2:08 PM

When Kevin Durant was diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon during Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, he feared he would never return to his superstar form.

"This is career-ending, I'm done," Durant recalled thinking.

"That's what I was thinking," he told ESPN, "because that's all I was hearing, that this s--- is over."

Durant signed with the Brooklyn Nets that offseason, sat out the entire 19-20 season and then reestablished himself as one of the world's best players during the 2021 playoffs.

Durant played 75 games in the regular season this past season and was generally more reliable than his younger co-stars in Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

"My whole being has been committed to playing basketball. I didn't think it was time yet. It's that simple," Durant said. "And when I'm that committed to something, I didn't even think about anything else but, like, when are we starting recovery? As soon as it happened, everybody wanted to cry with me. I did that for a second, crying, because everybody else was crying, and then I'm like, 'When are we doing surgery? When can I start my recovery process?' And that's how it was, man. I'm ready to get back, quick."

Durant's return was not just fueled by his love for the game, but something existential.

"I think all these guys love it," he said. "It just feels like life or death for me since day one growing up. If I wasn't doing this, what the f--- else am I doing? Until the wheels fall off. I can't just not be the best basketball player that I can be every day. That's been the mentality in my head since I was 8 years old.

"I had no other choice but to go back to work. I wasn't going to go back and be like, 'Mom, Dad, Bro, Sis, Godfather -- all my whole family that has been trusting in me and believing in me that I'm living for and I'm pushing this family name for every day -- [and say] 'I'm done, I tore my Achilles.' Like, what the f--- you mean? You're done? You can't be done."

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Grayson Allen Day-To-Day With Ankle Injury, X-Rays Negative

Apr 24, 2024 1:27 AM

Grayson Allen aggravated his sprained right ankle in Game 2 of the Phoenix Suns' 105-93 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter and did not return to the game.

X-rays on the ankle returned negative, with Frank Vogel adding that Allen was day-to-day.

Allen initially injured the ankle in Game 1.

The Suns are down 2-0 in the series. 

ESPN

Tags: Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Injury

Discuss
RealGM Radio: Seth Partnow On The Playoffs (Apr 2024)

Apr 19, 2024 2:28 AM

Host Danny Leroux and Seth Partnow of The Athletic preview the NBA playoffs.

They break down which series they are most excited for, which are the toughest to call, key match-ups and much more.

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Philadelphia Sixers, Phoenix Suns, NBA, RealGM Radio

Discuss
Kevin Young To Leave Suns To Become Head Coach Of BYU

Apr 16, 2024 12:53 PM

Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young will become the next head coach of Brigham Young University.

Young is the highest paid assistant coach in the NBA and was a candidate for multiple jobs during the past hiring cycles. Young interviewed for the Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets already this offseason.

Young will replace Mark Pope, who left BYU to become head coach of Kentucky.

Young will continue working with the Suns in the playoffs, but will begin assembling a coaching staff that'll immediately start recruiting for BYU.

Young is a native of Salt Lake City.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Phoenix Suns, Brigham Young Cougars, NCAA, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NCAA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Kevin Durant On Avoiding Injuries: No Players Flopped Into My Legs This Year

Apr 16, 2024 9:21 AM

Kevin Durant played nearly 2800 minutes over 75 games this season. The minutes were the most Durant has played since he led the NBA in 2013-14. The games played were Durant's most since the 2018-19 season. The Phoenix Suns star thinks he knows why he was able to stay healthy this year.

"No players flopped into my legs this year," Durant said. "Last two years, I had my teammate flop into me and an opponent flop into me two straight years that caused me to get MCL injuries. If it wasn’t for that, I probably would’ve been out there the same amount of games, but I’m glad nobody flopped into me. Had a couple of nagging injuries, but it was day-to-day type of stuff. I’m grateful for that."

When asked how he avoided players flopping into him, Durant was brutally honest in his response.

"Just stay away from the crash dummies, you know. The dudes who try to sell calls and don’t mind hurting people by diving on the floor trying to sell a call. I know who those guys are, and I try to stay away from them," Durant said.

Duane Rankin/Arizona Republic

Tags: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Grayson Allen, Suns Agree To Four-Year, $70M Extension

Apr 15, 2024 10:04 AM

The Phoenix Suns and guard Grayson Allen have agreed to a four-year, $70 million extension. Allen was eligible to extend through June 30, as he was on an expiring contract. Phoenix now locks in a key rotation player, who was a crucial part of the Suns three-guard starting lineup.

Allen led the NBA in three-point percentage at a career-high 46.1% on 5.9 three-point attempts per game. He also averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Overall, Allen shot 49.9% from the field and 87.8% from the free throw line, falling just shy of a 50/40/90 shooting season.

Phoenix acquired Allen in the three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers that sent Deandre Ayton from Phoenix to Portland and Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. The Suns also acquired Jusuf Nurkic and Nassir Little in that deal.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor

Discuss
NBA Playoffs 2024: Western Conference First Round Matchups

RealGM Staff Report

Frank Vogel Says Suns Level Of Frustration Is 'High'

Gerald Bourget/PHNX Sports

Isaiah Thomas, Suns Sign Contract For Remainder Of Season

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Hornets To Interview Charles Lee, David Adelman, Jordi Fernandez, Kevin Young

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN