Shams: Warriors Wanted Kevin Durant over Jimmy Butler Before Suns Star Rejected Trade | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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The Golden State Warriors set their sights on Kevin Durant before pivoting to a deal with the Miami Heat for Jimmy Butler, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Charania reported on SportsCenter the Phoenix Suns “had discussions with the Warriors about [Durant], and that’s who the Warriors wanted,” only to be rebuffed.
“Sources told me that Kevin Durant made clear in league circles he had no desire to go back to the Warriors,” Charania said.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN added Thursday on Get Up a general trade framework was in place between Golden State, Phoenix and Miami:
Get Up @GetUpESPN
“This was close to being Jimmy Butler in Phoenix and Kevin Durant in Golden State.” 😯<br><br>—<a href=”https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@WindhorstESPN</a> on Jimmy Butler being traded to Golden State <a href=”https://t.co/wOXJcSuJBA”>pic.twitter.com/wOXJcSuJBA</a>
NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported Monday the Warriors were worried about the 14-time All-Star’s “true willingness to return to the Bay Area for a second engagement after no shortage of tumult during his highly successful first stint.”
A day later, Stein and Fischer followed up to write, “It is believed that Durant has some serious reservations about a second Warriors stint if he were to be shipped there.”
In general, the narrative remained the same as Golden State’s pursuit for a marquee star intensified.
Durant had a prolific run with the Warriors. He won a pair of championships and was the NBA Finals MVP in each of those title triumphs.
For as much grief as the 36-year-old got for joining a 73-win team in 2016, it became clear over time he was far more than a luxury for Golden State. The franchise needed him to stay on top in the Western Conference and maintain its edge on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the East.
But Durant ultimately left the Warriors for multiple reasons. His relationship with Draymond Green had become strained, and their argument in 2018 opened up some wider fissures. He was never as beloved by fans as Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were, either.
A lot has changed since Durant’s departure during the summer of 2019, so the general dynamic with him in the Bay Area probably might’ve been different this time around.
But nobody should be too shocked he steered clear of a return.
