Mat Ishbia: “Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves ...

With much speculation about the future of players and assets, storylines are everywhere. The Suns, a team destined for the restrictions that the second apron imparts, underachieved in 2023-24. You like math? Here is a little equation for you:

Devin Booker + Kevin Durant + Bradley Beal = 0 playoff wins.

Therefore, rumors are circulating as to what the Suns will do during the draft, and it has been suggested that trading Kevin Durant is on the table. Perhaps that is what prompted Phoenix Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia to take to Twitter on Wednesday afternoon:

This confirms what many of us suspect: that Kevin Durant isn’t going anywhere.

I read the comments. I see the discourse on social media. There is a belief that Durant, who The Ringer just ranked as a top ten player in the NBA, should be moved. That the Suns need to press the reset button and they need to do it today. I can’t say I agree with this. At all.

How long did we pine for Devin Booker to receive assistance? If only he had top-tier talent around him. Mat Ishbia did just that, and why we all might not agree with the deal that brought Kevin Durant here, the fact that the team got their hands on an all-time great is impressive.

The returns haven’t been what we want. Not by a long shot. We expected postseason success. We expected a shot at a title. We expected more than 6 playoff wins in two years. So why are we so mad at the addition of KD? It’s the Beal transaction that has paralyzed the Suns, what with the no trade clause and all.

But trading Durant at this point isn’t allowing the full vision an opportunity to take its course. The moment the team traded for Bradley Beal, this became a two-year window of opportunity. Year Two begins tonight.

And now with Mike Budenholzer at the helm — an offensively-minded coach who can maximize the potential of this potent Suns’ offense —, you want to mail it in? I empathize with the frustrations but now is not the time. No, you wait. Wait and see how this season plays out with Bud calling the shots. W

If this thing begins to unravel, KD’s value will be the same at the All-Star Break. Let’s revisit the conversation then. As for Durant loving Phoenix, all I can confirm is that he sure hates the local media.