Kevin Durant traded to Phoenix Suns in blockbuster deal before NBA deadline

Kevin Durant has been traded to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal before Thursday’s NBA deadline, according to reports.

ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski first reported that the Suns had agreed to send a package of Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks - said to be unprotected in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029 - and a 2028 pick swap to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for superstar Durant and small forward TJ Warren.

Per Wojnarowski, Durant had made his desire to join the Suns clear before the trade deadline and new Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia pushed to complete the deal in time.

One of the greatest players and pure scorers in NBA history, Durant joins a Suns team that currently sit fifth in the Western Conference playoff race at 30-26, having topped the the Pacific Division in each of the past two seasons and reached the 2020-21 Finals, losing to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

He joins fellow stars Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, though is currently sidelined with an MCL sprain in his knee suffered in early January. He is expected to return after the looming All-Star break.

13-time All-Star Durant, the NBA MVP in 2014, spent three-and-a-half eventful years with the Nets after moving from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and winning back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018.

However, his future with the franchise had been thrust into fresh doubt after star guard Kyrie Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks earlier this week, scoring 24 points on his debut against the LA Clippers on Wednesday night.

The Nets currently lie fifth in the Eastern Conference under Jacque Vaughn, who replaced Steve Nash as head coach in November.

In other NBA deadline news, point guard D’Angelo Russell is heading to the LA Lakers along with Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in a three-team deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz, with Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker joining the Wolves and the Jazz getting Russell Westbrook - who is likely to be bought out - along with Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones plus a first-round pick from the Lakers in 2027.

The New York Knicks are also said to be trading former 10th overall pick Cam Reddish, Ryan Arcidiacono, Svi Mykhailiuk and a first-round pick to the Portland Trailblazers in exchange for Josh Hart, while the Toronto Raptors are reported to have struck a deal with the San Antonio Spurs to bring back center Jakob Poeltl.