Impending $150 Million Offer Tests Kevin Durant’s Suns Loyalty, Amid Devin Booker Exit Rumors

What does the future hold for the Phoenix Suns and their reeling fans? The Minnesota Timberwolves made light work of the Suns and their supposed “big-three,” sweeping them in their first-round series. Following their defeat, with the Suns now facing an uncertain future, speculation about potential trades involving Kevin Durant and Devin Booker is ripe.

Despite their disappointing performance in the first-round series, many Suns fans hope the front office will keep the core intact and give it another shot next season. And, naturally, they’re crossing their fingers for some extra bench support. However, Phoenix fans may face another heartbreak after ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst made some concerning remarks about Kevin Durant’s future.

During a recent episode of the Pat McAfee Show, Windhorst dropped some bombshell news regarding KD’s contract extension. He said, “Kevin Durant is eligible for a contract extension and that will tell you everything you need to know.. If it becomes clear that the Suns or him don’t wanna do an extension you have some kindling for something to happen.” 

Kevin Durant signed a four-year contract extension worth $194 million in 2021. This means that KD still has two seasons left on his concurrent contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. However, the Phoenix Suns are in a pickle, and Kevin Durant’s contract extension would be the least of their worries right now. Next season, the Suns would have to pay KD, Beal, and Booker a combined total of $150 million. This would mean that the Suns’ “big-three” alone would earn more than the total payroll of 14 other NBA teams.

Such financial mismanagement and flawed roster construction have had a detrimental impact on their ability to compete, both now and down the road. But could the Phoenix Suns get out of the mess they have created?

Are the Phoenix Suns doomed?

The Denver Nuggets’ championship win last season might have suggested that the “superteam era” is coming to an end. Yet, the management didn’t seem to get the memo, as they went ahead and acquired Bradley Beal during the 2023 offseason. As part of the trade, the Suns had to give up valuable first-round draft picks and also took on Beal’s massive $251 million supermax contract.

Beal’s addition to the roster meant that the Phoenix Suns had the third-largest payroll for the 2023-24 season, totaling $193,838,882. Phoenix’s enormous payroll has made building a competent roster around the “big three” very challenging. And things only get worse in the future. At the moment, Phoenix would have the highest payroll in the NBA for the 2024-25 season, amounting to $205,893,18.

Moreover, the Phoenix Suns face the possibility of facing significant penalties for exceeding the second apron under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) rules. Falling above the second apron would greatly affect the Suns’ ability to pull off blockbuster trades, as aggregating player salaries would not be permitted under the new rules.

Furthermore, they would be barred from using any preexisting trade exceptions and take cash considerations in trades. With little to no options left for this offseason, what would the Suns’ top brass decide for their future?