The Phoenix Suns’ season is like being stuck in the Sonoran Desert without water. Kevin Durant’s side is scratching and clawing towards the final play-in spot, but it only seems like a mirage. Their immediate rivals in the race, the Mavs, are faltering big time, but so are the Suns after picking up their 37th loss of the season against the Lakers on Sunday. In a season of win or bust that only pushes Mike Budenholzer towards the edge of the cliff. And the rumbling indicates he isn’t far from falling off it.

According to Hoops Wire, “The Phoenix Suns could fire head coach Mike Budenholzer in the offseason to appease stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.” There has been no shortage of storylines in Phoenix thus far. The rumors of Devin Booker falling out with Budenholzer were never fully denied by both parties, showing how things have disintegrated. Even Kevin Durant has had his fair share of clashes with the coach. Sunday night showed the latest when cameras picked up a heated conversation between the duo during a team huddle. “He’s always pushing us to win. He’s always pushing us to be better,” Budenholzer told the press following the game about the Kevin Durant spat.

But is everything really well in Phoenix? Recent developments indicate far from that. “February was especially miserable in Phoenix, as the Suns went 3-10 in a month in which Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant dealt with the distraction of being involved in trade discussions leading up to the Feb. 6 deadline. Budenholzer has had friction with multiple players, including Booker, sources said,” NBA insider Tim MacMahon wrote for ESPN.

Even Booker’s name was floating around the trade market until the owner, Mat Ishbia, put cold water on the speculation. Being the Suns’ all-time leading scorer and having an intimate bond with the city could keep Booker around, but the same can’t be said about Durant.

Kevin Durant trade rumors reignited after LeBron James moment

LeBron James sat out Sunday’s 107-96 win over the Suns. But before the game, LeBron had a special moment with Kevin Durant. The viral video showed the two Olympic teammates chopping up before KD told something in LeBron’s ears. There’s no confirmation of their private conversation, but speculation ran rampant about KD possibly asking for a trade to the LA side.

This is not fiction at this point. According to salary books, a deal could be made to land KD with the Lakers. Kevin Durant’s salary for next year is $54,708,609. Combining the same for Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber amounts to $54,696,833. And the Lakers also have the draft capital to pull the deal off after the rescinded Mark Williams trade. Durant was close to moving to the Warriors last month, but the 2-time NBA Finals MVP pulled the plug on it.

“I just didn’t wanna get traded midway through the season,” Durant told Malika Andrews in a recent interview. “It was nothing against my time with the Warriors. Or I heard it was because I don’t like Draymond (Green). At the end of the day, I just didn’t wanna move and I wanted to see it through with my team in Phoenix and see what we can do through the rest of the season. So I’m glad I’m still there.”

Durant plans on seeing off the season with the Suns and the final 14 regular season games will decide the franchise’s future, including Budenholzer’s. In this fight-or-flight scenario, a few more losses could easily turn the already tumultuous situation into something far more toxic. And even firing Budenholzer after that might not save Ishbia from seeing Durant move on.