Suns Seek $27M Relief as 2 Stars Face Jeopardy Amid Kevin Durant Trade Rumors

No one’s saying it out loud in Phoenix, not yet… but something’s cracking. Not the casual kind of cap maneuvering. We’re talking quiet-room, agent-calling, future-mortgaging pressure. Kevin Durant’s name is suddenly everywhere, the NBA Draft clock is ticking, and the Suns are juggling trade phones like they’re defusing a bomb. Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale? They’re just the appetizer. The real drama’s in the main course, and it’s got KD’s name all over it.

With Kevin Durant trade speculation swirling and Phoenix exploring ways to reshape the roster around Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, the Suns are reportedly open to trading Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale, as per the Burns & Gambo Show. The duo’s combined salary for next season? A hefty $27 million, and both players are signed through 2027–28.

The Suns are staring down one of the league’s highest payrolls, projected to soar past $204 million in 2024-25—firmly placing them in the second apron. That comes with brutal restrictions on trades, free agency, and roster-building. Grayson Allen ($16.9M in 2025-26) and Royce O’Neale ($10.1M) are prime candidates to be moved. Together, their $27 million price tag could be offloaded to ease Phoenix’s luxury tax burden and unlock some flexibility—especially if a blockbuster Kevin Durant trade is also on the table.

More importantly, the Suns’ roster lacks size and defensive versatility, particularly up front. Flipping Allen or O’Neale for a longer, more physical presence—like Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac or Wendell Carter Jr.—could help better complement Booker and Beal, giving the team a much-needed edge on the interior.

Moving either of these players could create necessary financial flexibility for a top-heavy roster, not to forget their second apron limit as well. And while the team isn’t waving any white flags, there’s a clear sense of recalibration, one that could start with the role players and end somewhere far more seismic.

Because looming large over all of this is Durant himself. According to Shams Charania, the Suns are in “active trade conversations with multiple teams,” with Houston, Miami, and Minnesota emerging as the frontrunners. While Kevin Durant has listed Miami, Houston, and San Antonio as preferred long-term destinations, the reality is more complicated. As Brian Windhorst put it, “Would you trade for a 36-year-old legend like Kevin Durant if he did not want to be there?” It’s the high-stakes gamble teams now face.

Durant has just one year and $54.7 million left on his contract, and any potential trade partner must decide whether they can stomach that level of commitment risk, to say the least. Minnesota is reportedly the most aggressive suitor, and there’s speculation that Anthony Edwards could be deployed as a recruiter.

Still, some franchises are drawing clear lines in the sand. The Rockets, for example, are reportedly unwilling to include Alperen Şengün or Amen Thompson in any deal for Durant. Taking one for the team, are they? Meanwhile, Kevin Durant’s original preferred destination, the New York Knicks, opted not to pursue him this time around, despite being one of the league’s deepest rosters. That’s gotta hurt, man. But the story doesn’t end there, people!

Kevin Durant is a big name with bigger questions 

Miami, though, remains a focal point, especially after Stephen A. Smith urged the Heat to make the move. “They need a star, they need a number one option,” Smith declared. “That’s what Kevin Durant is. Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, obviously the exceptional coach in Spoelstra… they got a lot of pieces.”

Whether that pitch resonates with Miami’s front office remains to be seen, but it adds another layer to a speedily growing situation. And it’s not just about Durant anymore. It’s about Phoenix’s identity. If they’re willing to move Allen and O’Neale… two of their few high-minute, high-efficiency rotation pieces, what else are they willing to sacrifice to stay relevant in the brutal Western Conference hierarchy?

All signs point toward urgency. Multiple reports suggest the Suns want a resolution before the NBA Draft, because of course they do. That could mean a Kevin Durant deal becomes one of the biggest stories on draft night, or it could mean they spend their limited flexibility on more foundational moves. Because in this desert, silence doesn’t mean safety. And when $27 million is on the line, something’s bound to give. Phoenix is officially in the “wait, are they blowing it up?” zone, and no one’s sure which domino falls first.