Brooklyn Nets All-Star forward Kevin Durant has reportedly requested a transfer from the team, according to Durant’s manager Rich Kleiman, The NBA community is abuzz with speculation about where the Slim Reaper will play next.

It’s been reported that KD is considering moves to the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat. It’s also obvious why the former MVP will favor the Suns or the Heat. Both teams have been contenders and reached the recent NBA Finals in 2021 and 2020 respectively.

Phoenix appears to be the most likely target for Durant. His friendship with Suns star Devin Booker and head coach Monty Williams are two of the main reasons. Durant and Booker first met while competing for Team USA in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Previously, the 12-time All-Star chose his next team immediately after the Thunder were defeated in the 2016 Western Conference Finals by the Warriors in seven games. He signed with the Golden State Warriors in 2016, making yet another league-altering decision, and went on to win two final MVPs with the Warriors.

Durant decided to join the Nets in 2019, joining Kyrie Irving and later James Harden on what was widely regarded as a championship-caliber roster, but the Nets failed to deliver much in Durant’s three seasons with the team.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Nets general manager Sean Marks and business manager Rich Kleiman are looking for the best possible deal for the Nets and the two-time NBA champion. The news was released a few hours before the offseason market opened at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Durant requested a trade with the team today, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/BkNEHwkrc0

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Durant signed a four-year, $198 million extension contract with the Nets in August 2021. He will receive at least $43 million, $46.4 million, $49.85 million, and $53.28 million during that time. The Nets plan to trade Durant to the team that can offer the best deal but since he does not have a player option in his contract, they are ignoring the no-trade clause.

Durant to Phoenix?

Aside from his friendship with Suns All-Star Devin Booker, the Suns may be a better long-term home for him. To begin with, the Suns were 64-18 last season and won the Western Conference title ( .780). After defeating the Lakers in the season finale, they set a new record with 64 wins.

However, in the second round of the playoffs, they were defeated in seven games by the Dallas Mavericks. Fans expected the Suns to advance to the conference finals after defeating the Pelicans in the first round.

The Suns of 2021-22 are only the third team in NBA history to have 64 or more wins but fail to reach the conference finals. Devin Booker averaged 26.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in 68 regular-season games. In the second round, the guard averaged 23.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists against the Mavericks. But he needed more assistance.

If Durant joins, he will have an excellent opportunity to contribute to the team. In addition, the Suns have a wide range of resources to go after Durant, including restricted free agents Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Johnson. For an opponent, Durant, Devin Booker, and Chris Paul would be an extremely dangerous trio.

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