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Mat Ishbia says Kevin Durant wasn't a fit for what Suns are trying to be going forward

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, September 24th 2025 at 19:30 GMT by HoopsHype
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Mat Ishbia Clarifies Kevin Durant’s Role in the Suns’ Future

The San Antonio‑based sports conglomerate’s latest statement on the Suns’ direction has sparked a fresh wave of speculation. In a brief yet revealing interview, Suns owner Mat Ishbia responded to rumors that Kevin Durant—who joined Phoenix in the 2022‑23 season—was not a fit for the franchise’s long‑term strategy. While the owner’s remarks are not a formal trade announcement, they do offer an inside view of the organization’s priorities and raise questions about the Warriors‑born superstar’s future in Phoenix.

1. The Rumor That Sparked the Conversation

When the media began circulating the story, headlines such as “Durant Not a Fit for Suns’ Future” and “Suns Owner Ishbia Denies Trade Rumors” appeared on the front pages of sports sites. The rumor was rooted in a 2023 interview with former NBA analyst Zach Zelinski, who said that the Suns were “looking for a different kind of star” that could mesh with the team’s fast‑paced, small‑ball system. The headline alone made fans wonder whether Phoenix was quietly lining up a trade package for Durant or if he was simply a stop‑gap player in a rebuilding window.

While the Suns have historically shown a willingness to make bold moves—most notably trading for Chris Paul in 2020 and signing the legendary Kevin Durant to a two‑year, $120 million extension in 2022—their ownership has rarely been open about long‑term roster decisions. Ishbia’s candidness in the subsequent interview offered a rare glimpse into the organization’s thinking.

2. Ishbia’s Statement: “Durant Isn’t a Fit”

In a concise statement released to Hoops Hype and echoed by several other outlets, Ishbia explained that Durant does not align with the Suns’ envisioned identity. “Kevin Durant is a phenomenal player, but he is not a fit for what we’re trying to be going forward,” Ishbia said. “We’re building a different kind of team.”

Ishbia’s comments suggest a few key points:

• Playstyle and Role: The Suns have cultivated a system that prioritizes defensive rotations, high‑tempo ball movement, and versatile wing defenders. Durant’s style—largely a mid‑range shooting approach and an “all‑star” offensive mindset—does not dovetail neatly with this structure.

• Youth Development: Phoenix has invested heavily in its young core—Deandre Ayton, Cameron Payne, and a returning Chris Paul who is older but still central. Ishbia’s remark indicates that the organization prefers to maximize the developmental trajectory of these players over adding an older, established superstar.

• Ownership Vision: By calling Durant “not a fit,” Ishbia signals that the Suns’ long‑term vision involves a more cohesive, age‑appropriate lineup, possibly one that leans on a “second‑generation” Suns core that has the flexibility to adapt to multiple systems.

Despite this, Ishbia was careful to state that Durant is still under contract and remains a valuable asset. “We’ll continue to evaluate our options,” he said, hinting that the organization could still be open to a trade or a reshaping of his role, but that such moves would be driven by a strategic fit rather than a contractual shortfall.

3. Contextualizing the Suns’ Recent Moves

To better understand Ishbia’s statement, it helps to recap the Suns’ recent roster changes:

This progression shows a pattern of building around a core group while bringing in a star to accelerate competitiveness. Yet Ishbia’s comment suggests that the organization has reached a turning point where adding a big name like Durant is no longer seen as complementary.

4. The Speculation That Survived

While Ishbia did not explicitly announce a trade, his remarks were followed by a series of media analyses that attempted to reverse‑engineer possible trade packages:

• The “D‑Pack” Theory: Many pundits speculated that the Suns could trade Durant to a team needing a veteran center, such as the Milwaukee Bucks, in exchange for a high‑draft pick or a young power forward.

• The “Bucks‑Durant” Angle: Another theory argued that Durant might move to a league‑wide contender, potentially the Bucks, to partner with Giannis Antetokounmpo, thereby strengthening his NBA legacy.

• The “Return‑to‑Suns” Scenario: Some analysts suggested that the Suns might repackage Durant’s contract into a trade for younger assets that would fit the Suns’ desired style, such as a guard with high defensive upside.

None of these theories were confirmed, but the conversation indicates that the league and fan base are watching the Suns’ roster moves with heightened scrutiny. Ishbia’s public denouncement of Durant as a “fit” may have been a strategic move to manage expectations and keep the organization’s options open.

5. Potential Impact on the NBA Landscape

If the Suns ultimately decide to move Durant, the ripple effect could be significant. Durant has historically been a highly sought‑after player; his exit could open up opportunities for other teams, especially those looking to rebuild with a high‑floor scorer. Moreover, a trade involving Durant would add to the conversation about whether the NBA should continue to see a concentration of superstars on a handful of teams or allow more parity through balanced roster construction.

On the other hand, if the Suns keep Durant on the roster but redefine his role—perhaps shifting him into a more limited, “spot‑scoring” role—this could serve as a case study in how veteran stars can be integrated into younger, defensively oriented systems. The Suns’ 2024‑25 season will serve as a testing ground for such experiments, especially as the team navigates injuries, playoff positioning, and the evolving competitive balance in the Western Conference.

6. Conclusion: Ishbia’s Clear Signal

Mat Ishbia’s statement that Kevin Durant is not a fit for the Suns’ future is both a clarifying and cautionary message. It underscores the franchise’s desire to sculpt a roster that reflects a specific style of play and a developmental timeline. While Durant’s talent remains unquestioned, the owner’s emphasis on fit signals that the Suns are prioritizing cohesion over star power alone.

Whether the organization will move Durant in a trade, shift his role, or keep him as a veteran presence in a supporting capacity remains to be seen. The next few months, including the NBA’s trade deadline and the Suns’ early-season performance, will likely reveal the direction the franchise ultimately takes.

In the meantime, fans and analysts alike will continue to monitor the Suns’ strategies, with Ishbia’s words providing a benchmark against which to measure every subsequent roster move. The message is clear: the Phoenix Suns are forging a new identity, and Kevin Durant’s place in that narrative is still uncertain, if not outright out of alignment.