Stephen A's Take: Kevin Durant says no to a Golden State reunion

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show: Kevin Durant Says No to a Golden State Reunion

Release Date: February 6, 2025

In this compelling episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves deep into the swirling rumors surrounding NBA superstar Kevin Durant and his potential future with the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors. Smith provides insightful analysis, sharp commentary, and exclusive quotes that shed light on the current landscape of the NBA's trade talks and team dynamics.

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1. Kevin Durant's Stance on Returning to Golden State Warriors

Stephen A. Smith opens the discussion by addressing the intense speculation about Kevin Durant possibly rejoining the Golden State Warriors. He emphasizes Durant's clear position on the matter:

Stephen A. Smith [01:30]: "Kevin Durant has spoken emphatically that he has absolutely positively no interest in returning to the Golden State Warriors."

Smith recalls Durant's pivotal role in the Warriors' back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018, highlighting the impact of Durant's departure and subsequent injury:

Stephen A. Smith [02:15]: "Kevin Durant was instrumental in helping the Warriors clinch those titles, and his Achilles injury has undeniably affected his career trajectory and his relationship with the team."

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2. Phoenix Suns' Dilemma and Trade Implications

The conversation shifts to the Phoenix Suns' precarious situation regarding Durant's future. Smith outlines the challenges faced by the Suns in retaining Durant due to Bradley Beal's steadfast no-trade clause:

Stephen A. Smith [03:00]: "With Bradley Beal refusing to waive his no-trade clause, the Phoenix Suns are left with no choice but to consider trading Kevin Durant to acquire additional assets for the franchise."

He further elaborates on the Suns' current performance:

Stephen A. Smith [03:45]: "Phoenix is hovering around a .500 record, which is underachieving given their potential. Retaining Durant is crucial, but without significant improvements, the team risks stagnation."

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3. Impact on Other Teams: Miami Heat and Bradley Beal

Smith discusses the ripple effects Durant's potential trade could have on other NBA teams, particularly the Miami Heat and Bradley Beal:

Stephen A. Smith [04:10]: "Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat has expressed a strong desire to join Phoenix, primarily to play alongside Kevin Durant. If Durant remains with the Suns, Butler's aspirations are directly affected."

He also touches on the broader NBA trade landscape, noting that LeBron James and Bradley Beal are the only players with robust no-trade clauses, complicating potential moves:

Stephen A. Smith [04:35]: "Only LeBron James and Bradley Beal wield such powerful trade protections. Their clauses significantly influence the direction teams can take during the trade negotiations."

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4. Golden State Warriors' Current Status and Championship Aspirations

Shifting focus back to the Golden State Warriors, Smith provides a critical assessment of the team's current state without Durant:

Stephen A. Smith [05:00]: "Without Durant, the Warriors are essentially an average team with no genuine championship aspirations. Steph Curry remains spectacular, but the team lacks the necessary support to vie for another title."

He references past injuries and their long-term effects on the Warriors' roster:

Stephen A. Smith [05:20]: "Klay Thompson's injury during the critical Game 6 of the closeout series had a devastating impact. His prolonged absence has left a significant void in Golden State's lineup."

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5. Conclusion: The Road Ahead as NBA's Trade Deadline Approaches

In his final thoughts, Smith emphasizes the uncertainty surrounding Durant's future and the impending NBA trade deadline:

Stephen A. Smith [05:45]: "As we approach the NBA trading deadline, the decisions made in the next few weeks will shape the trajectory of these franchises. Durant's unwillingness to return to Golden State adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile trade environment."

Smith concludes by reaffirming Durant's elite status and his ongoing quest for another championship:

Stephen A. Smith [06:10]: "Kevin Durant remains one of the game's elite scorers with a 27-point per game average. His quest for a championship continues, but it's clear he won't be finding it in Golden State."

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Key Takeaways

• Kevin Durant's Position: Durant has unequivocally stated his disinterest in returning to the Golden State Warriors, despite their past championship successes together.

• Phoenix Suns' Trade Challenges: The Suns face significant hurdles in trading Durant due to Bradley Beal's no-trade clause, limiting their options for team improvement.

• Impact on Other Teams: Durant's potential movement affects other star players like Jimmy Butler, who aims to join Phoenix to play alongside Durant.

• Golden State Warriors' Future: Without Durant, the Warriors struggle to maintain their championship-level performance, relying heavily on Steph Curry without sufficient support.

• NBA Trade Deadline: The approaching trade deadline will be pivotal in determining Durant's next move and the future compositions of the involved franchises.

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This episode offers a thorough examination of the intricate dynamics at play in the NBA, providing listeners with a nuanced understanding of the factors influencing major player movements and team strategies as the trade deadline looms.

Transcript

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

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[Nate Thompson]

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[Nate Thompson]

Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I wanted to touch on news emanating out of Phoenix, Arizona involving the one and only Kevin Durant star for the Phoenix Suns. Rumors were swirling over the last couple of days that Kevin Durant would possibly be on the trading block because the Phoenix Suns unable to to get Bradley Beal to waive his no trade clause, would have no would have no choice but to trade Kevin Durant in order to get some additional compensation to the franchise. The Golden State warriors was a team that was interested the Miami Heat. You've heard about the Houston Rockets and others. Well, Kevin Durant has spoken so folks could stop speaking for him. And Kevin Durant stated emphatically that he has absolutely positively no interest in returning to the Golden State Warriors, a franchise that he helped that he helped to back to back championships after departing from Oklahoma City. If you Remember, Kevin Durant 2017, 2018 won back to back NBA titles with Steph Curry, with Klay Thompson, with Draymond Green and others. I contend he would have three pedded with ease had he not torn his Achilles. And ultimately Klay Thompson didn't get hurt in that closeout game six. I don't think there's any chance in hell that the Toronto Raptors led by Kawhi Leonard would have won more than a game. I think it would have been pushing it to assume they would have won a game. I think they could have been Swept. And at the very most they would have lost in five games to the Golden State warriors and the Golden State warriors would have three peated. But Kevin Durant to his Achilles, was out for the next year or so. Klay Thompson, his career, his career was ravaged for a couple of years. Golden State lost to the Toronto Raptors and a new era had begun thereafter. Kevin Durant is a 27 point per game scorer, one of the elite scorers this game has ever seen. I don't blame Matt Ishberg, the owner for the Phoenix Suns, not wanting to let go of Kevin Durant. It's bad news for Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, by the way, because he desperately wants to go to Phoenix. The Phoenix Suns have been trying to work out a trade to get him and the reason he wants to go to Phoenix is because he wants to play with Kevin Durant. He doesn't want to go there in place of Kevin Durant. So with the Phoenix Suns unwilling to move Kevin Durant, it appears with Kevin Durant not wanting to go to Golden State, with Phoenix stating that it has no interest in moving him, with Bradley Beal refusing to waive his no trade clause because Only him and LeBron James are the only two NBA players with a trade with a no trade clause in their contract. In this moment in time, Phoenix is what they are. They're a game above.500. They're hovering around being a.500 team. They've underachieved, there's no doubt about that. And Kevin Durant, despite his obvious unquestionable greatness, is a man that has not won a title since departing from Steph Curry and doesn't appear as if he will win a title without Steph Curry. So you had a lot of people hoping that he would end up going back to Golden State, but according to his words, that's not something that's about to happen. Because you could trade for him, but why would you trade for somebody who's stating he doesn't want to be there? My position was I didn't want him to go back there because he departed from them of his own volition years ago. And if he says he doesn't want to be there with you and he leaves Steph Curry to join Kyrie Irvin in Brooklyn, why would you bring him back? But desperate times call for desperate measures. And with Steph Curry still looking spectacular, he needs help and he doesn't have enough of it. And as a result, the Golden State warriors are just an average team with no real legitimate championship aspirations. So back to the drawing board as we approach the finality of the NBA's trading deadline scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

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[Greg Rosenthal]

Auto Parts what's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.