The Phoenix Suns made a stunning acquisition late Wednesday night, getting star forward Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets, according to The Athletic and ESPN, hours after Mat Ishbia took over as owner.
Durant and T.J. Warren are headed to Phoenix in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round draft picks, per the reports. ESPN added that the Nets will also get a 2028 draft-pick exchange.
The Suns add Durant to an underachieving squad that sits at 30-26, tied for fourth place in the Western Conference. Phoenix reached the NBA Finals in 2020-21, then posted the best regular-season record last season before falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the conference semifinals.
Durant's exit from the Nets ends the sorry history of a ballyhooed "Big Three" that was expected to bring glory to Brooklyn.
Kyrie Irving signed a free-agent deal with the Nets in July 2021, and Durant joined up as a free agent the next month. When James Harden was acquired in a trade in February 2022, the Nets were viewed as a top contender, but injuries and Irving's various off-court issues scuttled those hopes.
The Nets were swept in the first round of the playoffs last season. Harden exited as a free agent in July. Irving demanded a trade last week, then was dealt to the Mavericks on Monday. Now Durant is gone, too.
Durant, 34, won two NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors, was the NBA MVP in 2013-14 and is a 13-time All-Star. He has been sidelined since Jan. 8 due to a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
Durant is averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 39 games this season.