NBA Trade Deadline: Kevin Durant traded to the Phoenix Suns

The NBA has been flipped on its head with one of the biggest superstars being sent to a rival squad in a league shattering move.

NBA trade deadline fast approaching

The NBA Trade period exploded on Thursday with teams swinging for the fences in the 24 hours for the deadline closed.

The first big bomb dropped on Monday morning when Kyrie Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks by the Brooklyn Nets.

Watch an average of 9 LIVE NBA Regular Season games per week on ESPN on Kayo Sports on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

With that move the spotlight was thrust onto fellow Nets superstar Kevin Durant who was sent to the Western Conference in a move that almost broke the internet.

A day after LeBron James broke the NBA scoring record, the Los Angeles Lakers pulled the trigger on a mega three-team deal.

The trade deadline is set to close at 6am (AEDT) on Friday morning. Don’t miss any of the big news right here.

5.15pm - Durant bombshell as Nets send him to Suns

Kevin Durant is officially joining the Phoenix Suns in a move that completely reshapes the NBA landscape.

The trade will see Durant team up with Devin Booker and Chris Paul in Phoenix with the Nets receiving Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round draft picks in return.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the picks “are unprotected picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029, source tells ESPN.”

The Suns are currently fifth in the loaded Western Conference with a 30-26 record. The addition of Durant will only elevate their standing in the Conference and no doubtedly make them a serious contender to make the NBA Finals.

The trade sent the NBA world into complete meltdown.

Mikal Bridges tweeted this after seeing the news he had been traded to the Nets 😅 pic.twitter.com/uHomsBbNZi

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 9, 2023

BREAKING: Nets are trading Kevin Durant to the Suns, per @ChrisBHaynespic.twitter.com/09hd9mbxfa

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 9, 2023

First reaction is the Nets absolutely could’ve gotten a bigger haul for KD this Summer.

This doesn’t seem like nearly enough given that there’s no blue chipper going back to them & those picks shouldn’t ever be great as long as Booker is there.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) February 9, 2023

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?! pic.twitter.com/nvJIF5aGEn

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 9, 2023

The NBA is insane. I love it.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 9, 2023

2pm - Star ruthlessly traded during warmups

The New York Knicks having joined the trade party after agreeing to terms on a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Cam Reddish and a protected future first-round pick will be heading to Portland with the Knicks receiving guard Josh Hart in return.

Hart was in the midst of warmups with his Blazers teammates when the trade news dropped. Photos uploaded to social media showed players huddled around a mobile phone before Blazers star Damian Lillard gives his now ex-teammate a hug.

Reaction from Hart being traded right before warmups, he's off to the Knicks #RipCityhttps://t.co/39Oo4Vrs1upic.twitter.com/BBGLv9XE77

— Austin White (@ajw_sports) February 9, 2023

On the East coast it was a different story with Knicks star Jalen Brunson overjoyed when he was shown the news by a passerby.

Jalen Brunson's reaction to the Knicks getting Josh Hart 😂

(via @Capj1344)pic.twitter.com/5VvGqet3Z5

— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) February 9, 2023

12pm – Westbrook’s time in LA is over

Russell Westbrook is done as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The MVP guard has been involved in trade rumours consistently over the past 12 months, on Thursday his tenure in LA came to an end.

A three-team trade was reported earlier in the morning, before it became official just after midday.

“ESPN Sources: The Lakers are finalizing deal to land Minnesota’s D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in trade including Mike Conley and picks to Timberwolves and Russell Westbrook and a top-4 protected 2027 LA first-round pick to Jazz,” Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted.

The Jazz are expected to buy out Westbrook’s contract, making him a free agent on the NBA market.

ESPN’s Chris Haynes reported both the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls have interest in acquiring Westbrook should he hit the open market.

Should Russell Westbrook secure a buyout from the Utah Jazz after the three-team trade is complete, the Los Angeles Clippers are said to have interest in the star guard, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 9, 2023

The trade comes after a reportedly heated altercation the star had with Lakers coach Darvin Ham.

Ham was reportedly frustrated with Westbrook for lingering on the court after he had been subbed out in the second quarter. The two reportedly exchanged verbal barbs in the locker room at halftime.

It also means Westbrook joins an exclusive club as he joins Bob McAdoo in becoming only the second player to be traded four times after winning the MVP award.

Russell Westbrook is on the move again 😳 pic.twitter.com/kbqkQqTiYU

— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) February 9, 2023

10am – All eyes on Durant and the Nets

Kyrie Irving is gone so what does that mean for Kevin Durant? That’s the question a lot of rival teams are asking as they wait for the Nets to make a potential move.

Durant wanted out prior to the season commencing and now without his star point guard next to him, his wish might finally be on the brink of being granted.

Wojnarowski reported that Durant and the Nets have been engaged in talks with owner Joe Tsai and general manager Sean Marks since Irving was traded.

Sources told Wojnarowski that Brooklyn is insisting to inquiring teams that it “has no intention” of moving Durant before the deadline.

NBA trade deadline fast approaching

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that rival teams also aren’t wanting to help the Nets improve their roster by handing over a king’s ransom for Durant.

“The Nets, I’m not sure teams really want to do business with them right now,” Windhorst said on a recent episode of his ‘The Hoop Collective’ podcast

“Because there’s at least some teams that are interested in seeing if they can get Durant. And why would I help the Nets do something to build around Durant when I’m just going to hold my assets for Durant.

“There may be other teams that are not even interested in doing business with the Nets right now that might also hold assets at this deadline, with the mind towards Durant, not that Durant would be available, but the Durant will be available again in the summer.”