\nThe reports that the Raptors are monitoring his situation are credible and make sense, given Toronto had conversations with the Suns back in February about the possibility of a Durant trade.<\/p>\n
But to cut through some of the smoke: multiple sources have confirmed to me that Raptors centre\u00a0Jakob Poeltl\u00a0would not be part of any deal \u2014 however unlikely a Raptors-Suns deal might be \u2014 centred around Durant. The Suns were asking for Poeltl at the trade deadline and got a firm \u2018no\u2019 back then, but that hasn\u2019t stopped them from asking, apparently.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Stein confirmed that report, adding that the Raptors are seeking to potentially extend Poeltl.<\/p>\n
Poeltl would immediately become the Suns\u2019 answer for a starting center if he were acquired. The 29-year-old averaged 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game and in 595 NBA games is a 63% shooter. He also has a little playmaking juice and last year averaged 2.8 assists per game.<\/p>\n
Taking him out of a deal in any theoretical two-team trade between Phoenix and Toronto means the Suns could center a trade around point guard Immanuel Quickley and wing R.J. Barrett \u2014 the Suns acquiring both would require cap-freeing moves by Phoenix first \u2014 plus more filler if it\u2019s only one of the two.<\/p>\n
Stein added that Phoenix\u2019s trade talks with the Miami Heat also at this point do not include a starting-caliber center coming back to the Suns.<\/p>\n
\nJust like Poeltl in Toronto, Miami is said to be firmly against including standout rookie center\u00a0Kel\u2019el Ware\u00a0in their offers for Durant, sources say. Without Ware in a theoretical trade, Phoenix is presumed to be seeking future first-round draft capital from Miami to help deliver Durant to South Beach at long last.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Ware, the No. 15 pick in the 2024 draft, was a low-floor, high-ceiling prospect who showcased his upside in 2024-25.<\/p>\n
He averaged 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds with 36 starts in 64 games played, flashing some stretch-5 abilities to complement his elite athleticism as a rim-roller.<\/p>\n
Take that non-inclusion combined with Toronto\u2019s, and it\u2019s clear the Suns are still battling to get a reasonable trade return for a top wing scorer in the league, even if Durant could be playing as a 37-year-old on an expiring contract.<\/p>\n
Durant, a 15-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer, appeared in 145 regular games with Phoenix and averaged 26.6 points on 52.7% shooting and 42.7% from long range.<\/p>\n
Even worse, Stein suggested the Suns don\u2019t even have decent draft assets on the table from several of the teams in the Durant conversation.<\/p>\n
\nLeague sources say that the Suns\u2019 Durant discussions in recent days have likewise featured attempts to coax, say, Toronto to part with its No. 9 overall pick on Wednesday night. Or Minnesota\u2019s No. 17 selection. Or Miami\u2019s turn at No. 20.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Add these things up, and that is why the expectation is that the Suns could be pushing into draft day to get an acceptable deal for the star who appears all but certain to be leaving.<\/p>\n
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