ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins has raised concerns about Kevin Durant’s hunger for championships, especially in light of the current turmoil surrounding the Phoenix Suns. Perkins warned that teams looking to trade for Durant should carefully evaluate his mindset, citing a potential lack of leadership as a red flag. 

This comes after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Durant and the Suns could work together to find him a new team if their challenging season continues to spiral.

Perkins, a former NBA champion with the 2008 Boston Celtics and a former teammate of Durant’s in the early 2010s, questioned the veteran forward’s current role with the Suns, noting that the team, currently sitting between 28-32, is missing the leadership that a player of Durant’s caliber should provide. This absence of leadership, Perkins argued, is particularly concerning for teams that are aiming to win a championship.

“The Suns are missing leadership, and here’s the bigger question: If you’re a team that’s actually looking to trade for Kevin Durant, and you’re trying to win a championship, do you actually want to trade for him?” Perkins asked during an appearance on NBA Countdown. “I’ve never seen a player that downplays winning the championship more than Kevin Durant.”

Durant, who won back-to-back titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, has since joined the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns with hopes of contending but has fallen short of another championship. His departure from Golden State, where he found success, and subsequent moves have prompted questions about his commitment to winning in a competitive team environment.

However, despite Perkins’ concerns, fellow ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith offered a more optimistic view, suggesting that Durant could still be an excellent fit for a team loaded with assets. Smith pointed to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant’s former team, as a potential landing spot, noting their abundance of draft picks.

“If you’re the OKC Thunder, you’re damn right you better trade for Durant,” Smith said, emphasizing the team’s wealth of assets. “They can’t even use all the damn assets. You can give away four or five first-round picks and still have a boatload of picks.”

Smith also doubled down on Durant’s fit in any system, stating, “There is no question he can fit into any system… he is a plus, he is an additive.”

Meanwhile, Charania reported that Durant was blindsided by the trade rumors and expressed frustration over his name being mentioned in discussions. He also highlighted that unless the Suns can turn their season around, a breakup between Durant and the team seems increasingly likely.

Beyond the Thunder, other teams reportedly interested in Durant include the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets. While staying in Phoenix is still an option, the Suns face significant challenges in retooling their roster due to limited assets and the burdensome contract of Bradley Beal, which is widely seen as one of the most unfavourable in the NBA.