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Kendrick Perkins: Kevin Durant ‘not a needle mover’ for championships anymore

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Kendrick Perkins:Obviously, he’s going to be traded from the reports before the draft or maybe on draft night. I would like to tell the teams out there that’s actually looking to get Kevin Durant approach with cautions. Okay? Because Kevin Durant is not a needle mover in my opinion no more when it comes down to if you’re trying to win a championship and this is not something that I’m making up. This is facts, right? Like he hasn’t moved the needle. Brooklyn Nets, one of the biggest busts in NBA history with that Big Three in Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. Move over, you go to the Phoenix Suns, another bust with another big three. Two firings of two championship coaches in Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer.
Source: YouTube

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
Wrote about Friday’s reporting on KD where the Wolves, Rockets, and Heat are in discussions with the Suns: open.substack.com/pub/thespotups…
– Looked at Spurs’ projected mins if they add a starting wing via trade
– Also at Spurs’ options with 14th pick
– MIN now Vegas fav to land KD – 1:53 AM
Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
Chances of Spurs acquiring Kevin Durant are decreasing open.substack.com/pub/thespotups… pic.x.com/fQl1kGwJar – 1:41 AM

Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Shai misses one more of these mid-range pull-ups and Kevin Durant is walking out of the tunnel wearing his blue 35 accompanied by David Stern. – 10:48 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
If I’m Phoenix I’m not trading Durant until these Finals are over. I need to be SURE OKC isn’t interested if they lose this series since they have so much more to trade than anyone else.
I don’t think they’d do it and I don’t think KD would want it. Would just need to be sure. – 9:48 PM
Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
You’re not true Hoop head if you’re not enjoying these 2 teams compete right now in these Finals. This is some good ass basketball being played by both Teams – 9:24 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“This is a legacy moment.”
@KendrickPerkins wants the OKC Big 3 to ‘shock the world’ in Game 4‼ #NBAFinals pic.x.com/xVgZ2zSMm4 – 8:11 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Sources: Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant trade ‘in the coming days,’ Houston Rockets ideal destination (w/video) #Suns azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 7:50 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I’m not saying I’m against the Timberwolves giving away Rudy Gobert in a Kevin Durant trade. I just want to know what their plan for protecting the basket is going to be because neither Randle nor Naz are viable defensive centers. – 2:30 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Big question I have right now in the KD sweepstakes is which, if any, of the reported teams will be willing to extend him at the full amount right now? – 1:54 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
‘Can’t be about Durant’: ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says Phoenix Suns must get trade ‘right’ (w/video) #Suns azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 1:43 PM
Evan Sidery @esidery
A Kevin Durant trade now could occur by the end of this weekend, per @ShamsCharania on @PatMcAfeeShow.
The Heat, Rockets and Timberwolves are submitting their final offers to the Suns.
Negotiations with Phoenix are going very quickly as they want a firm solution by the draft. pic.x.com/3UZTZMm0RY – 1:37 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
NBA Trade Rumors Roundup: Kevin Durant trade could happen soon, Clippers in the mix
Things Adam Silver really “loves” include a major trade dropping during the NBA Finals and upstaging it. Would Ishbia do that?
nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba-t… – 1:24 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“The focus of the Suns’ conversation has been on a few of the teams and here they are: the Houston Rockets, the Miami Heat, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.”
@ShamsCharania discusses the three teams in talks with acquiring Kevin Durant 👀 (via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.x.com/X24C4o1Hvh – 1:17 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“This cannot be, ‘I’m doing the star a favor looking to move.’ This is about you if you’re Mat Ishbia and the Phoenix Suns. This is about you making sure that you get it right.”
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on Suns looking to trade Kevin Durant.
“It can’t be about Durant.” #Suns pic.x.com/SezDPCXq31 – 12:36 PM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
On ESPN now, @ShamsCharania reporting that the Rockets, Heat and Timberwolves are the teams most engaged in trade talks with the Suns about Kevin Durant. – 12:29 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
NEW #OpenFloor w/@Rachel__Nichols:
▪The Knicks coaching search gets weirder
▪Is New York done chasing Jason Kidd?
▪Durant trade options coming together
▪How Indiana has seized control of the Finals ⬇ podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eve… – 11:53 AM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Good morning,
Posted story yesterday about Auburn big Johni Broome’s planned visit to Phoenix Suns.
Another story on who else is coming, already been on deck.
Then there’s Kevin Durant and where he may wind up.
Suns expected to trade him.
Left you with one question. #Suns pic.x.com/g1ucfzB3gu – 9:32 AM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“He finally arrived to the NBA Finals.”
@KendrickPerkins talks about Tyrese Haliburton’s performance for the Pacers in Game 3 🏀 pic.x.com/aS3lTo1tfY – 3:32 PM

More on this storyline

 

Awful Announcing: “By the way, Pat McAfee, in OKC, we don’t need nobody on the mic to get them hyped. They’re gonna be hyped. That building is gonna be rocking.” Kendrick Perkins responds to Pat McAfee hyping the Indiana crowd up. -via Twitter / June 14, 2025
“You look at Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, LeBron, Steph, what did they all have in common?” Perkins asked. “While they was all playing in the league, they all were family men. They all were married with kids. And if you think that don’t play a role as far as the role model, this is facts. This is not something that I’m making up. Now, what happened to them after they retired, that’s their business. But while they were playing, they were family men. Married with kids.” -via Awful Announcing / May 27, 2025
According to Kendrick Perkins, it’s not playoff moments, championships, MVPs, scoring titles, or a boisterous personality that Anthony Edwards needs. If Edwards is going to be the face of the NBA, he needs a wife and kids. “You gotta check the boxes when you’re the face of the league,” Perkins told Stephen A. Smith and the Morris twins on First Take. “Yes, we know you gotta have your signature shoe, you’re gonna be in commercials, you’re gonna have the highlights, you gotta have the game. But you know what else you gotta have? You gotta be a role model.” -via Awful Announcing / May 27, 2025
Marc Stein: What you’re hearing now on Kevin Durant, there are teams out there that are saying, you know what, we know he’s only under contract for one more year at about 55 million. We’re willing to gamble on him. And the Toronto Raptors are one of those teams. And the Toronto Raptors have already done this. They’ve already gambled on a Hall-of-Fame-bound forward who had one year left on his deal, traded for Kawhi Leonard, won a championship, and immediately lost Kawhi Leonard. -via YouTube / June 14, 2025