The NBA trade deadline always delivers chaos, and this year has already delivered one of the most shocking trades we’ve seen in years. Just days after the Dallas Mavericks stunned the world by trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, another superstar could potentially be on the move.
If Dončić — one of the league’s brightest young stars — can be dealt midseason, is anyone truly untouchable?
That was the question on Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant’s mind when he reacted to the blockbuster deal. A player who has seen his own share of high-profile trades, even Durant couldn’t believe what had just unfolded. His reaction perfectly captured the shockwaves rippling through not just the NBA but the entire sports world.
Kevin Durant’s Reaction to the Luka Dončić Trade
In reaction to the Dončić trade in a postgame presser, Durant commented, “Insane. It’s crazy. It’s crazy… I would have never thought Luka Dončić would get traded at this age, mid-season… The NBA is a wild place, man. If he can get traded, then anybody’s up for grabs.
“For the fans, for somebody spectating, it’s pretty fun. I know it’s kind of nerve-wracking, though, probably for Luka, everybody in Dallas, LA, AD [Anthony Davis]… For everybody involved, I’m sure their heads are spinning right now.
“It’s always been a transactional business. Players are held to a different standard of loyalty, commitment to a program, but organizations don’t get held to that same standard from the outside world: media members, fans. We all should be held to that same standard. It’s a transactional game, there’s a lot of money involved.
“We shouldn’t be too shocked about trades. It’s a pretty wild time in the NBA, especially around the trade deadline. I know everybody’s gonna be watching their phone for the next week. We got five days, so I know everybody’s gonna be following the updates, so it’s crazy.
“It’s the nature of the sport; anything can happen, keeps you on the edge… I mean, you start seeing stuff like that, and you, as an organization, you might get a little bit more courage to do some stuff when you see another team trade away somebody like that…
“This gotta be the biggest trade I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league or since I’ve been watching the sport; this is insane. So yeah, every other team might get the confidence to say ‘f*** it, I’ll trade my…you know what I’m saying? I’ll trade my top players, a few of my top players, f*** it, if this ain’t working… I’m still shocked.”
Durant’s words weren’t just about Dončić. They were about the state of the NBA itself. The trade market has shifted — organizations are more aggressive, and no star is immune to the business side of the NBA.
Suns Are Reportedly Listening to Offers for Durant
And now, the irony is impossible to ignore. Just days after making that statement, Durant himself is possibly on the trade block. The Suns, once firm in their stance of keeping their Big Three intact, are now listening to offers for the 14-time all-star.
The Phoenix Suns have been listening to trade offers for Kevin Durant, per @JakeLFischer
“Phoenix, entering Monday's business, continued to signal that it does not plan to move Durant before the deadline, sources said, but the Suns are believed to be listening at the very least… pic.twitter.com/EhuMo9YDm1
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 3, 2025
Although the Suns have said they don’t plan on moving Durant, the NBA is unpredictable. In the same way no one saw Dončić getting traded, no one expects the Suns to consider moving Durant so soon. Yet, here we are, watching another superstar’s future get thrown into uncertainty.
