Details of Steph Curry-Kevin Durant Talk Before Failed Warriors Trade Leaked
Get insights into Stephen Curry's conversation with Kevin Durant about his failed return to the Golden State Warriors.
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Former Warriors teammates Stephen Curry (L) and Kevin Durant celebrate after scoring in the men's Gold Medal basketball match between France and USA during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Not even Stephen Curry could persuade Kevin Durant to return to the Golden State Warriors.
Durant delivered the bad news to the Warriors in a conversation with Curry, ESPNâs Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne reported on Friday, Feb. 7.
âCurry wanted a read on how Durant would feel about returning to the team he had chosen to leave after the 2019 Finals, sources said.
âDurant told him it didnât âfeel rightâ and that this âwasnât the timeâ to revisit their basketball partnership, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the conversations. He added he was happy in Phoenix and wasnât looking to play elsewhere,â Windhorst and Shelburne wrote.
The Warriors had a three-team trade framework in conversations with the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns that would have landed them Durant. It would have been for a massive package that included rising star Jonathan Kuminga and multiple picks.
âThe three-way talks even expanded to loop in Washington. Those talks included Butler, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas, two first-round picks (from the Warriors) and two second-round picks (one each from the Heat and Warriors), and pick swaps going to the Suns, sources said. The Warriors wouldâve received Durant, while the Heat couldâve received Wiggins, Clevelandâs 2025 first-round pick (via Phoenix), Dennis Schroder and Kyle Anderson,â Windhorst and Shelburne wrote.
Fortunately for the Warriors, they were able to execute their backup plan and acquired Jimmy Butler without giving up Kuminga.
Durant, who was blindsided by the trade talks, could become available again this summer if the Suns couldnât mend their relationship and they continue to flop. With Butler, the Warriors have what the Suns want and Kuminga along with multiple first-round picks to use in star chasing.
Jimmy Butler Acknowledges Warriors is Steph Curryâs Team
As Butler gets a fresh start with the Warriors, who gave him what he wanted â a two-year, $112 million extension â he acknowledged that this is and will always be Curryâs team.
âWe good,â Butler told reporters during his introductory press conference when asked about his basketball fit with Curry. âPass the ball to Steph. And get out of the way. Easy.â
Butler, who was the main star in two Heat teams that went to the NBA Finals, arrived in Golden State ready to be Curryâs sidekick.
âAs far as playing with Steph, I mean everybody knows heâs the greatest shooter in the world, greatest shooter in history,â Butler said. âThat makes my job a lot easier. I probably got a lot more space out there, but more than anything I think itâs always going to be a team effort. We all got a lot more space out there so weâll see how it goes.â
Steph Curry Welcomes the Addition of a âHungryâ Jimmy Butler
While the Warriors failed to get Durant â the Finals MVP of two of their last four championship runs â back, Butler is not too shabby to be their fallback option.
âBringing Jimmy in like heâs here for a reason to help try to get us to the next level,â Curry told reporters after the Warriors lost 120-112 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, Feb. 6. âItâs going to look different. We have an opportunity to kind of solidify [our] rotation and make the necessary adjustments from play calls to just different sets that can feature him and his skill set and get us to a level where weâre playing consistent basketball.
âI know heâs hungry to get back out there and play. Heâs had a wild up and down year for a lot of reasons and Iâm excited for him to be a part of what we do and [have] ultimate confidence that weâll be able to figure it out. All you want is a chance and I think he can help us get there.â
Chances to get back to the playoffs have been dwindling fast for the Warriors, who have lost 23 of their next 36 games since that 12-3 start. Butler is expected to inject some life to their flailing hopes to get back to the playoffs.