Kevin Durant Shocked By Giannis Antetokounmpo Bucks Trade Rumors

Merlin sees Kevin Durant was surprised to be named in trade chatter around Giannis Antetokounmpo after SiriusXM's Justin Termine floated the idea that Giannis might shun cold cities. ESPN’s Shams Charania had reported Durant had "no desire" to join Minnesota, and Durant pushed back on social media while reminding fans of his place on the all-time scoring list. He remains an elite scorer this season for Houston, averaging 26.5 points with efficient shooting. Merlin senses the noise is more rumor than roadmap. At 37, with championships, an MVP and the Rockets at 29-17, Durant looks like a player teams expect to use to win now rather than a centerpiece in a blockbuster swap. His online jabs calm curiosity and keep the focus on the court.