When they signed Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns could have had him in mind.

Suns close to hiring Nets' Matt Tellem to front office role, per report

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who broke the news on Friday, Matt Tellem is reportedly close to joining the Suns’ front office. Tellem is now an executive for Durant’s old team, the Brooklyn Nets.

Suns close to hiring Nets' Matt Tellem to front office role, per report

Tellem, who is 35 years old, has been a member of the Nets since 2011. Director of strategic planning, senior director of cap and strategy (also known as lead capologist), and assistant general manager for the Long Island Nets, a G League affiliate, were just a few of Tellem’s many responsibilities during Durant’s 2019–23 tenure in Brooklyn. Tellem was elevated to the position of vice president of strategy for the Nets during the 2023-24 season.

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Notably, the current vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons, Arn Tellem, was once a superagent; Tellem is the son of Tellem. In addition to his work at Tellem and Associates, Arn Tellem was a partner at Wasserman Media Group. Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers was an agent for Arn Tellem before he signed Kevin Durant to the team in 2016.

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Regarding Durant in particular, reports have been circulating recently suggesting that he is (surprise, surprise) dissatisfied with his situation in Phoenix. Nevertheless, Durant’s deal with the Suns extends until 2026, and the addition of Matt Tellem might potentially alleviate some tensions.