We tried Chick-fil-A's new Cauliflower Sandwich. Here's how it tastes ...

Chick-fil-A's newest sandwich looks just like its original, but it sure doesn't taste like it.

The Atlanta-based restaurant chain is debuting a new Cauliflower Sandwich in three different markets on Monday.

It's the company's first plant-forward entree.

"We are committed to chicken, and chicken is the hero," said Leslie Neslage, director of Menu and Packaging for Chick-fil-A. "But... it was becoming more and more prevalent that customers really want to find ways to increase vegetables in their diet."

Customers can already order salads and other items without chicken, but Chef Stuart Tracy, senior lead culinary developer for Chick-fil-A, told USA TODAY, "We wanted it to be a purpose-built entree that was plant-forward."

USA TODAY was invited to Chick-fil-A's Test Kitchen to try out the new sandwich before it hit restaurants. Here's what customers should know:

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What is Chick-fil-A's new sandwich made of?

The Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich may look like a chicken sandwich – down to the same seasoned breading, two pickle slices and toasted bun – but one bite and it's clear the star of this sandwich is the cauliflower, which is fileted and marinated in a mild buffalo-style sauce, before being hand-breaded and pressure cooked to a crispy finish.

What makes this sandwich different?

Unlike KFC's Beyond Fried Chicken and Burger King's Impossible Whopper, which feature plant-based meat substitutes, this sandwich embraces the whole plant, which both Tracy and Neslage said customers in focus groups requested.

"Resoundingly over and over again, they were like 'Hey, we need it to be identifiable as a vegetable. Like I don't want to look at it and wonder what's it made of,' " Tracy said.

He handcrafted the recipe, leaning on his background of fine and farm-to-table dining. "We didn't know we necessarily wanted it to be similar to the chicken experience or the experience of eating a chicken sandwich, but we knew it had to taste like Chick-fil-A," he said.

Why cauliflower?

Chick-fil-A explored dozens of plant-centered concepts, including whole mushroom caps and fried green tomatoes, before honing in on cauliflower.

"This was the sandwich that customers absolutely fell in love with, and it scored head and shoulders above anything else," Neslage said.

What does the Cauliflower Sandwich taste like?

I don't generally like Chick-fil-A sandwiches because I personally detest chicken breast, but I ate every bite of that Cauliflower Sandwich. The flavors of the breading and marinade really came through. It didn't need extra sauce.

I had been a little worried because the cauliflower is previously frozen, which can make it a little soggy, but it was perfectly pressure cooked with a nice crunch and hearty mouthfeel that didn't weigh me down.

"A lot of the development timeline was like OK, how do we get it to not be like sweaty, mushy, stinky cauliflower, but also not like raw, dry, 'I can't even swallow this' cauliflower?" Tracy acknowledged. "It was a fair amount of work."

Is it vegetarian?

Chick-fil-A calls the Cauliflower Sandwich plant-forward, not vegetarian, even though there's no meat.

"This is made with cauliflower, pickles, bread, milk and eggs. If that works for your definition of vegetarian, awesome," Neslage said. "But it is not isolated in our kitchens. We have chicken all day, every day, and that's not going away, so we want to be very candid and open and honest with our customers."

The company is meticulous about food safety, but there are no areas specifically reserved for vegetarian or vegan meal prep in its kitchens.

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Is it gluten-free?

Chick-fil-A does offer gluten-free buns, but this sandwich is not gluten-free because the cauliflower breading contains gluten.

Where can you buy it?

Starting Monday, the Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich will be available in Denver, Charleston, South Carolina, and the Greensboro-Triad area of North Carolina for a limited time, while supplies last.

Will it be available nationwide?

The Cauliflower Sandwich is in a testing phase. Feedback will determine whether it's rolled out nationwide.

"We really want to make sure it's the right thing for our customers, it's the right thing for operators, it works well for our team members, it makes sense for the business," Neslage told USA TODAY. If everything goes well and no changes are needed, she said it could be available nationally within six months to a year. "If we have to make some tweaks and changes, it takes a little bit longer."

How much does it cost?

Pricing varies by market location, but the starting price is $6.59.

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How long has this been in the works?

Chick-fil-A began developing the Cauliflower Sandwich in October 2018. Tracy knew he had something special right away, but it can take years before a concept is introduced to customers if it makes it that far at all.

In this particular case, the chef said, "This is not something that was part of a product catalog that we pointed to and said, 'Yep, do that. Sprinkle some Chick-fil-A magic dust on top of it and it's ours now.' " He explained how they had to work with suppliers to grow and slice cauliflower to specific dimensions and also perfect the preparation process so it could be easily executed by team members in every restaurant layout. "We invented it from the ground up, pun fully intended," he laughed.

Neslage noted it's easier to test and roll out items like seasonal beverages more quickly because the infrastructure and similar processes are already in place, but this sandwich marks a whole new category for the company.

What was the last thing Chick-fil-A introduced?

Chick-fil-A is constantly exploring new menu items, but only a few make it to market.

Last year, the Autumn Spice Milkshake and Cloudberry Sunjoy debuted nationally while Chorizo Cheddar Egg Bites were tested in select markets. There hasn't been a new entree introduced since the Grilled Spicy Deluxe sandwich in 2021.

Customers should note that not everything Chick-fil-A test goes national. RIP, sweet potato fries.

Why Chick-fil-A workers always say 'my pleasure' | CNN Business

New York CNN Business —

No one has ever confused the service at fast food joints for luxury hotels.

But two decades ago, Chick-fil-A borrowed a tactic from The Ritz-Carlton that would become a central element of its brand culture: Employees replying to customers who thank them by saying “my pleasure,” instead of “you’re welcome” or “no problem.”

Although it’s a small gesture, the polite response fits into Chick-fil-A’s positioning as a chicken sandwich chain with hospitable service, along with putting flowers on tables and employees going outside to take customers’ drive-thru orders while they wait in their cars.

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It “all fits into the broader perception of Chick-fil-A as a family-run, fast-food place with better quality service than most,” said Adam Chandler, a journalist and the author of “Drive-Thru Dreams.”

Founder Truett Cathy grew Chick-fil-A from a southern chicken joint into a national chain. Joe Benton/Atlanta Journal Constitution/AP

The origins of the pleasantry began in 2001, at the company’s annual seminar for franchise owners, according to Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A’s former longtime marketing chief, in his book “Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A.”

Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy told the group a story about visiting a Ritz-Carlton. Whenever Cathy thanked a hotel employee, the worker would smile and respond, “my pleasure.”

At the time, Chick-fil-A, which Cathy started in 1946 in Hapeville, Georgia, was trying to expand beyond the South and distinguish the brand nationally from fast food chains with a reputation for subpar customer service.

Cathy, a devout Southern Baptist who has attributed his chicken empire success in part to his Christian faith, believed using the phrase would surprise customers and stand out in the fast food industry. He once called it a “head-turner,” according to the company.

So he asked Chick-fil-A managers and staff to start saying “my pleasure” when customers thanked them, but many were initially hesitant, according to Robinson.

Video Ad Feedback Customer in cardiac arrest, Chick-fil-A manager jumps in 01:20 - Source: KGTV

It wasn’t until 2003 — when Cathy’s son Dan, who later became CEO, started saying “my pleasure” himself and pushing others to follow suit — that it became an unwritten rule at the company, as it remains today.

“It dawned on me that this could be a service signature for us, almost like two pickles on a sandwich,” Dan Cathy said. Chick-fil-A leaders tapped a marketing executive to overhaul its entire service strategy, which grew to include training workers to greet customers with a smile, make eye contact and speak in an enthusiastic voice.

‘My pleasure and Chick-fil-A go hand in hand’

Today, “my pleasure” is a brand catchphrase and part of the popular lore around Chick-fil-A, which had 2,730 outlets and hit nearly $16 billion in sales in 2021, according to Technomic, a food industry research and consulting firm. (Chick-fil-A is privately-held by the Cathy family and is now led by a grandson of Truett Cathy, who died in 2014.)

“My pleasure” is printed on Chick-fil-A souvenir t-shirts and is the name of a fan podcast. Rumors often swirl on social media that you’ll get free food if you say “my pleasure” to an employee. (You won’t.)

Like closing on Sundays — Truett Cathy once said “it’s a silent witness to the Lord when people go into shopping malls [on Sunday], and everyone is bustling, and you see that Chick-fil-A is closed” — saying “my pleasure” is a symbol of the company’s ethos.

There's no official policy on saying "my pleasure" at Chick-fil-A. But it's part of the company's strategy to stand out against fast food competitors. Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The chain’s “calling cards of being closed on Sunday and saying ‘my pleasure’ are nearly as important to the brand identity as the food,” said Adam Chandler.

Although Chick-fil-A has been a polarizing company in the past for its opposition to same-sex marriage and support for anti-LGBTQ organizations, it has ranked atop the American Customer Satisfaction Index for limited service and fast food chains for seven years in a row.

Of course, workers simply saying “my pleasure” isn’t why the company tops customer service rankings. But “my pleasure and Chick-fil-A go hand in hand,” said Emily Gilmore, a manager at a Chick-fil-A in Concord, North Carolina.

It sometimes takes new employees a while to get used to the phrase, she said, but it eventually becomes second nature — even when they’re not on the job.

“I say it at home too. It drives my husband absolutely crazy,” Gilmore said. “He says ‘Can’t you just say, you’re welcome?’ And I’m like ‘No. I can’t.’ It just comes naturally to me now.”

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the name of the American Customer Satisfaction Index survey.

KFC Beyond Fried Chicken: Chain already out of plant-based chicken

UPDATE: KFC's Beyond Fried Chicken sold out in less than five hours Tuesday at the one Atlanta area location it was being tested at, KFC said in a statement. The company says it will "evaluate these results and customer feedback to determine the best way forward beyond the Atlanta test – potentially a larger test and/or national rollout."

Amid the Chicken Sandwich Wars of 2019, the granddaddy of fried chicken is looking beyond.

KFC announced Monday it becomes the first national fast-food chain to introduce a plant-based chicken in partnership with El Segundo, California-based Beyond Meat.

But don't run to your closest KFC yet.

The chicken chain is testing the new Beyond Fried Chicken at one of its Atlanta restaurants, located at 2637 Cobb Parkway SE in Smyrna, Georgia starting Tuesday. The meat alternative is available in nuggets or boneless wings tossed in one of three sauce options: Nashville Hot, Buffalo or Honey BBQ.

Based on feedback from the Atlanta test, KFC said in a statement "a broader test or potential national rollout" will be considered.

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“KFC Beyond Fried Chicken is so delicious, our customers will find it difficult to tell that it’s plant-based,” said Kevin Hochman, KFC U.S. president and chief concept officer, in a statement. "I think we’ve all heard ‘it tastes like chicken’ – well our customers are going to be amazed and say, ‘it tastes like Kentucky Fried Chicken!’”

Beyond Meat CEO and founder Ethan Brown said his only regret is not being able to see Col. Sanders himself “enjoy this important moment.”

“KFC is an iconic part of American culture and a brand that I, like so many consumers, grew up with,” Brown said in a statement. “To be able to bring Beyond Fried Chicken, in all of its KFC-inspired deliciousness to market, speaks to our collective ability to meet the consumer where they are and accompany them on their journey.”

The demand for plant-based products has been growing as more people want to reduce meat consumption due to health concerns.

Burger King's Impossible Whopper, which is a plant-based patty developed by food startup Impossible Foods, is available nationwide for a limited time. In April, it was piloted in St. Louis area, and in less than a month, the test was expanded to more markets ahead of the national release in August.

Starting in September and for a limited time, select Subway locations will have the Beyond Meatball Marinara sub as part of a new partnership with Beyond Meat.

Free samples in Atlanta area

To kick off the one-restaurant test in Smyrna, Georgia, KFC will be giving out free Beyond Fried Chicken samples with purchase of any KFC menu item from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27, while supplies last.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko

Food packaging contains dangerous chemicals, report says | CNN

CNN —

Alarming levels of dangerous chemicals known as PFAS were discovered in food packaging at a number of well-known fast-food and fast-casual restaurants and grocery store chains, a new report found.

The highest levels of indicators for PFAS were found in food packaging from Nathan’s Famous, Cava, Arby’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Stop & Shop and Sweetgreen, according to an investigation released Thursday by Consumer Reports.

Often called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment, PFAS are used in food packaging to prevent grease and water from soaking through food wrappers and beverage cups. PFAS can also be found in the ink used to print logos and instructions on food containers.

The new report comes more than two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, when the public has relied heavily on takeout and grocery deliveries.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) a “public health concern,” citing studies that found the human-made chemicals can harm the immune system and reduce a person’s resistance to infectious diseases.

“There is evidence from human and animal studies that PFAS exposure may reduce antibody responses to vaccines,” stated the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. “More research is needed to understand how PFAS exposure may affect illness from COVID-19.”

More than 100 food products tested

The Consumer Reports investigation collected 118 food packaging products sold by 24 companies in the tristate area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It tested those products for organic fluorine – a marker for PFAS. Researchers then sent samples of products with the highest levels to an independent laboratory that could perform more specific tests, said Michael Hansen, senior staff scientist for advocacy at Consumer Reports.

Regulatory limits for how much PFAS food packaging should contain can vary greatly. In the US, there are no federal limits, leaving action up to the states. Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington have passed bills banning intentional use of PFAS in food packaging, but haven’t yet specified a limit, according to Consumer Reports. In January 2023, a new law in California will set the limit at less than 100 ppm (parts per million).

However, Denmark set a much lower regulatory limit of 20 ppm with great success, said Xenia Trier, a chemicals, environment and human health expert at the European Environment Agency.

“In Denmark we’ve seen both a decrease in noncompliance by industry from 60% to about 30% and a decrease in levels of PFAS in packaging products over the past 10 years,” Trier told CNN. “It does work to set limits and enforce them. It is possible to find alternative solutions and if one manufacturer can make packaging without PFAS, then it should be possible for everybody to do it.”

The Consumer Reports investigation found the highest indicators for PFAS – 876 ppm and 618 ppm – in two types of bags for sides at Nathan’s Famous restaurants.

High indicators of PFAS (in the 500s) were also found in a Chick-fil-A sandwich wrapper and in fiber bowls at Cava, a Mediterranean restaurant chain.

Indicator levels in the 300s and 400s were found in a bag of cookies at Arby’s, bamboo paper plates at Stop & Shop, and in a bag for both cookies and French toast sticks at Burger King.

Levels of PFAS indicators in the 200s were found in a Sweetgreen paper bag for focaccia, additional items at Cava, and in bags for french fries, cookies and Chicken McNuggets at McDonald’s.

However, all of the companies listed had additional food packaging that tested at levels below 200 ppm. Four companies – Arby’s, Nathan’s Famous, McDonald’s and Stop & Shop – also sold food in packaging that had no detectable levels of PFAS, the report said.

The Consumer Reports investigation did not test packaging from every food product sold at each company.

“I would not urge consumers to take these brand names and only go to this one or that one, as this investigation only looked at just over 100 products,” said Graham Peaslee, a professor of physics, chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

“However, this will hold industry’s toes to the fire, so in that sense, I think it’s a valuable report,” he added. “Measuring and saying PFAS is there and it’s dangerous gets people’s attention, and companies tend to avoid attention like that.”

Health impact of PFAS

PFAS chemicals are in many products: nonstick cookware, infection-resistant surgical gowns and drapes, cell phones, semiconductors, commercial aircraft and low-emission vehicles. The chemicals also are used to make carpeting, clothing, and furniture resistant to stains, water and grease damage.

In use since the 1950s, PFAS are chemicals most Americans have “in their blood,” especially perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA),” according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which is charged with protecting the public from hazardous substances.

In the Consumer Reports investigation, the most common chemical found in the food packaging that was tested was PFOA, with PFOS coming in fifth, according to the report.

In addition to impacts on the immune system, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry said studies in humans and lab animals have found links between certain PFAS chemicals and an increase in cholesterol levels, alterations in liver enzymes, a higher risk of developing kidney or testicular cancer, small reductions in infant birth weights and an additional risk of high blood pressure in pregnant women.

“PFAS have also caused birth defects, delayed development, and newborn deaths in lab animals,” the agency stated, while adding “not all effects observed in animals may occur in humans.”

As environmental groups and the public began to take notice of the health impacts of the chemicals, manufacturers started to voluntarily phase out the use of PFOS and PFOA in the US. Between 1999 and 2014, blood levels of PFOS in Americans had declined by more than 80% and blood levels of PFOA had declined by more than 60%, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry stated.

However, “as PFOS and PFOA are phased out and replaced, people may be exposed to other PFAS,” the agency continued. Newer versions of PFAS in food packaging appear to be absorbed by food more readily than the older versions, according to a 2016 study.

Studies in Denmark have shown that PFAS do “migrate from the paper into the food,” Trier said. “Even though it was not 100%, we still saw substantial transmission. In general, transmission from packaging to food is increased as the temperature of the food rises and the time spent in wrapping materials increases.”

Industry response

The Consumer Reports investigation mirrored results of reports in 2018 and 2020 by Toxic-Free Future and Safer Chemicals Healthy Families. Those reports found “harmful” levels of PFAS in fast-food packaging and in nearly two-thirds of takeout containers made of paper, like those used at self-serve salad buffets and hot bars.

In response to the 2018 report, Whole Foods became the first grocery chain in North America to publicly commit to remove PFAS from takeout containers and deli and bakery paper. Other companies have followed suit, including Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons, Amazon.com, Cava, Chipotle, Freshii, McDonald’s, Panera Bread, Sweetgreen, Trader Joe’s and Wendy’s, according to Toxic-Free Future.

In the new investigation, Consumer Reports tested 13 food packaging products from retailers that had previously committed to phasing out PFAS. Seven of the 13 had levels of PFAS above 20 ppm, the report said.

Burger King, which had high levels of PFAS in three of six products tested, had not made a public commitment to phase out PFAS, according to Consumer Reports. Early Thursday, parent company Restaurant Brands International announced it will globally phase out any “added” PFAS from “guest-facing packaging materials” at the Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes brands “by the end of 2025 or sooner.”

Nathan’s Famous, which Consumer Reports said also has not made a public commitment to reducing PFAS, told CNN the company had begun phasing out the bags. “One of our goals in this complete package redesign is to reduce PFAS,” said Phil McCann, vice president of marketing at Nathan’s Famous. “Full transition will be complete by December 2022.”

Chick-fil-A told CNN it had been on a four-year journey to phase out PFAS: “Chick-fil-A has eliminated intentionally added PFAS from all newly produced packaging going forward in our supply chain. While some legacy packaging may still be in restaurants, it is expected to be phased out by the end of this summer,” the company tweeted Wednesday.

Cava, which had previously pledged to reduce PFAS but had five out of six products with indicators between 200 ppm and 548 ppm, told CNN that “due to a multitude of factors related to the pandemic, and especially global supply chain shortages, the transition to eliminating added PFAS, which began in August of 2021, is taking longer than planned. Our teams are working with our suppliers to complete the transition within the year.”

A McDonald’s spokesperson said less than 7.5% of the company’s global food packaging contained added PFAS at the end of 2020 and said the company was continuing its search for alternative materials that offered proper grease-resistant barriers, with a goal of reducing deliberately added PFAS by the end of 2025.

Sweetgreen told CNN the company was “proud to share that we are currently in the process of rolling out new PFAS-free focaccia bags that will be available in all Sweetgreen locations by the end of Q2.”

Jennifer Brogan, director of external communications and community relations for Stop & Shop, told CNN the company could “confirm that these Nature’s Promise brand plates have been removed from all store locations.”

A spokesperson from Arby’s told CNN in an email that the company has “minimal packaging materials containing PFAs and is on track to have PFAs removed from all packaging products by the end of 2022.”

Actions the public can take

Experts say people who want to avoid PFAS in their takeout and food delivery packaging should favor companies that have pledged to remove the chemicals.

Take food out of the container as soon as you receive it, and never reheat food in its original container. Instead, remove your food and heat it in ceramic or glass containers, Trier said.

The Consumer Reports investigation found some of the highest levels of PFAS were in paper bags (192.2 ppm) and molded fiber bowls and trays (156.8 ppm). Paper plates tested at 149 ppm, and food wrappers and liners came in at 59.2 ppm.

Don’t be fooled by “environmentally friendly” claims – they don’t guarantee a product is PFAS-free. When Consumer Reports tested those products, some had levels of PFAS above 100 ppm, and most had some detectable levels, the report said.

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Experts also suggest reducing the frequency of takeout meals to once a week or less, and recommend that people instead make food at home.

You can also reach out to your congressional representative and senators and support the bipartisan bill Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act, experts said. Designed to ban the use of any PFAS as a food contact substance, the bill was introduced into both chambers in November.

Popeyes chicken sandwich sold out, but company says it's coming ...

If you haven't had a chance to try Popeyes' new chicken sandwich, you'll likely have to wait.

While there have been some reports of locations across the country selling out of the popular sandwich, now Popeyes says it expects to sell out nationwide by the end of the week.

"The demand for the new Chicken Sandwich in the first few weeks following launch far exceeded our very optimistic expectations," the chicken chain said in a statement sent to USA TODAY on Tuesday. "In fact, Popeyes aggressively forecasted demand through the end of September and has already sold through that inventory."

In a tweet Tuesday, Popeyes wrote "Y’all. We love that you love The Sandwich. Unfortunately we’re sold out (for now)."

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Popeyes said it is working with its suppliers to bring the sandwich back as soon as possible.

"How does a chicken restaurant run out of chicken? I’m taking my money & talent back to Chick-Fil-A," Twitter user @yoyotrav wrote in response to Popeyes' tweet. "They would never."

Soon after Popeyes started selling the sandwich on Aug. 12, the battle lines were drawn over which chicken chain has the better chicken sandwich.

According to USA TODAY's unscientific Chicken Sandwich Bracket Twitter poll, 54% of the 5,062 votes cast were for Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A and 46% for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

Popeyes offered a way to find out when the sandwich will be available again.

"To be among the first to know when the Chicken Sandwich is available, download the Popeyes app in the App Store or Google Play and sign up for push notifications," Popeyes said in its statement.

Not all consumers were convinced downloading the app was a good idea.

"Don't download this app "y'all" they may run out of downloads too," Twitter user @BloopJustSayin wrote.

KFC Beyond Fried Chicken sells out

It isn't just fried chicken that's selling out. Plant-based chicken is too.

On Tuesday, KFC introduced Beyond Fried Chicken as a limited test in partnership with El Segundo, California-based Beyond Meat at one Atlanta area location.

It sold out in less than five hours, KFC said in a statement.

"Lines were consistently wrapped around the restaurant starting at 8 a.m., with double-looped drive-thru lines," KFC said in the statement. "The test was so successful, guests purchased in five hours the amount of Beyond Fried Chicken KFC would normally on average sell of popcorn chicken in a week."

KFC says it will "evaluate these results and customer feedback to determine the best way forward beyond the Atlanta test – potentially a larger test and/or national rollout."

Follow Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko

Chick-fil-A wants to add 20 Michigan restaurants

Frank Witsil

Detroit Free Press

Michiganders have long waited for Chick-fil-A — the Southern restaurant chain known for its boneless chicken breast sandwiches served with a pickle slice and waffle fries, and its cute ads featuring cows holding misspelled signs that say "Eat Mor Chikin" — to open more restaurants in the state.

The next two restaurants, the company said today, will be at the Somerset Collection in Troy, which is in keeping with the long-held strategy of putting stores in suburban malls, and in Lansing, where it the chain is building a stand-alone operation.

The Atlanta-based company— which has two eateries in Michigan now — said both stores are expected to open in the fall, and the company expects to add as many as 20 more restaurants throughout the state within the next five years.

Chick-fil-A moving forward in Meridian, Delta

On Tuesday, the company plans to hold a ceremonious ground-breaking ceremony at 5617 W. Saginaw Highway in Lansing. There, a 4,971-square-foot restaurant will offer dining room seating, a patio and drive-through lanes.

In addition to more restaurants in Lansing and metro Detroit, the company said it is seeking to open in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, and aims to open three or four restaurants in Michigan a year.

Founded by S. Truett Cathy in 1946, the first restaurant was known as the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Ga., an Atlanta suburb. Fifteen years later, Cathy started frying chicken breasts and began serving the chicken on buns.

The chicken sandwiches — which the company takes credit for inventing -- were popular, and Cathy opened more restaurants under the name Chick-fil-A, which highlighted the new signature menu item.

Throughout the '70s and '80s, the company opened franchises, mostly in the food courts of suburban malls. The privately-held chain, with more than $6 billion in revenues, now has more than 2,000 restaurants nationwide, including small eateries on the Oakland University campus in Rochester, and at the Detroit Metro Airport.

The chain's operations are influenced by Cathy's Baptist beliefs, which have, over the years, evoked passionate responses among people who tend to love — or hate — the chain. The company says it applies "biblically-based principles" to managing the business, such as closing on Sundays and Christmas, operating debt-free and devoting a percentage of profits back to the communities where it has restaurants.

But one of the convictions brought the company under fire. In 2012, gay rights activists and others called for protests and boycotts over comments made by Cathy's son, company executive Dan Cathy, on same-sex marriage and foundation donations to groups opposed to it.

The company responded by releasing a statement that said it had a tradition of treating "every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender," and "going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena."

Get free Wendy's spicy chicken nuggets, thanks to Chance the Rapper

Wendy’s spicy chicken nugget fans, the stars have aligned – and you can thank Chance the Rapper.

Spicy chicken nuggets return to the Wendy’s menu Monday Aug. 12 after fans offered up 2 million likes and over 410,000 retweets to bring back the iconic menu item after a two-year absence.

The fast-food chain announced in a news release that it is giving away 2 million free Spicy Nuggets through DoorDash to “commemorate the 2 million fans who helped bring them back.”

Through Aug. 19 while supplies last, place a Wendy’s order through DoorDash and get a free six-count Spicy Chicken Nugget when you add an order to their cart and use code SPICYNUGGS at checkout. No purchase is necessary, but fees, taxes and gratuity still apply, according to the fine print.

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Originally, the nationwide nugget return was scheduled for Aug. 19, but the fast food chain rescheduled via Twitter on Thursday, tweeting "Hey Wendy's, any chance we can get them sooner?" before replying "Ok! Spicy Chicken Nuggets will now be back in all restaurants THIS MONDAY! Get ready."

It all started over three months ago when Chance the Rapper tweeted on May 4 “Positive Affirmations for today: I Will have a good day, I Will succeed today, Wendy’s WILL bring back spicy nuggets at some point please please Lord let it be today.”

Wendy’s retweeted Chance just three hours later, promising that “the people in charge” would return the nuggets if the tweet could reach 2 million likes.

In less than 48 hours, the spicy chicken dish’s fate was sealed.

Wendy’s Twitter account teased the return June 24 with a discreet “Let’s hang” and an attached link to a Google calendar invite for the original Aug. 19 date that read:

“Hey, just wanted to send a lunch invite out to everyone. Was looking at the calendar and this seemed like it was probably the best date. Figured it would be a good chance for a couple million of us to get together. Just thought we’d throw a little nugget out there and see who wanted to hang. You’re gonna want to keep this on the schedule. :)”

Later that day, Wendy’s tweeted a photo of spicy chicken nuggets aligning in a shape similar to the Big Dipper constellation.

Maybe a meatless burger, instead:Burger King's plant-based Impossible Whopper available nationwide for a limited time

Follow Rebekah Tuchscherer on Twitter: @r2sure

South Jersey restaurants: 15 new places to dine from vegan to soul ...

Who doesn’t love dessert?

Bakeries seem to be among the most popular businesses to open these days, at least in South Jersey.

Maybe it’s because we’re still in a pandemic and people like to have dessert to look forward to. Cakes, cookies, pies, pastries, never seem to get old, do they?

If you're planning to travel to the US with food items, read this | CNN

CNN —

United States border officials have a message for travelers who bring food items from overseas: Violations will cost you.

Last month, a passenger traveling from Indonesia to Darwin Airport in Australia’s Northern Territory was fined $1,874 after two egg and beef sausage McMuffins – along with a ham croissant – were found in their luggage. (Australian authorities had imposed tough new biosecurity measures on all arrivals after a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Indonesian livestock.)

In a separate incident a few days earlier, an Australian woman was fined $1,844 after she forgot to declare a leftover Subway sandwich she bought in Singapore.

In the past year alone, US border officials have fined passengers for bringing a wide range of undeclared food items in their luggage, including balut eggs, pork bologna and turkey ham. Border officials conducted “630,150 positive passenger inspections” in 2021, according to statistics for the fiscal year released by US Customs and Border Protection, and issued thousands of penalties and violations to travelers who failed to declare prohibited agriculture items.

CBP officials at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston discovered balut eggs in a passenger's luggage on March 6. Balut eggs contain a duck embryo, and are boiled and eaten from the shell. US Customs and Border Protection

Failure to declare food products at US air, sea and land border entry points can lead to fines and penalties of up to $10,000, according to the CBP.

Here’s what you need to know before bringing food products into the US.

Why are some foods not allowed?

Travelers bringing food products into the US can inadvertently introduce foreign pests and food-borne diseases into the country, which can have a devastating effect on agriculture and the environment. And a pest or disease outbreak could impact more than just farmers. It also means higher grocery bills and shortage of some food items for consumers.

Last year, border officials discovered 264 pests at US ports of entry, a slightly higher number than the 250 found the prior year. Pests intercepted last year include a Saunders 1850 butterfly larvae found in pineapples from Costa Rica. The larvae feeds on plants and legumes, and is considered an invasive pest mainly found in Amazonian tropical rainforest. Introducing it in the US ecosystem could be detrimental to the agriculture industry, the CBP said.

“We work closely with the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Health Inspection Services to prevent the introduction of plant pests and foreign animal diseases,” a CBP spokesperson told CNN.

What food products are not allowed into the country?

Most meat, poultry, milk and egg products are either banned or restricted in the US – with rules depending on the country of origin and what livestock diseases are prevalent in the region.

The United States Department of Agriculture prohibits animal and bird products from countries with reported cases of livestock diseases such as mad cow, foot-and-mouth, avian flu and swine fever. The USDA provides a link where travelers can check common animal diseases in specific countries.

Sometimes, there are gray areas. Pork products from Mexico are banned, for example, but a small amount for personal use – like a ham sandwich – may be allowed at land borders if the meat is thoroughly cooked.

What food products can you bring?

A long list of food items are allowed into the US, including condiments, cooking oils, bread, cookies, crackers, cakes, cereal, packed tea and other baked and processed products. The CBP provides a list of allowed items on its website.

Jarvis, a beagle, works in the baggage claim area at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. He's part of the Beagle Brigade, which works with border officials to sniff out banned food items in luggage. Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Images

But there’s a catch: If a traveler brings over 50 pounds of an item, it’s considered a commercial shipment and must undergo additional measures, including extra safety inspections. And every agricultural food item has to be declared on US Customs forms, so inspectors can examine them and ensure they do not carry harmful foreign pests or diseases.

“The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage or in a vehicle,” the CBP’s website notes.

Can you bring in fruits or vegetables?

The short answer is no.

Nearly all fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables are prohibited from entering the US due to risks of pests and diseases – some of which can survive in frigid temperatures, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Even the fruits and vegetable snacks provided on an airplane or cruise ship should be left behind, says Lucero Hernandez of the federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Travelers crossing a land border into the United States from Canada can bring some fresh fruits and vegetables – as long as they were grown in Canada. But they need proof that the produce is free of soil, pests, and diseases, and that it was grown in Canada, not just sold there, the USDA says.

And in all cases, travelers coming to the US should save receipts and original packaging to prove food products’ country of origin, according to the CBP.

What happens if you bring forbidden items?

Travelers who declare agricultural products in their luggage don’t face penalties – even if an inspector concludes the items are not eligible to enter the country, the USDA says. In such cases, the food is destroyed.

“An apple or snack that can mistakenly be brought won’t always make a significant incident,” the CBP spokesperson explained of an unintentional failure to declare a food item. “However, attempting to bring in prohibited items would lead to traveler delays and may result in a fine.”

“Failure to declare a prohibited food item may result in the issuance of a civil penalty,” the spokesperson added.

Why Taco Bell will stop selling its wings | CNN Business

New York CNN Business —

Fans of Taco Bell’s chicken wings have just a few hours left to get them before they disappear from menus.

Last Thursday, the chain rolled out the surprising new item for a seven-day stint that sparked excitement and got its hungry customers salivating. The $5.99 price gets you five bone-in wings that are coated in a queso seasoning and served with a spicy ranch dipping sauce.

Taco Bell wings are only being sold for a week. Taco Bell

Like many fast food promotions, the wings were always intended to be a limited time offer. The industry’s chains constantly tweak their menus with niche and oddball products that drum up excitement and social media attention. These specialty offerings are a way to cut through the noise.

McDonald’s (MCD) is the biggest proponent of the practice, with the McRib being sold in the fall, Filet-O-Fish and Shamrock Shakes appearing on menus in February and its McFlurry lineup constantly getting refreshed. And Starbucks (SBUX) has created a nationwide phenomenon with the annual release of its red-colored cups and complimentary seasonal menu during the holidays.

Limited-time items are an important marketing tool for the food industry to draw in foot traffic and interest, according to Alexander Chernev, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

“When you have these exclusive products, which exist for a short period of time, it gives people a reason to come to the store,” Chernev previously told CNN Business.

These items offer consumers some variety — key for fast food, as it’s a notoriously thin-margin business with little customer loyalty. Offering something new gives people a reason to come back.

“You need consistency because that’s the brand mantra,” said Chernev. “But no matter how much you like something, consuming something different increases the enjoyment of what you consumed before.”

There is a basic tenet of supply-and-demand economics behind limited-time releases, too: Scarcity can build hype. “It’s a way to create excitement for the menu,” R.J. Hottovy, a former consumer strategist for Morningstar, previously told CNN Business.

Also, the limited-time items can help chains experiment with a new food before launching it nationwide. Chipotle (CMG) commonly does that with a practice it calls a “stage-gate process.”

That’s what Chipotle did with its smoked brisket meat before taking it nationwide last September, a process it has also used for plant-based chorizo, riced cauliflower, carne asada and its popular quesadilla.

-— CNN Business’ Danielle Wiener-Bronner contributed to this report.

-— An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed an item in a list of food the company was offering nationwide last year.


Brooklyn Nets trading superstar Kevin Durant to Phoenix Suns for ...

New Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia wasted no time shaking up the franchise.

The Suns are acquiring NBA superstar Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the deal is official.

The deal will send Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks to the Nets, in addition to a pick swap in 2028. The Suns will be getting Durant – a 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP – and forward T.J. Warren.

The Durant trade comes in the wake of the Nets trading Kyrie Irving, who signed along with Durant, 34, in Brooklyn in 2019. Moving Durant marks a hard reset for Brooklyn, which is now set to receive Phoenix's first-round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029.

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NBA TRADE DEADLINE TRACKER:Former MVP Kevin Durant moved to Suns in blockbuster

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Durant requested a trade before the season, but Nets general manager Sean Marks was unable to find a deal that yielded the draft picks Brooklyn sought – especially after Utah received four future first-round picks and 2022 first-round pick Walker Kessler from Minnesota in the Rudy Gobert trade in July.

Once the Nets dealt Irving to Dallas after his trade request late last week, the Nets re-evaluated the direction they wanted to take and decided to reset and trade Durant.

Durant sustained an isolated MCL sprain of the right knee against Miami on Jan. 8 and has not played since. He was hoping to return for the All-Star Game but that will not happen. The Nets had not released a timetable for his return prior to trading him.

NBA trade deadline tracker:All the big move ahead of Thursday's deadline

Is Kyrie Irving worth it?:Mavericks will soon find out | Opinion

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Durant was in the middle of a stellar season before the injury, averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists and was shooting 55.9% from the field, 37.6% on 3-pointers and a league-best 93.4% on free throws.

The Nets acquired Durant, Irving and James Harden and hired Steve Nash in 2020 as coach. The three players are gone, and Brooklyn fired Nash earlier this season. The Nets never reached the conference finals and are stuck with Ben Simmons’ contract that has two years and $77 million remaining on it.

For the Suns, who just officially introduced Ishbia earlier Wednesday, trading for Durant is an all-in move for a team seeking its first NBA title.

Phoenix reached the NBA Finals in 2021 and posted the best record in the NBA last season but has scuffled along this year (30-26) with star guard Devin Booker missing extensive time due to injuries.

While the Suns are 8½ games behind first-place Denver, this deal elevates them to title contenders if Booker, Durant and Chris Paul are healthy.

Durant, the 2013-14 NBA MVP, has three more years left on his contract after this season – $46.4 million in 2023-24, $49.8 million in 2024-25 and $53.2 million in 2025-26.

ESPN first reported news of the deal.

NBA trade deadline tracker: Former MVP Kevin Durant moved to ...

Star guard Kyrie Irving threw the NBA trade deadline into chaos on Friday with his request to be moved from the Brooklyn Nets to another team before Thursday’s deadline.

The Nets didn't wait long to trade the sought-after All-Star. The Mavs reached a deal to acquire Irving, who has three Finals appearances, a championship, eight All-Star appearances and is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season.

That won't be the only major deal. There is plenty of attention on Phoenix, Toronto, Memphis, New Orleans, Miami, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah.

Will the Jazz continue selling to accelerate their rebuild? Do the Raptors get a haul of first-round picks in return for OG Anunoby? Can the Lakers salvage their season amid LeBron James' pursuit of the NBA's all-time scoring record?

Some teams are buyers, some are sellers and some are trying to figure out what they want to be.

Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules

With so many teams bunched close enough in the Eastern and Western conference standings and a belief that no one contender is considerably better than another, deals will be made.

Let’s take a look at the trades that have happened this season. USA TODAY Sports will keep you updated as deals happen this week:

Nets trade Kevin Durant to Suns

The Phoenix Suns are acquiring NBA superstar Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the deal is official.

The deal will send Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks to the Nets, in addition to a pick swap in 2028. The Suns will getting Durant – a 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP – and forward T.J. Warren.

Spurs trade Jakob Poeltl back to Raptors

Feb. 8: The Toronto Raptors have reached a deal to acquire San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl for Khem Birch, a protected 2024 first-round draft pick and two second-round picks, according to ESPN. The Raptors drafted Poeltl, 27, with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft and he played two seasons with the Raptors before he was traded to the Spurs as part of the deal that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto.

Knicks trade Cam Reddish for Josh Hart

Feb. 8: The New York Knicks are trading for shooting guard Josh Hart. In exchange the Knicks are sending small forward Cam Reddish and a protected future first-round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN.

Lakers trade Russell Westbrook, acquire D'Angelo Russell

Feb. 8: In a three-team trade, the Los Angeles Lakers reached a deal to trade guard Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz and acquire guard D’Angelo Russell from Minnesota in a deal that also includes Utah sending guard Mike Conley to the Timberwolves. The Lakers will also get Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt from Utah. Minnesota also will receive Nickeil Alexander-Walker and picks, and the Jazz will get Juan Toscano-Anderson and a first-round draft pick from the Lakers.

Kings trade for Kessler Edwards

Feb. 7: The Brooklyn Nets acquired the draft rights to David Michineau (39th pick in the 2016 draft) from the Sacramento Kings for forward Kessler Edwards and cash considerations.

Spurs acquire Dewayne Dedmon from Heat

Feb. 7: The Miami Heat traded center Dewayne Dedmon and a 2028 second-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs for cash considerations. This deal gives the Heat additional room under the luxury and two open roster spots if they want to make another deal before the deadline.

Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks

Feb. 5: Kyrie Irving got his wish. Two days after asking for a trade from Brooklyn, the Nets sent him and Markieff Morris to Dallas for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick and 2027 and 2029 second-round picks.

Rui Hachimura to the Lakers

Jan. 23: The Washington Wizards traded Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kendrick Nunn and two second-round draft picks.

Noah Vonleh to the Spurs

Jan. 5: The Boston Celtics traded Noah Vonleh and cash considerations to the San Antonio Spurs for a second-round pick.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Phoenix Suns get Kevin Durant in mega trade with Brooklyn Nets

ATLANTA — Mat Ishbia has made an emphatic statement in his first official 48 hours as Phoenix Suns new majority owner.

Phoenix has pulled off a colossal blockbuster deal before Thursday's 1 p.m. trade deadline by acquiring two-time finals MVP Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets, in a deal that involves Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, sources confirm to The Arizona Republic.

Ishbia had his introductory news conference Wednesday morning in Phoenix after receiving final transaction approval Tuesday from the NBA for his record $4-billion purchase of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.

Ishbia, the 43-year-old billionaire United Wholesale Mortgage CEO and former Michigan State basketball player, said Wednesday the Suns already had a championship roster without any changes, but Ishbia has just made a ginormous one to make them one of the clear favorites to win it all this season.

More:'The elite NBA franchise': New team owner Mat Ishbia's vision for Phoenix Suns

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More:Kevin Durant trade grades: Phoenix Suns receive rave reviews for deal with Brooklyn Nets

“My belief system is about how do we focus on winning?” Ishbia said. “Can we improve our chances of winning a championship? Can we do things to make sure of that, but I’m not just a short-term thinker. I’m also a long-term thinker.”

The Suns are trading four first-round picks, a pick swap, Jae Crowder, Bridges and Johnson for Durant and T.J. Warren. The Nets are getting unprotected picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski later tweeted the Nets will look to trade Crowder before the deadline. Crowder has yet to play a game this season with the Suns (30-26) as the two sides “mutually agreed” he wouldn’t attend training camp.

By trading Johnson and Bridges to Brooklyn, Phoenix won’t have to face them again unless the two teams meet in the finals. The Suns and Nets finished their home-away series Tuesday as Phoenix won, 116-112, in Brooklyn to complete the regular-season sweep.

Durant currently is out with a sprained right MCL and isn’t expected to return to action until after the All-Star break. While Bridges has elevated his game to another level in recent weeks and Johnson spaces the floor with his shooting, getting the 6-10 Durant makes the Suns a serious championship contender.

The Suns’ potential starting lineup could be Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Torrey Craig, Deandre Ayton and Durant. Phoenix has won nine of its last 11 games and plays at Atlanta (27-28) Thursday.

Warren started his career in Phoenix as a first-round draft pick in 2014 and played five seasons with the Suns. He scored 17 points against the Suns in Tuesday’s loss in Brooklyn. Averaging a career-low 9.5 points in just 26 games this season with Brooklyn, the 6-8 forward is on a one-year deal as he missed all of last season with a foot injury.

More:Mat Ishbia learns quickly that owning an NBA team is much different than selling mortgages

Durant, 34, wanted out of Brooklyn last summer and he put Phoenix atop his wish list, but the Nets and Suns were unable to get a deal done. Suns general manager James Jones told The Arizona Republic last summer the two teams didn’t really have “much in-depth discussion” about making something happen.

“'Cause Brooklyn wanted to keep Kevin Durant in Brooklyn," Jones said last summer. "And that’s why he’s in Brooklyn and not on some other team, but as far as with us, I get it. It’s always a great topic of discussion, but the one thing people forget is that when you’re talking about trades, or any player acquisition, the team that has the player has to be willing to move the player.”

However, when Kyrie Irving demanded a trade right before the deadline and eventually got dealt to Dallas, Durant reportedly started having hard conversations with the Nets about the organization’s future.

“Kevin wants to win,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said before Tuesday’s game against Phoenix. “The last thing I told this group on the floor is the expectations don’t change. I want to win. I want the group in the locker room to want to win. If your best player has a knack for winning and wanted to win the ultimate thing, then I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.”

More:Phoenix Suns' NBA title odds surge after Kevin Durant trade

A franchise-changing deal

Sources informed The Republic the Suns were looking to deal Paul, Crowder and a first-round pick to Brooklyn for Irving.

"It's a business,” Paul said before Tuesday’s game at Brooklyn. “I've seen crazier. The way I found out I was traded from Houston. You just show up to work and be a pro day in and day out. Nobody's exempt from being traded. Find out just like everybody else."

Now the Suns have made a franchise-changing deal with Durant, the 2013-14 NBA MVP who won back-to-back NBA Finals MVPs (2017-18) with the Warriors.

The 13-time All-Star is averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists this season.

Named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, Durant is on a four-year, $194-million extension as he’s due $42.9 million this season, $46.4 million in 2023-24, $49.8 million in 2024-25 and $53.2 million in 2025-26. The Suns already exceeded the luxury tax threshold of $150.267 million for this season.

The Suns are two years removed from reaching the 2021 finals before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. They posted the NBA’s best record last season with a franchise-best 64-18 mark, but Dallas eliminated them in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals.

While Paul, Booker and Ayton were the main cogs of those teams, Bridges and Johnson were valuable pieces too. The Suns went into this season looking to expand their roles to handling the ball more.

Johnson has only played 17 games for Phoenix this season as he missed 37 with a torn right meniscus. Returning from the injury ironically against Brooklyn Jan. 19 in Phoenix, Johnson is averaging a career-best 13.9 points this season, shooting a career-high 45.5% from 3.

The Suns didn’t sign Johnson to a rookie extension in the summer, so he will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent. Before playing Tuesday in Brooklyn, Johnson talked about his love for Phoenix, but also addressed the idea of Ishbia making a major move to begin his tenure as team owner.

“I don’t think much about it,” Johnson said. “It’s not something that I’m like, what could this splash be, what could he do. I guess that’s what the future could tell. I don’t necessarily get wrapped up in those decisions up top. As a group of the court, our job is to go out there and compete and win and play and improve on a nightly basis. You learn the business side takes care of itself.”

While Johnson became a starter in his fourth NBA season this year, Bridges has shown more elements to his game this season.

Already one of the game’s best defensive players as he finished runner-up in last season’s NBA Defensive Player of the year voting, Bridges is averaging a career-best 17.2 points this season.

“He’s a great role model for our guys to see where he came from to where he is now,” said Pistons coach Dwane Casey before Phoenix won Saturday at Detroit. “You wouldn’t have said he’d be able to run pick-and-rolls and start the offense or be a quasi point guard for their team when he first came into the league, but he’s grown into that. He’s worked his behind off to develop that.”

The 6-6 wing has posted 12 20-point games in his last 15 games. Getting buckets off the bounce, pick-and-roll as well as from 3, Bridges has scored at least 21 in his last six games to match a career high for most consecutive games with 20-plus points.

“He’s a great example for a lot of young guys, our guys and a lot of young guys in the league to one, have the temperament and the patience to play the way he does and develop and let the game come to him,” Casey continued. “He wasn’t trying to force it a couple of years ago or three years ago. He developed that, they were patient with him as an organization and now look at him. To me, he’s an All-Star.”

In the first year of a four-year, $90-million rookie extension, Bridges has never missed a game in his NBA career that’s in its fifth season.

While the Suns are losing players who were a huge part of Phoenix’s turnaround under Monty Williams, Durant has ties to their roster.

He played with Booker on the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in 2021 in Toyko as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the Olympics in 2020.

A three-time Olympic gold medalist (2012, 2016, 2020), Durant was on the 2012 gold medal team with Paul. Williams was an assistant on the 2016 gold medal team.

Williams has decided not to work as an assistant under Warriors coach Steve Kerr for Team USA for this year’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Clippers coach Ty Lue will replace him.

“This has been a difficult choice, but given the timing and the demands of the commitment, it is the best choice for myself and my family,” Williams said in a news release. “I am incredibly grateful to Grant Hill and Coach Kerr, both for giving me the opportunity to be an assistant coach and for their understanding of my decision.”

Durant and Suns guard Damion Lee were teammates in Golden State in the 2018-19 season. He was also a teammate with Suns backup point guard Cameron Payne in Oklahoma City in the 2015-16 season and backup shooting guard Landry Shamet in the 2020-21 season in Brooklyn.

Payne and Shamet are both out with foot injuries. Payne hasn’t played since Jan. 4 at Cleveland while Shamet last saw action Jan. 16 at Memphis.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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What Phoenix Suns fans should know about the Kevin Durant NBA ...

The Phoenix Suns, just two days into the Mat Ishbia ownership era, pulled off one of the most significant trades in team history in acquiring Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets.

Here's what you need to know about the deal:

Who are the Phoenix Suns getting in Kevin Durant trade?

The biggest name is Kevin Durant, of course. He's been one of the NBA's top players for more than a decade, was a two-time finals MVP with Golden State. He's currently the eighth-leading scorer in the NBA, averaging nearly 30 points a game. The 6-10 forward seems even taller on the court. He is the kind of player that can transform a team overnight, score from anywhere on the floor and make life difficult for opponents on the defnesive end of the floor. Also coming from Brooklyn is T.J. Warren, a 6-8 small forward who was with the Suns from 2014-19.

More:Phoenix Suns landing superstar Kevin Durant in blockbuster trade with Brooklyn Nets

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Who did the Suns trade for Kevin Durant?

For a lot of fans, this stings: Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, two popular players that have been a big part of the team's success over the past two seasons, head to Brooklyn. Also going is Jae Crowder, another important cog the past two years who has not played all season after he and the team agreed to pursue a trade before the start of the season. The Suns also gave up four future draft picks, but if the team is successful over the next few years, that might not hurt too much, as they wouldn't be top 10 picks.

Moore:Before we welcome KD, let's say goodbye to Jae and the Twins

Why did this Phoenix Suns-Brooklyn Nets NBA trade happen now?

Two things: Mat Ishbia officially became the new majority owner of the Suns on Tuesday. It was largely believed that would need to happen before any deal involving Crowder or anyone else could take place since there will be financial implications. Also, the NBA trade deadline is 1 p.m. Thursday. If the Suns hadn't moved Crowder, they'd end up getting nothing for him because he is a free agent after this season. Durant suggested last summer Phoenix is a place he'd like to play as word leaked he wanted to be traded. He seemed to resolve differences with the Nets, but things changed after Brooklyn dealt Kyrie Irving, one of the league's top point guards, to Dallas last week. It became apparent that both the Nets and Durant were ready for fresh starts.

Kevin Durant trade reaction:Phoenix Suns' trade with Brooklyn Nets stuns NBA world

Speaking of financial implications, how much is Kevin Durant getting paid?

Superstars don't come cheap in the NBA — and make no mistake, Kevin Durant is a superstar. As The Republic's Duane Rankin reported, Durant is on a four-year, $194-million extension that pays him $42.9 million this season, $46.4 million in 2023-24, $49.8 million in 2024-25 and $53.2 million in 2025-26. Shedding the salaries of Bridges, Johnson and Crowder helps somewhat.

So, will the Phoenix Suns finally win an NBA championship?

We're not big on making predictions here, but it's safe to say the chances have just shot up. Assuming Durant comes back after the All-Star game, as expected, from a knee sprain he suffered last month and can stay healthy (always a big 'if') along with other Suns' players, expect Phoenix to be playing well into June. At this point, there is no other team in the Western Conference that looks dominant. Pairing Durant with Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, whose last two games were outstanding and showed what he can do when he wants to, along with a still-strong bench will prove a challenge for anyone going forward.

Kevin Durant trade grades:Phoenix Suns receive rave reviews for deal with Brooklyn Nets

Durant requests trade from Nets, lists Suns as one of preferred teams

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article incorrectly reported where Kevin Durant ranked among NBA scorers. He was the fourth-leading scorer.

The NBA has been sent into a frenzy wondering where Kevin Durant will land next.

And it might be Phoenix because that's one of two places he wants to be.

Durant reportedly requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat are two of his preferred trade destinations.

Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules

The news broke several hours before the free agency market opens Thursday at 3 p.m. Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks is working with Durant and his business manager Rich Kleiman to find a trade for the former MVP and 12-time All-Star.

The 33-year-old Durant was the league's fourth-leading scorer last season, averaging 29.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-10 wing is still in the prime without any signs of slowing down.

Durant was drafted by Seattle Supersonics before they moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder in 2008, where he played nine seasons. Then he played three seasons for the Golden State Warriors, which he helped lead to two consecutive NBA titles in 2017 and 2018, and he earned Finals MVP honors in both those years. Durant signed with Brooklyn as a free agent in 2019, but sat out his first season with the team recuperating from a torn Achilles sustained earlier in 2019 in the finals against Toronto.

More:Why Kevin Durant wants to be traded to Phoenix Suns

Durant's four-year, $198 million contract extension that he signed with the Nets in August 2021 kicks in next season. He will receive nearly $43 million, $46.4 million, $49.85 million, then $53.28 million over that span, all guaranteed without a no-trade clause in his contract. The Nets plan to move Durant to a team in which they can get the best possible deal for him.

This move happens two days after fellow Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving opted into his $36.5 million player option for the final year of his four-year deal.

ESPN reported that Durant neither spoke to the Nets front office for several weeks or spoke to Irving after his decision to opt in.

After Irving and Durant joined forces, former MVP James Harden strong-armed his way out of Houston for a trade to Brooklyn in January 2021 to create their Big Three. They were widely projected by the media to become one of the league's best offensive trios ever, and had the second-best odds to the Los Angeles Lakers to win Brooklyn's first league title.

But they only ended up playing 16 games together. That was largely because of injuries among them. In addition Irving played just 29 regular season games last season because of his refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, which prevented him from playing home games per New York City's former vaccination requirement in workplaces. That mandate was lifted by New York's mayor Eric Adams on March 23.

The Nets went 13-3 in their games played together (8-2 in the regular season, 5-1 in the playoffs). The Nets lost in the 2021 playoffs to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern conference semifinals. Then the Nets took a hard nosedive in February after Durant was sidelined for more than 1½ months after he hurt the MCL in his left knee on Jan. 15 at home against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Nets were one of the East's top teams with a 27-15 record, but they went 5-17 in his absence, including an abysmal 11-game losing streak through through mid-February.

Kevin Durant trade odds:Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies favorites to get star

Before that losing skid ended, Harden requested a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, and went there in exchange for All-Star Ben Simmons as part of the deal.

That was the beginning of the end for this iteration of the Nets, led by nascent head coach and Suns legend Steve Nash.

In this past postseason, the Nets were the seventh seed swept in four games by the eventual Eastern conference champion Boston Celtics during the first round.

As Durant pursues greener pastures elsewhere, he and Suns All-Star Devin Booker have a brief history of playing together on Team USA during the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Durant has publicly and repeatedly praised Booker's skills.

“It’s a pretty game for one,” Durant said to former NBA player and ESPN NBA analyst J.J. Redick on his Old Man and Three podcast in April. “I just think he’s really mastering who he is right now. He’s figuring it out, like how to play at an elite level and still win. He’s always scoring the ball but he knows how to win."

After Team USA beat Spain in the Olympics quarterfinals, Durant said this about Booker:

“Lot of people look at him because he’s such a pretty scorer, he can do things so effortless. But he is a savant. He wants to be an all-around basketball player.”

This trade request will start the seismic domino effect among teams including the Suns, who likely would have to give up many assets to acquire Durant.

Since the Suns' crushing Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western conference semifinals on May 15, Deandre Ayton has been at the forefront of speculation for the Suns imminent roster moves this offseason.

After not offering a rookie max extension at the start of last season, the possible return or departure of Phoenix's starting center and former No. 1 overall pick will either happen in free agency or a possible sign-and-trade.

The Suns made their first of two pre-free agency moves earlier this week. That includes tendering Ayton's $16.4 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent on Tuesday to retain the right to match any max contracts offers he receives from other teams. Their second was the following day to not tender backup point guard Aaron Holiday's $5.8 million qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

That gives some the Suns some financial relief as they have nine players marked for nearly $129.2 million guaranteed money for the 2022-23 season. The salary cap is $123.65 million next year, which puts then about $21 million away from the $150.26 million luxury tax threshold set Thursday, per The Athletic's Shams Charania. That's without factoring in Phoenix's potential starting point at a $30.5 million max deal offer for Ayton for next year.

At the start of June, the trade odds for Phoenix to land Durant have steadily increased. Now, they're a top-two odds-on favorite from Durant's demand.

As the Suns are in the driving seat as a leading candidate to land him, it will interesting to see who will continue to ride with them and dropped off along the way to make room for him.

Suns free agency updates:Kevin Durant speculation surges

Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.

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Kevin Durant, Charles Barkley trade insults after Celtics sweep Nets

The morning after his Nets were swept out of the Nets by the Celtics, Kevin Durant took to Instagram to throw shade at Charles Barkley.

Perhaps it was surprising for some to see Durant take a shot at the TNT analyst right after his team was eliminated from postseason contention, but the Brooklyn superstar is one of the most logged-on athletes we have ever seen.

Durant is often criticized for playing on a superteam trio of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Then, this season, the Nets were preseason title favorites because KD was on a superteam trio alongside Kyrie Irving and James Harden.

However, the 2014 NBA MVP wanted to set the record straight: He didn’t start the trend of great players joining great players. Barkley even played alongside Scottie Pippen and Hakeem Olajuwon.

He also added photos from Barkley’s Sixers days.

Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules

Durant was presumably replying to something Barkley said while on-air earlier this week. Barkley was asked about Durant’s greatness, and he was quick to diminish the accomplishments of the two-time NBA champion.

Barkley called Durant a “bus rider” and that unless you’re “driving” the bus, winning a championship means nothing.

Those are much easier words said by someone who has never won a title, though, as four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal quickly added that Durant won two titles in a row.

Barkley also recently said Durant wasn’t the best player on the Warriors, even comparing his NBA Finals MVP honors to when Andre Iguodala received the same nods.

So it makes sense that Durant took issue with Barkley’s comments.

Durant’s response was particularly interesting because Barkley’s 1998-99 Rockets were also eliminated in the first round of the playoffs (ironically, by Shaq’s Lakers).

Barkley’s Rockets were not exactly in their prime. That season marked Barkley’s second-to-last in the league, and he was 35 years old. According to the advanced metric win shares, it was also the second-worst season of his career.

Olajuwon was 36 years old, and Pippen was 33. So, unfortunately for KD, this wasn’t exactly a one-to-one analogy.

Brooklyn Nets fire Steve Nash as their head coach after 2-5 start

The Brooklyn Nets fired Steve Nash as their head coach Tuesday.

Nash, 48, arrived in Brooklyn with championship expectations, but without head coaching experience. The two-time NBA MVP with the Phoenix Suns only won one playoff series as a head coach despite having Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden.

"It was an amazing experience with many challenges I'm incredibly grateful for,'' Nash tweeted in a statement Tuesday morning. "It was a pleasure to work with the players, performance team and front office everyday. I'm especially grateful to my coaching staff and video room who are a talented group with so much character and professionalism."

ESPN is reporting the Nets are looking to hire suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka with the next to 48 hours as Boston will let him leave for another job.

Nash compiled a 94-67 record in two full seasons and seven games this season. The Nets won just one playoff series under him as they were swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules

Milwaukee beat Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference semifinals in seven games on its 2021 championship run that ended with taking down the Suns in the finals.

The Nets started this season 2-5. They experienced a four-game losing skid before beating Indiana on Monday. The Pacers topped the Nets two nights earlier, 125-116, leading Nash to describe the loss as a “disaster” and questioning the fire of the team.

Nash’s firing is a continuation of drama for the franchise.

Durant asked for a trade in the offseason with Phoenix and Miami being atop his trade list.

Ben Simmons hasn't played well so far this season after the Nets traded James Harden to Philadelphia for him last season.

Team owner Joe Tsai tweeted last week he was ''disappointed'' that Irvin had tweeted a link to a documentary based on a book “full of anti-semitic disinformation.''

Nash had a storied career with the Suns that began as a first round pick in the famed 1996 draft. He was traded to Dallas in 1998, but returned as a free agent signing going into the 2004-05 season and led a resurgence of the franchise.

The eight-time All-Star won consecutive league MVPs (2005, 2006) as the orchestrator of Mike D'Antoni's 'Seven Seconds or Less" offense. The Suns made it to the Western Conference Finals those years and again in 2010, but never reached the finals.

Nash stayed with Phoenix through the 2011-12 season, before finishing his career with the Lakers. A dynamic point guard and leader, Nash was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

So while Nash didn't have any head coaching experience, his success as a player and basketball knowledge helped justify Nets general manager Sean Marks hiring him.

Marks and Nash were teammates in Phoenix.

However, the Nets fell short of lofty expectations under Nash. Then when Durant reportedly gave Tsai an ultimatum to keep either him or Marks and Nash after making his trade demands, that was a clear sign of Nash's status with the franchise.

Tsai publicly supported Nash and Marks. Durant and the franchise later agreed to more forward together, but the slow start to this season spelled doom for Nash.

Nash thanked Tsai, Tsai's wife, Clara, and Marks in Tuesday's statement tweet.

"Lastly, thanks to Brooklyn and the passionate fans who support this team," Nash tweeted. "Family first and my family has found a home here and loves being a part of this beautiful community. I wish the Nets all the success in the world and the Nash's will be rooting for our team as they turn this season around."

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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NBA future odds: Kevin Durant's trade request shakes things up

Wherever Kevin Durant goes, oddsmakers and bettors follow.

With Durant’s back-to-back NBA titles in 2017-2018 fresh in mind, Durant has altered NBA future odds by requesting a trade from the Brooklyn Nets following a season of volatility and disappointment.

He reportedly prefers a move to the Phoenix Suns or Miami Heat, according to ESPN, which revised the entire NBA futures board. The Suns jumped to +550 co-favorites along with the Boston Celtics to win the 2022-23 NBA title at Tipico Sportsbook.

The defending champion Golden State Warriors have become the 6/1 third choice, followed by the Los Angeles Clippers (+650) and the 2021 champion Milwaukee Bucks (7/1).

The Heat are 10/1 at Tipico, down from 13/1 one day after the Warriors defeated the Celtics in the final.

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Bookmakers favor Durant to land in Phoenix because he has the ability to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal that would likely include the Suns' former No. 1 overall draft pick — restricted free-agent center Deandre Ayton — and some others from one of the league's most talented rosters.

Nets general manager Sean Marks, of course, is free to deal the former MVP and four-time scoring champion — who averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists last season — wherever he’d like.

“Kevin Durant has been a top-five player in the league for the last 10 years. Whatever team he plays for will certainly have a chance at the championship, which is why operators have to adjust odds accordingly,” Tipico Sportsbook spokesman Sunny Gupta said.

Durant famously split from the Oklahoma City Thunder to join Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. While with the Warriors, he won two NBA Finals MVP awards before opting to join Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn three years ago.

Spotty play of former MVP teammate James Harden, Irving's limited play due his unwillingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Durant’s MCL injury and then Harden's trade to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons sabotaged Durant's efforts to be part of another championship team in Brooklyn.

Confronting the forthcoming loss of Durant, the Nets are also saddled with another unappetizing deal after Irving planned to invoke his $36.5 million player option.

Brooklyn plummeted from +650 at last season’s end to the 11th choice at Tipico at 20/1.

DURANT TRADE ODDS: Phoenix Suns favorite to be Brooklyn Nets star's next team

OPINION:Nets' grand plans for Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving blow up, expose issues NBA owners want to fix

The fact that Irving may reunite with LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Russell Westbrook, who reportedly activated his $47 million option, moved the Lakers’ title odds from 20/1 to 12/1.

Irving and James teamed up to win the 2016 NBA title in Cleveland.

Now, thanks to Durant’s wishes, the favorite appears to be Phoenix, led by veteran point guard Chris Paul and All-Star guard Devin Booker, who just signed a four-year, $224 million supermax contract extension with the Suns.

Coach Monty Williams was formerly an assistant with Oklahoma City while Durant was there.

At the Las Vegas Superbook, basketball analyst Jeff Sherman has the Suns slotted as the +650 second choice behind the known commodity of the Celtics, at 6/1.

Sherman said while there has been mention of Durant going to the Toronto Raptors or some other team, like New Orleans or Orlando, he doesn't believe that will happen.

"All Durant has to say is, 'I'm not going to report to camp if I go there,'" Sherman said. "I took into account he wants to go to Phoenix or Miami, and, ultimately, these guys have the power to dictate where they want to go.

"At 34, with four years left on his contract, I doubt he'll be amenable to Toronto. It might take another team to be involved in this deal, but a player like Durant can force his way to the team he wants."

If it becomes official Phoenix has its own "big three" of Durant, Booker and Paul, Sherman predicts the Suns' odds will improve again toward "the 3/1 range."

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Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).

Kevin Durant boosts Brooklyn Nets' NBA championship odds

What Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets wanted didn't match up, but the two-time NBA champion remains in the city. All may not be forgiven, but Durant's stay improved the Nets' chances to win the NBA title.

Brooklyn became the 7/1 fifth choice at Tipico Sportsbook to win their first NBA title, slotted behind Eastern Conference rivals Boston Celtics (+450 favorite) and Milwaukee Bucks (+600).

"We are focusing on basketball with one collective goal in mind: build a lasting franchise to bring a championship to Brooklyn," Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a prepared statement following a meeting in Los Angeles with Durant and his agent.

Following a first-round series sweep at the hands of eventual finalist Boston, it appeared Nets point guard Kyrie Irving was going to leave Brooklyn.

Amid the uncertainty, Durant — a 12-time All-Star, four-time scoring champion, former league MVP and two-time NBA Finals MVP — requested a trade.

Several teams, including the Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors, were reportedly engaged with the Nets, but the Suns re-signed center Deandre Ayton and the Nets’ request for a wealthy return was never met.

'HE WILL BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN':NBA exec on Kevin Durant, Nets situation

MORE:Phoenix Suns in Brooklyn Nets trade rumors, speculation

When the Nets-Durant reunion was made official, Las Vegas SuperBook’s basketball analyst Jeff Sherman shifted Toronto from a 30/1 NBA title offering to 60/1.

While Sherman dropped the Nets’ title odds from 18/1 to 10/1, he stopped short of placing them in the elite level occupied by other teams.

Unlike their favored status of last season, when the Nets remained Eastern Conference favorites even while languishing in eighth place during Irving’s absences and a Durant injury, too much has been revealed about the Nets’ tenuous relationships.

“You don’t just roll the ball out there for these guys,” Sherman said in reference to how Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers were perceived. “There’s a lot of factors going on over there — coaching and chemistry issues.”

While he retains deep respect for the Nets’ supporting players, Sherman said Brooklyn were swept by Boston with Durant and Irving “when all that were missing was (Ben) Simmons and (Joe) Harris.”

Questions about Ben Simmons

While Simmons’ defensive skill playing for the Philadelphia 76ers was sublime, his shooting ability and interest in taking big shots was suspect in Brooklyn.

“How much will change for (Simmons)?” Sherman asked. “Teams are going to foul him and try to get in his head ... And Steve Nash is going to get out-coached along the way.”

Sherman said he knows he’s in the minority among his bookmaking peers about where the Nets’ title odds should be. He personally favors the Los Angeles Clippers as the favorite. For him, there are still too many question surrounding the Nets.

“The East is going to be so tough to get through — Boston, Milwaukee, Miami, Philadelphia,” he said. “Durant, at this age, is now missing games to injury. With Irving, will he want to take games off? We know he’s in the last year of his contract, and that’s usually a time when players want to prove their value. But does he care about doing that?”

In other words, 10/1 is the right number.

“A lot of things have happened with the Nets,” Sherman said. “They first have to prove they can overcome it.”

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Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).

NBA power rankings: Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant at NBA All-Star ...

Are the Phoenix Suns the best team in the NBA's Western Conference after trading for Kevin Durant?

How serious of an NBA title contender are they?

Several sites weighed in on the Suns and their contender status in NBA power rankings ahead of the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.

Could the Phoenix Suns be holding the NBA Championship trophy at the end of the season?

More:Did Phoenix Suns hold Mikal Bridges back? ESPN analyst slammed for Brooklyn Nets take

Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules

ESPN: Suns up six spots to No. 6 in NBA power rankings

Dave McMenamin wrote: How's this for a welcome wagon for Durant? The No. 4-seeded Suns pulled away from the West's No. 3 seed, Sacramento, on Tuesday with Devin Booker scoring 32 on 13-for-20 shooting, Deandre Ayton putting up 29 on 13-for-17 and Chris Paul managing the action with 17 points and 19 assists. Step right up, Mr. Durant.

'We got pretty damn good real quick':Larry Fitzgerald on Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant trade

NBC Sports: Suns hold steady at No. 11 in NBA power rankings

Kuyrt Helin wrote: "Devin Booker returned and looked sharp in the win over the Kings, scoring 32 points and running the offense for stretches. Kevin Durant will make his Suns debut sometime after the All-Star break, but Phoenix is wisely not putting a timeline on that. Watching the Suns’ offense click against the Kings, then envisioning Kevin Durant in it, one question came to mind: How comfortable are players such as Booker and Deandre Ayton going to be with sacrificing parts of their game for the betterment of the team? (I do not doubt that Chris Paul is good with that.) Winning a ring requires stars to sacrifice (think Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade with LeBron James in Miami), guys not willing to do that can undermine a team. Ayton may see the big picture, but it’s something worth watching."

More:Kevin Durant trade makes Phoenix Suns 'obvious' winner at NBA trade deadline

Sportsnaut: Suns move to No. 8 in NBA power rankings

Jason Burgos wrote: "MVP candidate Devin Booker was sidelined with a groin injury for nearly a month and they plummeted in the standings. However, they seemed to have circled the wagons just in time with Devin Booker back on the court. However, they have made a massive jump in the latest NBA power rankings not just for their recent play, but by swinging the biggest deal of the 2023 NBA trade deadline for MVP candidate Kevin Durant."

More:Why Kevin Durant wanted trade to Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Monty Williams, Chris Paul

Bleacher Report: Suns ranked No. 5 in NBA power rankings entering NBA All-Star Game

Andy Bailey wrote: "The Phoenix Suns closed out the week with a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, but they hang onto their top-five spot in the power rankings on the back of a 5-2 record over their last seven and the eventual return of Kevin Durant. Of course, it's difficult to confidently analyze this team until KD returns, but it feels safe to assume he'll assimilate as easily as he did with the Golden State Warriors in 2016. And if that's the case, this team is a ready-made title contender that should be able to win a shootout against just about anyone."

Kevin Durant trade grades:Phoenix Suns receive rave reviews for deal with Brooklyn Nets

CBS Sports: Suns take No. 8 spot in NBA power rankings

Colin Ward-Henninger wrote: "What happened? I must have blacked out for a second. The Suns beat the Nets on Tuesday, and then acquired their best player on Wednesday, officially kicking off the Kevin Durant era in Phoenix. They went from middle-of-the-pack to Western Conference favorites literally overnight, and it comes as Devin Booker is just starting to get back into shape, putting up 20 points and 5.5 assists in 26 minutes per game this week."

The Rookie Wire: Suns enter All-Star break ranked No. 9 in NBA power rankings

Cody Taylor wrote: "The Suns stole the show at the trade deadline by acquiring Kevin Durant and TJ Warren from the Nets for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks. The team gave up an awful lot of players and assets for Durant, but the opportunity to add a former MVP doesn’t happen often, and the front office did what it needed to in order to get him. It is definitely championship or bust time now in Phoenix."

More:Phoenix Suns' NBA title odds surge after Kevin Durant trade

Draft Kings: Suns rise six spots to No. 8 in NBA power rankings

Chinmay Vaidya wrote: "The Suns did have to give up Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, but they managed to keep Deandre Ayton out of the trade. Phoenix has four great starters in Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Durant and Ayton. Landry Shamet, Damion Lee, Torrey Craig and a handful of buyout players will round out what should be a championship-caliber roster. Now, Durant is still hurt and will need some time to get back to 100%. However, this team just became the favorite in the West for a good reason."

More:Phoenix Suns fans lament losing Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson in Kevin Durant trade

Clutch Points: Suns ranked No. 6 in NBA power rankings at NBA All-Star break

Enzo Flojo wrote: "Boy, we cannot wait to see Kevin Durant play his first game as a Sun. Till that happens, though, this is just a pretty good team (instead of being a great one). The Suns, in fact, have split their last four games. They had good wins over the Pacers and Kings offset by losses to the Hawks and Clippers. We do expect them to be on a bit of a winning run after All-Star Weekend."

More:Kevin Durant trade reaction: Phoenix Suns' trade with Brooklyn Nets stuns NBA world

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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