Rumors have circulated for months regarding Kevin Durant’s impending trade, especially as the offseason nears and the NBA Draft is approaching. With the NBA Finals wrapping up soon, the Phoenix Suns are expected to make significant decisions regarding Durant shortly.
Last week, ESPN Insider Shams Charania revealed that five teams are in pursuit of Durant: the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks. Over the weekend, Durant mentioned that his preferred destinations include Houston, San Antonio, and Miami. Charania noted that the Suns are committed to securing a favorable deal, irrespective of Durant’s preferences. The Toronto Raptors have also shown interest in acquiring him.
Before the finals conclude, the NBA has already seen a major trade, indicating that Durant’s own trade could be imminent. Below, we outline various potential trade scenarios for Durant involving his top six suitors and rate their chances of landing him.
6. New York Knicks
Will the Knicks really part ways with Karl-Anthony Towns after just one promising season? Towns had an impressive run that brought New York its deepest playoff journey in 25 years. His addition could be appealing for the Suns, who lack control of their first-round draft pick until 2032. However, with a hefty contract of $171 million remaining over three years, it’s tricky. While Durant is aging—he’ll be 37—he remains an exceptional scorer and still facilitates scoring for others effectively. Relying heavily on Mitchell Robinson could be risky for New York. There’s hesitance to believe that this trade would significantly enhance the Knicks, especially with their coaching situation needing attention before taking on another big move.
5. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors once thrived by acquiring superstars on expiring contracts, leading to a championship. It might seem tempting to try again, yet the current Raptors lineup feels somewhat mediocre. With hopes pinned on Brandon Ingram to energize the team, it’s still hard to envision their ceiling. Acquiring Durant without sacrificing Scottie Barnes or their pick in the upcoming draft could be beneficial. Toronto desperately needs sharpshooting after finishing at the bottom in three-point shooting last season. Durant typically excels in this area, showcasing his remarkable skills last season. However, I remain skeptical about whether even a player of Durant’s caliber would be enough to crack the East.
4. Miami Heat
Despite winning only 37 games this season, Miami still made the playoffs. After trading Jimmy Butler, Pat Riley is on the hunt for another star; pairing Durant with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo could be intriguing. Although giving up promising rookie Kel-Elware might be painful, it seems unlikely the Suns would let him go without that being part of the deal. But still, it raises questions about how high Miami’s ceiling could be with this trade. Eric Spoelstra has performed well with less, making the Heat an unpredictable contender in this race.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves aimed to acquire Durant during the previous trade deadline but might feel even more compelled now after reaching the conference finals. A deal centered around trading Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle could be possible, with Randle offering more offensive potential. Trading for Durant would uplift their scoring options significantly. Remember, Edward grew up idolizing Durant, and their scoring prowess together could create havoc, although it’s worth noting my expectations were similarly high when Durant joined Devin Booker before. With the offseason presenting various challenges ahead, including decisions on free agents, Minnesota must weigh its options carefully.
2. Houston Rockets
The Rockets have surprised many by clinching the second seed in the West, winning 52 games thanks to their outstanding defense. However, their offensive limitations became apparent during a first-round playoff loss to the Warriors. Now, they’re at a crossroads: do they pursue Durant, or wait for bigger stars like Giannis or Devin Booker? One appealing aspect of pursuing Durant is the potential for not sacrificing their future picks, which the Rockets control from Phoenix in the next couple of drafts. Parting with Jabari Smith Jr. might be challenging, yet trading him for Durant could be a fair exchange. Adding Durant could resolve some of Houston’s scoring issues, though I feel they might benefit more from a playmaker than just another shooter. Still, landing Durant while maintaining the ability to secure those future picks should be very enticing for Houston.
1. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs and Rockets find themselves in somewhat similar situations, both considering moves for Durant or even aiming for Giannis. Given the likelihood of Giannis remaining in Milwaukee, pursuing Durant starts to appear more viable without sacrificing key assets. If the Spurs can surround Victor Wembanyama with quality shooters like Harper, Castle, and Fox, adding Durant could ideally complete their team. Though he may need to adjust his shooting style to fit with the Spurs, the combination of Wembanyama and Durant has the potential to be dynamic. This trade might necessitate giving up Devin Vassell, although the Spurs should strive to keep him. Wembanyama still needs elite talent alongside him, and while Durant would prove to be a flexible long-term option, he could also facilitate a more competitive playoff presence for San Antonio.
