As rumors swirl around Giannis Antetokounmpo staying with the Milwaukee Bucks, another superstar is at the center of trade discussions—Kevin Durant.
Durant, the Phoenix Suns’ star forward, is now the second biggest name on the market, with trade talks picking up steam as the NBA draft approaches.
Teams Interested in Durant
Reports indicate that the Phoenix Suns and Durant’s representatives, led by his business partner Rich Kleiman, are exploring trade options. Several teams have shown interest, including the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks.
There are even rumors that some wild-card teams have made inquiries in the past week.
The Suns are working hard to negotiate a deal that makes sense for all parties involved. Talks are expected to intensify leading up to the NBA draft later this month.
Durant’s Leverage and Trade Details
Durant is in the final year of his contract, worth $54.7 million, which gives him some leverage in the trade discussions. Teams are unlikely to trade significant assets for him unless there’s an understanding that he will sign an extension after the season.
Reports suggest that any team acquiring Durant will likely offer him a two-year, $122 million extension to keep him long-term.
Suns’ Trade Needs
The Suns are looking to rebuild and strengthen their team around star Devin Booker. To do so, they are focusing on acquiring depth, players who can help them immediately, and draft capital. With the Suns over the second apron of the luxury tax, it’s expected that a third (or more) team would need to be involved in any Durant trade to make the salaries work under the stricter salary cap rules.
Potential Suitors for Durant
Here’s a closer look at the teams that are reportedly interested in Durant:
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are among the top teams in the Durant trade discussions, with some suggesting that they are the front-runners. Adding Durant to a young core led by Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox could make the Spurs a serious contender in the West next season.
The trade package might include players like Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and Harrison Barnes, along with the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft. However, the Spurs are unlikely to part with their No. 2 pick in a deal for Durant.
New York Knicks
Although trade talks with the Knicks are still unclear, there have been suggestions that a deal could work by involving Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) and Durant. However, such a trade would require a third team due to the Suns’ luxury tax situation.
A deal that satisfies both teams seems complicated, and reports indicate that the Knicks might be out of the running for Durant.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have some attractive assets, such as picks (including the Suns’ 2027 and 2029 first-rounders) and young players. However, reports suggest that the Rockets aren’t highly motivated to trade for Durant, given that his timeline doesn’t match their rebuilding phase.
If they could acquire him for a bargain price, they might consider it, but it seems unlikely that they will make the strongest offer.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are another team that has been linked to Durant. With a solid core and aspirations of competing for a championship, Durant could be the missing piece to push them over the top.
However, salary cap restrictions mean this trade would require multiple teams. Reports also suggest that the Timberwolves are unwilling to part with key players like Jaden McDaniels or Naz Reid in any deal for Durant.
A trade might involve players like Julius Randle and a package of draft picks, along with several other players.
Miami Heat
Miami has shown interest in Durant, but structuring a trade seems challenging. The Heat would likely want to keep their stars, like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, while also adding Durant to the mix.
The Suns would want valuable assets, so Miami might need to part with role players like Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic, or Duncan Robinson, along with future draft picks. Despite these challenges, talks between the two sides are ongoing.
What’s Next for Durant and the Suns?
As the NBA draft approaches, talks about a possible Kevin Durant trade will intensify. The Suns are expected to explore all possible options to ensure they get the best value for the 2023 NBA Finals MVP. With several teams showing interest, it’s still unclear where Durant will land.
Regardless, any team that trades for him will likely need to sign him to an extension, and the Suns will look for assets that can help them build around Devin Booker for the long term.
The trade rumors surrounding Kevin Durant have only grown stronger as teams work to land the superstar. While the Suns are looking for immediate help around Devin Booker, the teams interested in Durant are all in different stages of their development.
As talks continue, it’s clear that whoever lands Durant will be getting a player capable of elevating their team to championship contention. With the NBA draft just around the corner, expect these discussions to heat up in the coming days.
