Let the video games start! With lower than three weeks till the beginning of NBA free company, and fewer than two till the 2025 NBA draft, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns had met a number of instances to sift by means of doable commerce situations, with the discussions primarily centering across the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Warmth, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves, sources instructed ESPN.
A number of wild-card groups are nonetheless within the combine, sources mentioned.
With that, we requested 5 NBA insiders (Chris Herring, Zach Kram, Dave McMenamin, Kevin Pelton and André Snellings) to suggest practical trades for the two-time Finals MVP, then had entrance workplace insider Bobby Marks consider the offers and decide the very best supply, based mostly on the instructions Phoenix might select because the franchise seems to be to reshape its costly, underperforming and top-heavy roster.
Newest on Durant’s future
Durant is about to enter the final 12 months of a four-year, $198 million extension he signed in Brooklyn. And whereas he doesn’t have a no-trade clause like Suns teammate Bradley Beal, Durant holds leverage on the place his subsequent house might be.
“I need my profession to finish on my phrases, that is the one factor,” Durant mentioned on “The Draymond Inexperienced Present with Baron Davis” final month. “That is the one factor I am apprehensive about. As a result of I see loads of dudes that do not get that chance, so I need to hold placing in that work to make that alternative alone.”
Two elements will play a job if a commerce materializes. The primary: Is Durant prepared to signal a two-year, $112 million extension with the crew buying and selling for him? And since Durant could be a free agent in 2026, it’s unlikely a crew trades draft capital and gamers for a one-year rental. The free agent panorama of groups with projected cap area is predicted to extend from one this summer time to just about half the groups in 2026.
The second, and most vital: Is the crew that trades for Durant nonetheless in place to compete for a championship? At age 36, his subsequent crew will seemingly be his final alternative so as to add a 3rd ring. — Marks
Bounce to a commerce:
HOU | MIA | MIN | NYK | SAS
Wild-card crew
5 hypothetical commerce affords for KD
Kram’s commerce supply:
Rockets get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Jock Landale, No. 10 decide in 2025, first-round decide in 2027 (by way of Phoenix)
Why it is sensible for either side
The Rockets are a pure commerce associate for the Suns for 2 fundamental causes. First, Durant slots neatly into Houston’s largest gap. Because of a shiny younger core and ferocious protection, the Rockets are rising within the West. However they lack the go-to scorer required to steer a contender and ranked simply twenty second in half-court offense this season, per Cleansing the Glass. An absence of offensive oomph value the Rockets a deep playoff run, as Houston scored 93 factors or fewer in three of 4 playoff losses in opposition to Golden State.
Even at 36, Durant would signify a significant enchancment on this space. He had the next utilization charge and a lot better true capturing share than any participant in Houston’s rotation. And until Giannis Antetokounmpo particularly requests a commerce to Houston, Durant would signify the very best likelihood at an improve this summer time.
Second, the Rockets management Phoenix’s draft picks in 2025 (which landed at tenth general), 2027 and 2029, which the Suns had initially despatched to Brooklyn once they traded for Durant. Reacquiring some or all of these picks would carry Phoenix’s Durant period full circle and in addition enable the crew to make no matter future strikes it desired with out worrying in regards to the potential lack of lottery picks.
Within the meantime, this return might additionally assist Phoenix put collectively a aggressive roster round Devin Booker and keep away from a full rebuild. Brooks is a helpful 3-and-D wing on a declining contract who might plug one gap within the Suns’ porous perimeter protection. Sheppard did not discover his footing in his rookie season in Houston, however the No. 3 decide affords extra upside than any participant on Phoenix’s roster. So too does Whitmore, an sometimes electrical scorer (profession 22 factors per 36 minutes) who hasn’t checked sufficient different bins to earn extra of coach Ime Udoka’s belief.
Phoenix would purchase the younger expertise and picks it’s lacking, whereas Houston would improve from Brooks to Durant with out sacrificing anybody else from its present core. (Sheppard, Whitmore and Landale performed 20 minutes mixed within the playoffs.) That looks as if a win-win deal.
As a result of Houston is taking again extra wage within the commerce and in consequence, laborious capped on the first apron, the $44.9 million crew possibility of Fred VanVleet is declined. The Rockets will re-sign the guard at a beginning wage of $25 million. The discount in VanVleet’s contract may also enable Houston to re-sign Steven Adams and stay beneath the primary apron.
Pelton’s commerce supply:
Warmth get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Nikola Jovic, Andrew Wiggins, 2025 first-round decide (by way of Golden State), 2030 first-round decide (by way of Miami), 2026 second-round decide (by way of Los Angeles Lakers)
Nets get: Duncan Robinson, Keshad Johnson, 2029 first-round swap (top-4 protected), 2031 first-round swap (top-4 protected), 2031 second-round decide (by way of higher of Indiana and Miami)
Why it is sensible for either side
If the opposite affords right here really are available in for Durant, the Warmth do not realistically stand an opportunity. Miami would not have premium draft picks or younger prospects to supply and should ship out extra wage than Durant’s $53.3 million for 2025-26 to keep away from a tough cap on the decrease luxurious tax apron, necessitating sending among the decide worth to the Nets to take Robinson’s $19.9 million wage into cap area. (Some $10 million of Robinson’s 2025-26 contract is non-guaranteed, however the Warmth must assure it so as to rely totally as outgoing wage in commerce.)
As an alternative, Miami has to hope that Dallas decides to not sacrifice large quantities of depth for a Durant pursuit and Houston prefers to attend for a youthful star participant (say, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Booker) who higher suits the crew’s timetable.
In that situation, the Warmth can test a number of bins for the Suns. This commerce cuts about $20 million from Phoenix’s 2025-26 payroll, which the Suns might both reinvest in a middle or just take as huge luxurious tax financial savings. Getting Wiggins, who has bounced again this season as an above-average starter, and Jovic improves Phoenix’s ahead depth. And the Suns find yourself with each the first-round decide the Warriors despatched Miami within the Jimmy Butler commerce and a priceless unprotected draft decide in 2030 to replenish the crew’s coffers.
McMenamin’s commerce supply:
Wolves get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham
Why it is sensible for either side
The Wolves already made a run at Durant main as much as the commerce deadline, sources instructed ESPN, with Minnesota president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, attempting to land Anthony Edwards’ idol to diversify his crew’s offense.
Months later, with out Durant, the Wolves bowed out of the Western Convention finals after being suffocated by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s staunch protection. They scored 103 factors or fewer in three of their 4 losses within the sequence.
A scoring core of Edwards, Durant and Julius Randle would current issues, even for a protection as locked in as Oklahoma Metropolis’s, and Naz Reid has already closed at heart over Gobert loads of instances as is.
The Suns would get a four-time Defensive Participant of the Yr in Gobert for brand new coach Jordan Ott to anchor his protection round after Phoenix completed twenty seventh in crew defensive score final season below Mike Budenholzer. To not point out, two younger guards on cost-friendly offers (DiVincenzo is owed $12 million subsequent season; Dillingham is owed $6.6 million) that may elevate the Suns’ offense round Devin Booker.
The deal may very well be tweaked to incorporate Mike Conley (on a $10.8 million expiring contract) rather than DiVincenzo and draft belongings as a substitute if the Wolves prioritized manufacturing over locker room presence, figuring Conley’s greatest days are behind him. And Conley could be an instantaneous ally for Ott as a culture-setter because the Suns attempt to construct again to respectability after two straight disappointing seasons that made their 2021 Finals berth look like a distant reminiscence.
Snellings’ commerce supply:
Knicks get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson
Why it is sensible for either side
On this deal, the Knicks get Durant after lacking out to their crosstown rivals six years in the past. The Knicks’ offense is robust however requires constant heavy lifting from Jalen Brunson to create for the opposite finishers within the lineup.
Properly, Durant is among the biggest finishers in NBA historical past and would pair with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities to offer the Knicks one of the vital environment friendly and productive offensive cores within the NBA. Their talent units mesh properly and may very well be sufficient to assist the Knicks take that subsequent leap to hitch the Celtics and Cavaliers in true competition to win the Japanese Convention. They would wish so as to add extra depth and measurement within the offseason, however their offensive basis and upside could be great.
In Anunoby, the Suns would get a 27-year-old influence ahead on an analogous profession timeline with 28-year-old franchise participant Booker. Anunoby is an elite wing defender, named second-team All-Protection in 2023 and with Booker would kind a wing tandem that’s glorious at each ends of the ground. The Suns additionally nonetheless want extra measurement and muscle within the center, and the 26-year-old Robinson would give them one other younger veteran coming into his peak seasons able to contributing to the primary rotation of a successful squad. Robinson has had well being points, however when on the court docket, he is among the higher defensive and rebounding bigs within the league.
Wright’s commerce supply:
Spurs get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, 2025 first-round decide (by way of Atlanta)
Why it is sensible for either side
Rising up in France, Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama idolized Kevin Durant, even modeling components of his sport after the 36-year previous.
In Paris on the 2024 Olympics, the 2 shared a second after the gold medal sport with Wembanyama expressing admiration for Durant along with revealing a need to “steal” one or two methods from the long run Corridor of Famer’s repertoire.
What higher means than by enjoying alongside him in San Antonio? The Spurs’ curiosity in Durant dates to 2016, when he took a free agent assembly out of respect for former coach Gregg Popovich earlier than finally signing with Golden State.
The perimeters reportedly expressed mutual curiosity once more forward of the February commerce deadline, earlier than San Antonio made a deal to accumulate level guard De’Aaron Fox. That transfer signaled the Spurs need to smash the gasoline pedal on what’s been, up to now, a prolonged rebuilding course of.
Bringing aboard Durant would immediately thrust San Antonio and new coach Mitch Johnson into postseason competition. The Spurs have loads of draft picks (together with two first-rounders in June) to consummate a deal and the salaries to make the numbers work. San Antonio will not give up the No. 2 decide for a 36-year-old Durant, however the membership would gladly hand over decide No. 14, together with veterans Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes in a package deal to land the previous MVP.
The 24-year-old Vassell is coming off considerably of a down season by his requirements however has proved to be an ascending two-way participant who shoots a profession 37% from deep with 4 years left on his deal.
Transferring Vassell would make room in San Antonio’s beginning lineup for Dylan Harper, ought to the Spurs determine to draft him with the No. 2 decide. Barnes, in the meantime, is coming off a career-best 43.3% from 3-point vary final season whereas enjoying in all 82 video games for the third consecutive season. Barnes additionally gives the veteran management that rebuilding groups desperately want and continues to be able to starter-level contributions.
Wild card!
Herring’s commerce supply:
Mavericks get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, Dereck Vigorous II, 2028 first-round decide (by way of Oklahoma Metropolis)
Why it is sensible for either side
In dealing then-25-year-old Luka Doncic for 31-year-old Anthony Davis, the Mavericks have made no secret that they view their window to contend for a title as the subsequent few years — whilst they struck gold by successful the 2025 draft lottery (and presumably Cooper Flagg). And with that win-now mentality established, they’d seemingly proceed to push the chips in additional, even with Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL hurting their probabilities subsequent season.
Buying Durant, one among Irving’s closest mates and his former Brooklyn teammate, could be one clear means to do this. He’d make sure the crew’s perimeter scoring and ballhandling keep afloat whereas Irving rehabs. And it could additionally give Davis one other future Corridor of Famer to take strain off his shoulders from evening to nighttime. The transfer would additionally give Durant an opportunity to doubtlessly end his profession within the state the place he turned a one-and-done famous person for the Texas Longhorns, all whereas enjoying alongside Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 decide who figures to develop into a mainstay because the Mavs restructure following the Doncic commerce.
On this deal, the Suns would instantly deepen their rotation, getting not solely a historic sharpshooter in Thompson, but in addition key win-now gamers in Marshall and Washington, who immediately is not wanted as a lot in Dallas with Flagg’s arrival. Phoenix could be most enthusiastic about touchdown Vigorous, who loved a incredible rookie season on each ends with Dallas en path to the NBA Finals in 2024. The haul, and Dallas’ 2028 first-round decide, ought to be sufficient to persuade franchise participant Devin Booker that Phoenix may have sufficient to be aggressive over the subsequent few years.
Dallas, like the present Suns roster, would nonetheless be a top-heavy group on account of this transfer, and one that will finally want an honest stretch of excellent well being to offer the membership an opportunity at glory. It might look like a heavy funding and threat for the Mavs, however the stakes are a undoubtedly decrease for them now that they know they’re going to have Flagg, a participant who permits Dallas and its followers to dream a few future, even with a trio of stars of their 30s.
The decision: Durant to the Wolves?
Dallas, Miami, San Antonio, New York and Houston make compelling circumstances, however it’s laborious to show down the commerce proposal Minnesota has provided. The Timberwolves package deal checked three out of the 4 bins Phoenix set off to perform in buying and selling Durant: controllable contracts, gamers who might help now and monetary flexibility. The Timberwolves might commerce the seventeenth decide on this 12 months’s draft however that’s not included.
The addition of Dillingham offers Phoenix a controllable contract for the long run and an injection of youth into an growing old crew. The Suns completed the 2024-25 common season behind solely the Clippers because the oldest crew within the NBA. Earlier than the commerce, final 12 months’s draft picks Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro have been the one gamers on the roster who have been 23 years previous or youthful. Gobert is below contract for the subsequent three seasons and offers Phoenix an All-Defensive presence at heart. In the meantime, the addition of DiVincenzo (he’s below contract for the subsequent two seasons), strengthens a bench that’s in want of capturing.
And whereas OG Anunoby might be the very best “win-now” participant included in a proposal, the $176 million left on his contract after this season is a tough no. Brooks may give Phoenix the identical manufacturing at 1 / 4 of what’s owed to Anunoby.
The Spurs and Rockets had the draft belongings and gamers to make a extra compelling supply to Phoenix however failed to achieve the end line with their lone first-round decide included. — Marks
