Editor’s Note: It’s ‘KD Mock Trade Week’ here at Bright Side of the Sun. Time to dust off the trade machine and imagine what a Kevin Durant deal might actually look like. To kick things off, Bruce Veliz put together a tiered list of teams that would have a real interest in the 15-time All-Star.
With the Phoenix Suns making their first move of the offseason in hiring coach Jordan Ott, reports state that the Suns will now begin working with Kevin Durant and his representation to find a deal that works for both sides. Sadly, for Suns fans, including myself, we never got to see the full potential of a roster with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker during their time together. Countless moves following the Durant one had hindered that opportunity, and in repercussion, the Suns now have to move off of him, to escape the mess they put themselves in.
For someone like Kevin Durant, who stated he wanted to finish his career in the Valley, this must also sting. He wanted to prove to the fans that he and Book could get back to the finals, but ultimately, they fell short. That being said, wherever Durant ends up next season, I hope it gives him the Best chance to get back to that milestone again.
Before we get into these teams, I want to clarify something.
- This tier list is ranked on the LIKELIHOOD of Durant going to said team
- This is NOT on what is the best return the Suns can get
- This is NOT based on what teams are the best FIT for Durant
- Teams listed in tiers are NOT ranked in any specific order
If there are suggestions for those other categories to be written, I will, but we are only looking at today’s question of who will most likely get Durant.
Tier 0: NBA Finals Teams
Indiana Pacers
It makes no sense for either of the final teams to trade for Durant following the impressive season they have had. The Pacers were a team that intrigued me before, with the amount of depth they had, but there would be questions. With Myles Turner needing to resign, the Pacers won’t make sense to trade for him, and the question also comes up on whether Durant would even entertain going there. Sure, the sheer amount of value they have is excellent, but that’s how they got to the finals, depth, and I see them sticking with that.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Once again, this team is the best in the association and will only get better. Before making the Finals, I would entertain it once again; their depth and value of their contracts are insane. Not to mention the number of picks they have, it would enthrall the Suns. That being all said, there is no need for them to upgrade and add Durant as they are already powerful enough, and the same thing again of Durant wanting to return, tells me he would say no. Maybe if they had lost to Denver, but it is a no now.
Tier 1: Why Would Either Entertain it?
New Orleans Pelicans
It does not make sense. They have no clear direction and just hired Joe Dumars as their GM, which is questionable. Add the fact that there is no intrigue to play in New Orleans, and all their past stars have left. What insights does Durant have to go there, or for them to be interested?
Utah Jazz
Do I even have to explain this one? Durant does not fit their timeline (if anyone knows what that could be). They want picks; Durant does not want to live in Utah.
Sacramento Kings
If he thinks the Sun‘s front office is a circus, what will he think of the Kings’ one? If he returns to California, every other team is more enticing in that direction, in terms of living area and being more reputable as a franchise.
Portland Trail Blazers
Durant does not seem to want to go to Portland, especially if he did not when they had Damian Lillard. The Blazers are also in the middle of retooling and identifying their key guys. It does not make sense to disrupt that.
Los Angeles Lakers
Besides playing on NBA 2K, you will not see a team consisting of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant on the same roster. No matter the assets sent out to multiple teams in a deal or if James takes a pay cut, it will not happen besides in fantasyland.
Dallas Mavericks
Moving up to the number one pick in the draft eliminates Dallas from still being interested. They will not move that in a Durant deal. It could have been more likely if they had landed the eleventh pick like expected, but it is less anticipated now.
Washington Wizards
They are interested in adding veterans, and it is his hometown team, but the direction of the Wizards does not correlate with what I believe Durant wants in his next chapter. At the tail end of his career, if Washington can blossom these young guns they have.
Charlotte Hornets
With the Hornets middling in the weaker Eastern Conference due to injuries, a Durant fit does not make sense for either party to be interested.
Chicago Bulls
This move would completely alter the team’s need to strip down and finally hit the reset button. With the signaling that they want to potentially go this direction, too, it makes no sense for Durant to want to go there.
Milwaukee Bucks
The only way I see him doing this is to team up with Giannis, but doing this in Milwaukee is virtually impossible. The Suns aren’t taking back Damian Lillard, and the Bucks do not have any other value that would intrigue Phoenix. Moreover, Giannis’s future in Milwaukee remains uncertain.
Brooklyn Nets
This move would be the complete opposite for a team that needs to rebuild and bottom out. It does not align with their goals, and I do not see Durant wanting to return to the team he was just on before Phoenix.
Toronto Raptors
I don’t think any superstar wants to play in Canada unless they are Canadian, and that sentiment, I believe, remains true with Durant in this scenario. Their current position in the middle of the East does not give them any bright outlook on a championship anytime soon.
Orlando Magic
They love their wings and need shooting, but it ultimately comes down to negotiations that set this one down for me. Phoenix would want another wing in return, and Orlando would refuse to include either of their building blocks.
Atlanta Hawks
Another middle-of-the-pack Eastern Conference team. Add to the fact that they already have young wings who can do what KD does. Is this an attempt to show Trae Young you can win around him? I think that ship has sailed, and they would rather invest in their youth than make a big splash trade.
Tier 2: It is Possible, there are just some roadblocks along the way
Philadelphia 76ers
I think this is one team in the East that makes sense for Durant. There are just some roadblocks and concerns. How do the Sixers get off Paul George’s deal, and do they feel confident in Joel Embiid’s health? The real question, too, is whether the Sixers are willing to ditch the third pick. All signs point to having to do so to get out of George. Those limitations and concerns are what make them fall here.
New York Knicks
Even with rumors of this team being interested at the deadline last season, the pathway to achieving so is complex. The Suns trading for Karl-Anthony Towns would not help their salary cap issues, as he makes relatively the same on a larger deal. John Gambadoro also reported the Suns are not interested in KAT. Therefore, it would have to include one of their wings. Are they moving one of them? I don’t think so. Not to mention, they have minimal draft assets. Seems more like a this could be cool idea or a keep it to Twitter type of discussion
Boston Celtics
How could two-second apron teams trying to shed salary perform a deal with one another? It just does not make sense. Boston trades for Durant to fill in for Tatum, and then what, let’s him walk next free agency? Does Phoenix want Porzingis or Holiday, who are both getting older? Both could help, but Porzingis cannot stay healthy, and Holiday’s contract may prove too significant for the team to take him on. There are too many obstacles, even if Durant finally wanted to end up there.
Golden State Warriors
The only way this can be done is if Durant is willing to go back and if they trade Jimmy Butler after half a season. That obstacle alone, added to the fact that Phoenix has seen Butler at his new value now on this extension, turns them away.
Los Angeles Clippers
If he wanted to go back to California, this would make the most sense. The only obstacle is the contracts they are sending out. Are they trying to sign and trade Phoenix James Harden? That would certainly not fit with Booker, regardless of his college ties to the state. Would they even offer both of their future picks? There are too many questions on value and contracts, which leads one of the GMs to hang up the phone.
Cleveland Cavaliers
With the Cavs losing assistant Jordan Ott to the Suns, it would only be fitting to get some players he likes to bring to the Valley. Cleveland also proved they can be a top-tier team in the East and have the DPOY in Evan Mobley. The Suns need a center, and slotting Mobley to his primary position, finally in Cleveland, and allowing the Suns to get Jarrett Allen would be a win-win. The only issue? Both teams are heavily in the second apron, and it remains unclear if Durant would ever entertain Cleveland.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have the cap space and direction Durant would be looking for. Not to mention, they also have draft capital and tradable assets that the Suns could value. The main obstacle is how ready Detroit is to make a big swing for a star veteran. Detroit is on the rise and has just started to blossom this year, and it has unlimited potential with its young talent. For Durant, I do not know if it’s a first choice, but he can impact this team in the East now and for the future, bringing them a new culture if he decides to do so.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are very interesting as they have to pick a direction in the West. They have stayed young and developed, but now teams around them are making moves to pass them. Unfortunately, some injury-riddled seasons have limited them from growing. With some pieces the Suns could value, and for wanting to get a star, it makes sense for the teams to engage in a deal, IF Durant was willing to go there. Durant and Butler made it known that going to Memphis was a no-go this year when they were dangled at the trade deadline. Does Durant feel different a couple of months later? I highly doubt it, so that’s why they are here.
Tier 3: The 5 Most Likely Teams to Trade for Durant
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs get Kevin Durant, an elite-level scorer, and they get to pair him alongside their other key guys, Fox and Wemby, who can play off him so well. By trading for Durant, they are not giving up a massive haul, allowing them to still have roster and draft assets around these three for other trades down the line or just for depth. They also would have money freed up and could sign free agents around these guys.
Houston Rockets
Houston has been linked to Phoenix for numerous reasons. The Rockets have three future Suns picks (this year’s 10th overall, alongside their 2027 and 2029). The Rockets have also always wanted Devin Booker, regardless of how many times the Suns have stayed adamant that he is not available. Therefore, Houston is not willing to give the big haul to Phoenix for Durant. Yet they have multiple other smaller contracts to toss in if another team gets involved, as the Suns do not want Jalen Green back, as he plays the same role and position as Devin Booker.
Minnesota Timberwolves
For Minnesota, a team that made the conference finals in back-to-back seasons with two different number two options, are they willing to try for the third time? That essentially is what they are doing in getting Durant here and teaming him up with Anthony Edwards, someone who idolized KD growing up. This makes sense as the team could make this move again, as it would satisfy their superstar. I also think Durant is better than Randle as a fit, especially if they lost some shooting in their frontcourt in free agency.
Denver Nuggets
With Denver fizzling out in a closer series vs the Oklahoma City Thunder, one thing was obvious. They need more scoring and shooting around Nikola Jokic. After giving the Thunder their only competition so far in the playoffs (Finals haven’t started yet), they can still win in this window. Adding a star like Durant solves the shooting on the wing issues that Michael Porter Jr. provides inconsistently for this team. You need to go all in on this Jokic window. Not to mention, Denver has a 2032 first-round pick that would sound very appealing to Phoenix back in a trade, either for a rebuild or another trade down the line.
Miami Heat
If any Eastern Conference team was going to trade for Durant, this would be the team I would bet on. Durant, I could also see wanting to go play for the Heat and their great organization. The Heat were rumored to be interested in Durant for Butler in a deal at the deadline. Are they still interested? Would they be willing to part with specific pieces that Phoenix demands? Miami always holds high bargaining power, which was shown at this deadline with these two teams.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I wish I did not have to write this article. I was on team optimism all season of this working out with Durant and the Suns, and sadly, due to the Suns having an untradeable 50 million asset on their books, they are forced into this hand if they want any path to success. For Durant, it ultimately makes sense now to move on as well. Once the team tried to trade you at the deadline unexpectedly, it makes sense to want to pursue your career somewhere else where they won’t do that.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, it is a business, but the players are also human, and with that, I wish Kevin Durant the best on his next team.
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