We’re going to see a Kevin Durant trade from the Brooklyn Nets at some point within the next couple weeks.
A recent report from Shams Charania of The Athletic notes that Durant has indeed requested a trade from the Nets. General manager Sean Marks and Co. are working with his team on getting it done.
As things turn cloudy for the Nets’ organization, there’s a real chance that Durant could end up calling another NBA city home next season. If so, here’s a look at five ideal Kevin Durant trade scenarios in what would be among the biggest blockbusters in modern Association history.
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Kevin Durant trade to the Washington Wizards
- Wizards get: Kevin Durant
- Nets get: Kristaps Porzingis, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, 4 future 1st-round picks
KD returning home to close up shop on his career. It really would be something for the Prince George’s County, Maryland, native. He’s often spoken about growing up in the D.C. suburb and how it has shaped his life. We wouldn’t put it past the two-time NBA Finals MVP to push for this.
From an on-court perspective, Washington needs to find more help for Bradley Beal after he signed a massive extension to return to D.C. With all due respect to Monte Morris, the veteran guard doesn’t move the needle too much. Obviously, KD would.
Speaking of returns? The Unicorn heading back to the Big Apple. Wouldn’t that be something? Sure he’s an injury-plagued enigma. He’s also as talented as they come for someone his size and could act as a building block in Brooklyn.
Outside of that, the Nets add to their draft capital with four lightly-protected first-round picks. Even if general manager Sean Marks and Co. don’t view Porzingis as a building block, those picks are a nice get.
Kevin Durant trade to the Miami Heat
- Heat get: Kevin Durant, Joe Harris
- Nets get: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry, Max Strus, Omer Yurtseven, 3 1st-round picks, two pick swaps
It’s being reported that Miami is one of Durant’s preferred destinations. With that said, Brooklyn is going to be looking for the best potential package in return for the two-time NBA Finals MVP. Miami is not going to get him on the cheap.
In this scenario, the Nets acquire reigning NBA Sixth-Man of the Year Tyler Herro as the centerpiece. It also picks up three future unconditional first-round picks (2024, 2026 and 2028) as well two pick swaps.
In return, Pat Riley and Co. team KD up with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo to field what would be a legit championship contender in South Beach.
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Kevin Durant trade to the Phoenix Suns
- Suns get: Kevin Durant, Joe Harris
- Nets get: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, John Collins, AJ Griffin, 3 1st-round picks
- Hawks get: Deandre Ayton
Drum roll, please. Yes, these Suns are favored to land Durant should he move on from the Nets. It makes perfect sense. They are coming off the best regular season in the NBA and are a calendar year removed from appearing in the Finals.
Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and an aging Chris Paul would be enough for Phoenix to continue to compete for the title over the short-term. In fact, Phoenix would be considered odds-on title favorites if it landed KD.
This trade is a tad complicated in that Brooklyn has been bandied about as a landing spot for Ayton. However, it can’t add him on a sign-and-trade max deal if Ben Simmons is on the roster. Instead, the active Hawks get involved here. After acquiring Dejounte Murray in a blockbuster trade, Atlanta brings in another stud youngster to team up with Murray and Trae Young.
The Nets acquire four young potential building blocks and three future first-round picks. With reports that they want rebuild pieces, this would make a ton of sense.
Kevin Durant trade to the Toronto Raptors
- Raptors get: Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, 2 1st-round picks
- Nets get: Kevin Durant
It’s being noted that Toronto has absolutely no plans to include reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes in and trade for Durant. If that is indeed the case, Pascal Siakam would have to head to Brooklyn. He’d be an absolutely tremendous get for the Nets and could act as a franchise cornerstone moving forward.
- Pascal Siakam stats (2019-22): 22.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.4 APG, 47% shooting, 34% 3-point
Still only 28, Siakam could help Brooklyn avoid a long-term rebuild. It if doesn’t work out, the team could then flip him for a ton of future draft capital and young players. As for Anunoby, the 24-year-old wing is coming off a career-best 2021-22 season that saw him average 17.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per.
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Kevin Durant trade to the Golden State Warriors
- Warriors get: Kevin Durant, Seth Curry
- Nets get: Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, Moses Moody, Mattise Thybulle, Tobias Harris, 4 1st-round picks
- 76ers get: Andrew Wiggins, Joe Harris
We pushed back against including Golden State in this article. It just doesn’t make sense for the defending champs to exhaust what it would take to bring Durant back to the Bay. With that said, multiple media reports have indicated that there’s interest from both sides in a reunion.
“The Warriors superstars have been in conversations with Durant. In addition to catching up, the Hall of Fame-bound peers did entertain the idea of a reunion.”
Marcus Thompson of The Athletic
On the court, a healthy Warriors team with Durant would likely be the odds-on favorite to win the title throughout the four years of his contract. That has to be the thought process behind scenes for the dynastic team.
In this scenario, Golden State is able to keep Jordan Poole while adding even more draft capital to make this worth the Nets’ while. Kuminga and Moody showed out in limited playing time for the Warriors as rookies. Wiseman was the No. 2 overall pick less than two calendar years ago. Add in the four first-round picks (three from Golden State and one from Philadelphia), and this would be a bounty.
As for Philadelphia’s involvement, it’s rather simple. Wiggins can’t head to Brooklyn unless the Nets trade Ben Simmons. As for the 76ers, they picked up a player in Wiggins who was legitimately the second-best player in the 2022 NBA Finals and is one of the best defensive wings in the game. Adding Wiggins to the mix with James Harden, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey while giving up very little would be a major win.