Vincent Frank
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant just continues to pop up in trade rumors around the NBA world. After the Houston Rockets completed a complicated deal with Durant’s former Brooklyn Nets team, reports surfaced that they were targeting KD in a trade.
A bit later, another report indicated that the Suns are fed up with Durant and will look to trade him as soon as possible. While owner Mat Ishbia tried to push back against this on social media, we’re not rookies to this game.
If Durant requests a trade, the Suns will likely have to oblige. That’s just the way it is in today’s star-driven NBA. It’s in this that we look at five ideal Kevin Durant trade scenarios from the Phoenix Suns this summer.
Related: Updated NBA trade rumors
Kevin Durant trade to the Miami Heat
It looks like the Miami Heat are running it back with Jimmy Butler for another season. He is not going to accept a contract extension this summer. We can now put to rest Butler trade rumors for the time being. Fresh off a first-round exit in the NBA Playoffs, Miami is not a championship-caliber team as currently assembled. It makes perfect sense for front office head Pat Riley and Co. to use assets in order to change that. After all, he’s never been afraid to go big-game hunting.
Trade details
- Miami Heat get: Kevin Durant, Nassir Little
- Phoenix Suns get: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Terry Rozier, two first-round picks
For Phoenix, this deal enables the team to still remain competitive in the Western Conference while adding draft assets it gave up for KD in the first place. Herro is a 20-point per-game scorer and can slide in as a potential six man. Rozier has proven himself as a starter-caliber point guard. It’s an area the Suns need to address. Add in the high-upside Jaquez Jr., and this would be a boon for the Suns.
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Philadelphia 76ers land Kevin Durant in blockbuster trade
We already know that 76ers front office head Daryl Morey is going big-game hunting for a wing to team up with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. With Philadelphia boasting a ton of cap room, it’s going to happen. We just don’t know who will land with the team. Durant makes the most sense should he be put on the block. A big three of KD, Maxey and Embiid would be enough to rival the vaunted defending champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
Trade details
- Philadelphia 76ers get: Kevin Durant
- Phoenix Suns get: Paul Reed, Ricky Council IV, four first-round picks, pick swap
This would not be the Suns’ way of throwing in the towel and starting anew with a rebuild. They didn’t hire Mike Budenholzer as head coach to do that. Rather, the draft compensation Phoenix receives in this hypothetical blockbuster would be used to add another star to the mix with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
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Minnesota Timberwolves land Kevin Durant in blockbuster
The Minnesota Timberwolves are going all in. Their decision to trade their few remaining draft assets for the rights to Rob Dillingham in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft adds another layer to this. Minnesota knows its window is wide open. The team also knows it has very few avenues to pursue when it comes to becoming a NBA title favorite. Adding Durant to the mix with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert would do just that.
Trade details
- Minnesota Timberwolves get: Kevin Durant
- Phoenix Suns get: Karl-Anthony Towns, Rob Dillingham
A core three of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and KAT doesn’t seem too bad if the Suns are forced to move on from Durant. Sure, the team wouldn’t be gaining any draft capital in this trade. But it would also be adding a player in Dillingham who some had as the top prospect in the entire 2024 NBA Draft. The former Kentucky guard is a bucket waiting to happen and would team up well with Booker.
Related: Updated Minnesota Timberwolves news and rumors
Los Angeles Lakers pull off blockbuster Kevin Durant trade
Just imagine Kevin Durant and LeBron James teaming up together as both enter the twilight of their careers. Regardless of their on-court rivarly, the respect factor is there. James is more than likely returning to the Lakers for at least one more season. Coming off a first-round exit in the NBA Playoffs, he’s pressuring the Lakers’ brass to build a championship-caliber roster. Creating a big three of KD, King James and Anthony Davis would obviously do that.
Trade details
- Los Angeles Lakers get: Kevin Durant
- Phoenix Suns get: D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Dalton Knecht, two future first-round picks
A KD trade to Los Angeles would be complicated. First off, it’d require Russell opting into his contract. Short of that happening, it wouldn’t work financially. But in this hypothetical, the Suns are able to add two unprotected future first-round picks. They also get two players in Russell and Reaves who can contribute immediately. Heck, Knecht would represent a coup after the Tennessee product fell to Los Angeles in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
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Kevin Durant returns to the Golden State Warriors
We’ve already read reports that Durant returning to team up with Stephen Curry in Golden State could be in the cards. Objectively, he made a mistake by bolting the Warriors in the first place. The two finishing out their careers in the Bay Area makes sense. Meanwhile, Golden State has been linked to some big-time wings thus far this offseason. That includes Paul George.
Trade details
- Golden State Warriors get: Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic, Drew Eubanks
- Phoenix Suns get: Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, Kevon Looney, two first-round picks, pick swap
Holy, blockbuster! That’s what you have to be thinking here. But it really does work out for the Suns. They get one of the most-talented young forwards in Kuminga to slot in at the three immediately. The 21-year-old averaged 19.7 points and 5.6 rebounds on 38% shooting from distance in the final 37 games last season. Paul could be used as an expiring contract to flip. Wiggins is a solid three-and-D wing. Meanwhile, two first-round picks makes this worth the Suns’ while.
Related: 5 moves to make the Golden State Warriors title contenders
