The Phoenix Suns are expected to trade Kevin Durant sooner rather than later, perhaps even by the time of the 2025 NBA Draft. For those that have been following along for the past few months, this was expected. However, as that fateful day draws near, there have been reports specifying the teams with serious interest in Durant and those where the feeling is mutual. Of the half a dozen teams that are circling, here are the ones on the former MVP’s wishlist: the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Houston Rockets.
Which one is the best though?
Ranking Kevin Durant’s Preferred Trade Destinations
1. San Antonio Spurs
If the concept of Giannis Antetokounmpo joining forces with Victor Wembanyama is enough for at least one NBA executive to believe the San Antonio Spurs would automatically become title favorites, then Durant teaming up with Wembanyama should elicit a similar response. As many know, Durant’s a future Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, with a career average of 27.2 points per game. Indeed, there would be many nights when he’d be the team’s top scoring option. Not that Wembanyama would mind. Not only is the future face of the league a highly mature young player, he idolizes Durant. With that in mind, the affinity between the two could allow them to grow chemistry rapidly, be it on or off the court.
The Suns aren’t “enamored” by the Spurs veteran-laden package, per The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer. So, they may need to surrender some combination of Jeremy Sochan, Stephon Castle and the 2025 No. 2 pick. Ideally, Phoenix would acquire Castle, Sochan, Devin Vassell, Blake Wesley and Malaki Branham. Either Castle or Vassell could start alongside Bradley Beal or Devin Booker. With that being said, if Phoenix starts both Beal and Booker, Castle’s likely the better option because he focuses on defense and playmaking more than scoring.
San Antonio would land Durant and then draft Rutgers guard Dylan Harper (or, perhaps, Texas wing Tre Johnson) in the upcoming draft.
2. Miami Heat
All the drama that surrounded the Miami Heat last season doesn’t change the fact that they’ve been one of the most successful franchises of this century. To that point, Miami has been able to reach the NBA Finals twice over the past six seasons. Health has been their biggest obstacle, putting Heat president Pat Riley on the prowl for a more durable top dog.
Durant doesn’t solve that issue, as he’s missed at least 20 games in all but one of the past six seasons. However, he does give them the No. 1 option they’ve been searching for since LeBron James left, quite frankly. In fact, he was their last player to average more than 24 points per game in a single season. That was back in 2013-14.
So, with the Heat’s defensive backbone fleshed out by Durant’s natural scoring ability, they’ll be far more capable of winning games. It’ll obviously help if Bam Adebayo bounces back from an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign. Nevertheless, if they can retain Tyler Herro, he may emerge as their second option.
With Miami unwilling to include Kel’el Ware in talks at the February trade deadline (h/t Fischer), their best offer for Durant may feature Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic, Duncan Robinson, Pelle Larsson and draft capital. That may not be enough upper-end talent for a player like Durant. However, each of those players could be an important part of Phoenix’s puzzle.
3. Houston Rockets
Ironically, the Houston Rockets might have more to offer the Suns than any team. Yet, they feel good enough about their pieces to not be operating from a place of desperation, unlike the Heat. In fact, according to Fischer, the Rockets are “exceedingly reluctant” to meet Phoenix’s asking price for the 15-time All-Star.
Due to their youth, Houston may not be hung up on giving up two or three first-round picks. However, giving up those first-rounders and surrendering their promising young players is where the problem could and should come in. As one of the league’s truly elite players, the Rockets understand he’s extremely valuable. Overpaying for Durant could come at a high price now and in the future though. As a result, they have to play it smart, if not safe.
With that in mind, the tea leaves suggest that Houston may be willing to part ways with Alperen Sengun. To that point, the Suns are known to be targeting a center in a Durant trade. Meanwhile, the Rockets recently extended the contract of Steven Adams, who backed up Sengun last season but is a starting-level center.
If Houston offers Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Jock Landale and a first-round pick (or two) for Durant, it could be enough.
Honorable Mention: Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t on Durant’ts shortlist. Nonetheless, they’re another team whose franchise cornerstone is known to hold Durant in high esteem. In this case, that player is Anthony Edwards, who was Durant’s teammate last summer during the Paris Olympics. A three-time All-Star at 23 years old, Edwards has led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals two years in a row now.
Durant could be the piece that allows them to get over the hump. Indeed, that may be why they’re currently engaged with the Suns about such a trade, per The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.
That’s not to say that neither Karl-Anthony Towns nor Julius Randle played their part for Minnesota the last two postseasons. However, Durant is a far more mystifying scorer than Towns, particularly in the playoffs. To that point, Towns has a career postseason average of 19.8 points per game, whereas Durant has averaged 29.3 points per game. For reference, Randle has a career playoff average of 19.4 points per game. Because of the spacing concerns generated by Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, it’s also worth noting that Durant’s a career 39.0 percent 3-point shooter (regular season).
With them holding on tight to McDaniels, Minnesota’s best trade chip could be Naz Reid. Reid, a 25-year-old hybrid big, should be valued by the Suns. In 2024-25, he averaged 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 blocks per game as a starter (17 games). It’s also possible that the Timberwolves get a third team involved to facilitate a deal for Randle.
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The post Ranking Kevin Durant’s Trade Destinations appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.