Kevin Durant is a hot property in the NBA at the moment. The league is filled with rumors and opinions regarding possible destinations for the 15-time All-Star. Durant has made his wishes clear to the Suns management as far as where he would be willing to play; however, that has not stopped the Suns from having discussions with teams outside of that preferred list. The latest rumors suggest that the Minnesota Timberwolves are the team leading the way in the trade discussions. New York was not a productive destination for KD, even if it was for the Nets.
Kevin Durant has a few preferred destinations for this trade
From February, we knew that Kevin Durant would not be playing for the Phoenix Suns next season. The Suns were reportedly close to sending KD back to the Golden State Warriors; however, once Durant learned of the trade, he stated that he did not wish to reunite with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in San Francisco, so the trade fell apart.
What teams interest Kevin Durant the most?
- The Houston Rockets – The Rockets have an impressive squad that features some of the best young talent in the NBA at the moment. Players such as Amen Thompson and Jalen Green have the potential to propel the Rockets into a postseason run. If KD were to join the Rockets, the team would become a championship contender almost instantly.
- The San Antonio Spurs – Following the retirement of Gregg Popovich, the Spurs need a star player to join Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell to make a significant challenge for the title. The Spurs are reportedly not interested in signing Kevin Durant and are opting to stick to what they have.
- The Miami Heat – The Heat suffered following the trade of Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. By letting their best player go, the Heat have plans for the future to get back to the championship level of play that made them famous, thanks in no small part to LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, who led the Heat to multiple titles.
What are the Wolves’ and Knicks’ feelings towards Kevin Durant?
The Phoenix Suns have made their position clear: they are willing to accept an offer from a team outside of KD’s preferred list of destinations if the price is right. The Suns have the highest payroll in the NBA, set at $210 million, so they need to make some room in that budget. As a result, they are entertaining offers from teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves even though Durant has expressed his preferred destinations.
The Wolves seem like a perfect fit. Their star player, Anthony Edwards, played alongside Durant on Team USA last summer and has publicly stated that he idolized Durant growing up. A possible deal might include Rudy Gobert or perhaps even Julius Randle, along with some draft capital. Sham Charania had the following to say about the Durant situation:
“From my understanding, Minnesota isn’t out of it… they are still very much engaged and active in the Kevin Durant conversations. The Rockets and the Heat are more realistic as of right now for Kevin Durant.”
The Knicks have made it clear that they are not interested in signing Kevin Durant this season. According to reports, the Knicks spent months trying to acquire the services of KD before ultimately losing out to the Nets. Durant had high hopes for his time in Brooklyn alongside Kyrie Irving and James Harden, but the trio never really looked cohesive enough to create a legacy in Brooklyn. We must remember that the Knicks have other concerns at the moment.
Will KD get his preferred trade, or will the Suns opt for the best deal for the organization?
With the Finals drawing to a close, the focus for the teams in the NBA is on the draft and any possible trades, of which there are many coming, according to reports. Kevin Durant has been searching for a team that will enable the future Hall-of-Famer to win another championship. The NBA is facing several changes for the season, due to start in October, including a switch to NBC for broadcasting. The Suns want to offload Kevin Durant in favor of rebuilding the squad around Devin Booker. Will KD get his wish to play for the Rockets, Heat, or Spurs? Or will the Timberwolves offer a deal that is too sweet to pass up?
