The Phoenix Suns miss the 2025 NBA playoffs with the highest payroll in league history. The bold deal on Kevin Durant’s team hours after Matt Ishvia gained control of the franchise is an uneasy disaster, and now the worst secret in the NBA is that Durant is again on the trade bloc when this season ends benevolently for the sun.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windholst, the Suns will trade Durant in the offseason. NBA insider Shamscharania confirmed that Sands and Durant will “collaborate in potential trade with the candidates.” The franchise has already tried to deal with him with the trade deadline, but Durant essentially blocked the trade to the Golden State Warriors as he was not interested in rejoining his old team.
Durant’s tenure in Phoenix may have been a bust, but he almost hugged the end of the bargain. He is still an elite player even though he turns 37 ahead of this season. He also plans to extend the contract that will play a role in the bid, just as Jimmy Butler moved to the Warriors. The playoffs ultimately decide which teams are desperate enough to swing for KD, but there are already easily identifiable suitors that may be of interest. Rank them.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder
Returning to the team that drafted him was a great move for LeBron James’ legacy. Durant could return to lightning after his uneasy exit, providing a similarly pleasant story. My guess is that the Thunder would only consider bringing back Durant if he didn’t win the championship this season. OKC never won a title (no, they didn’t earn any credits for the Supersonics 1979 Championship). This team has a long window of conflict before them, but they shouldn’t be too comfortable. The Thunder’s biggest problem heading into the playoffs is his secondary score after Shy Gilgauss Alexander. What is a better way to put pressure on from the SGA than adding Durant? The Thunder can beat any team in the bidding war if they really want to use 1000 future draft picks at their disposal. Trading for Isaiah Hartenstein and Durant is a legal agreement with regard to salary.
So why does lightning continue on this list? OKC is now my championship pick. If they win it all, there’s no reason to win cash on Hartenstein and Durant’s future picks. If you suffer disappointment in the playoffs, we don’t know how OKC’s outlook will change.
4. Detroit Piston
This is my wildcard team at Durant’s sweepstakes. Detroit has a large collection of young players that can be included in this deal, and owns all future first round picks beyond this year. Durant is the ideal fit adjacent to Cade Cunningham as a secondary scorer and floor spacer, and has already seen him dominate the East before returning to Brooklyn. Piston is currently sitting on a protected playoff seed after winning only 14 games last season. This is no longer the most hopeless franchise in the NBA. I argue that from Durant to Detroit is very suitable for both players and teams.
But does piston really want Durant, the “competitor” type? Still obvious. My view here is that it brings the piston to a real competition. It’s the type of movement that enhances Durant’s legacy after he finally hangs it. He has a better chance of playing deep playoff runs in the east, and his presence will attract other players to play with him in the future. Detroit can also create very attractive packaging. Add one or two picks, plus one or two, Ausar Thompson, Jaden Ivey and Ron Holland, for pay matching from Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart. There are deals here that work for both sides, and I think it’s great for Durant too.
3. Miami Heat
The heat has always been chasing the superstar under Pat Riley, and despite reading that Durant is 37, he is still a superstar. Miami’s long-term outlook has risen slightly this year with Tyler Hero transforming into All-Star Guard. Bam Adebayo spent a down year, but he is still in his prime. Adding Durant, it’s a rather attractive “big 3” in the East, especially in the way that Miami can develop role players.
According to Realgm, Heat will trade two first round picks after the draft and may have a matching salary with Andrew Wiggins and Terry Rozier or Duncan Robinson. Throw in Jaime Jaquez or Kel’el Ware as a younger piece. If Durant wants that, there might be a deal here.
2. Houston Rockets
Rockets’ James Post-James Harden Rebuild has officially ended. Houston has skyrocketed the rankings this season in head coach Imedoka’s second year. One thing Houston lacks is the go-to guy later in the game, which makes Durant fit even at his age. Durant still has acquisition attack capabilities, and even if he may not have been able to do it every night as he ages, he will still be an expert floor spacer to the rims of Amen Thompson’s turbocharged drive. The arms race on the West will never cease. Houston needs bold movements of the stars if they want to keep pace.
The Rockets have been circling the Suns’ potential ending since the offseason when they made strange trade with the net to score a future draft pick for Phoenix. The idea here seems to be pushing either Durant or Devin Booker. Although Booker is reportedly not available yet, swapping KD for control of his own pick would be a sharp move for Phoenix. Will Houston choose to wait for Phoenix to finally get a Booker? Maybe, but you can’t be too patient in the West.
1. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks created one of the worst deals in NBA history by sending Luka Donsic to the Los Angeles Lakers. If Nico Harrison wants to save his face, he will need to make another bold move, and Durant is the perfect player to pursue. Adding Durant to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis would be a central casting for the guard, forward and center future Hall of Fame “Big 3.” All three are late in their careers and are ready to focus solely on the chase championship. After trading Doncic, Mavericks did not alk by giving Durant the extension he wanted.
Mavericks can include Dereck Lively II in this transaction. It can include the Lakers’ first round pick for 2029. Harrison reveals that Dallas’ Championship window is just two to three years after Luka’s deal, and adding Durant gives them the best chance to win the ring and prove the whole world is wrong. Like most deals that Durant is involved, my guess is that this actually sounds better on paper, but Dallas is still the team that makes the most sense for KD to swing a lot.
