The Kevin Durant Sweepstakes: What Team Will Win The Race?
By Chase S. Wed, Jun 11, 2025
Sources have told ESPN this morning that the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant’s business
partner, Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman, have met on multiple occasions this past week as they
navigate trade scenario waters.
Durant was nearly traded to the Golden State Warriors at the February trade deadline. The
trade did not go through as Durant was not interested in a reunion, and sources told ESPN that
Durant was blindsided by the Suns including him in any trade conversations at the time. This
time, however, both sides are expected to work together for his next suitor.
The Suns finished the season in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 36-46 record.
To go with that losing record, the Suns also finished the year with the highest payroll in league
history. Durant’s contract is worth $54.7 million for the 2025-2026 season. Whether or not a
trade officially goes through for Durant, he will be eligible to sign a two-year contract extension
worth as much as $112 million. If he were to wait six months after he’s traded, that extension
price number rises to $124 million.
Teams around the NBA have struggled to stop their mouths from watering at the thought of
Kevin Durant being on the table for discussion. Teams that have expressed interest in Durant,
sources said, mainly feature the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat,
Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks.
Talks are expected to escalate before the NBA Draft later this month, but let’s get ahead of
the chaos and take an early swing at which teams make the most compelling case for Kevin
Durant:
New York Knicks
Could Broadway’s bright lights lure Durant to the Big Apple? The city that never sleeps
has been dreaming of Durant since February, and as Durant knows how to own a big stage, the
spotlight never goes out over Madison Square Garden.
Only having four players on expiring contracts this summer (Precious Achiuwa, Delon
Wright, Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet) gives New York flexibility in terms of what pieces
they’d want to move to acquire Durant.
What would Phoenix want in return for Durant? Most likely a formidable forward to
replace the 36.5 MPG played by the slim reaper this season. Phoenix also ranked 22nd in Opp
PPG, allowing 116.6 points per game. Along with a forward, they need a defender in the
backcourt not named Devin Booker.To make Kevin Durant a New York Knick, James Dolan and the
Knicks will most likely ship off Mitchell Robinson or Karl Anthony Towns along with a multitude of picks.
Phoenix only owns two second-round picks until 2030, but does own a first-round pick for every year until
then.
The Suns would benefit from a player on the perimeter like Mikal Bridges or Josh Hart,
but the chances of New York breaking up the Villanova tandem further from their star, Jalen
Brunson, after the departure of DiVincenzo are unlikely.
Trade Prediction: Phoenix Receives- Karl Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, FRP
New York Recieves: Kevin Durant
Minnesota Timberwolves
After another season of being a series away from the NBA’s biggest stage, Minnesota’s
icy edge might be the perfect place for Durant’s cold-blooded game to get the organization over
the hump.
On the other hand, for Phoenix, the Timberwolves are most likely one of the stronger
suitors that have players that would immediately contribute to the Suns’ roster. To acquire
Durant, Minnesota would most likely have to give up a big piece like Gobert or Jaden
McDaniels to go along with Donte DiVincenzo.
If Minnesota truly trusts Naz Reid’s growth as a player, they’d most likely give away
Gobert, who’s now 32 years old and signed a 3-year $111 million contract extension this past
year. There are young centers in this year’s draft and around the league that the Timberwolves
can roll the dice on.
If it means Kevin Durant wearing your organization’s jersey, the pieces at hand that have
to leave start to appear smaller to move around. Minnesota shouldn’t be hesitant to make the
move if they’re truly in a “win-now” mode.
Trade Prediction: Phoenix Receives: Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, 2 SRP
Minnesota Receives: Kevin Durant
Miami Heat
Miami’s post-Butler reset might not last long, not with Pat Riley in charge. After watching
the Jimmy Butler era fall short of the ultimate goal, the Heat could pivot to a quieter killer.
Kevin Durant’s championship résumé, scoring efficiency, and low-maintenance
superstardom might be exactly what Riley and Erik Spoelstra need to extend their window
without starting from scratch.
In South Beach, stars don’t just shine, they’re expected to deliver.
This may be the worst fit for Durant, unfortunately, despite the looks of playing beside
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Miami does not have much to offer Phoenix besides draft picks
and taking chances on young players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Kel’el Ware.
Nothing is impossible, but it’s more than likely the only chance Kevin Durant signs here is if
it’s the destination he chooses ultimately. It wouldn’t make much sense logically, going into his
37th birthday this season.
Trade Prediction: Phoenix Receives: Terry Rozier, Kel’el Ware, 2 FRP
Miami Receives: Kevin Durant
San Antonio Spurs
With one alien on their team already in Wembanyama, if San Antonio were to add Kevin
Durant to that equation, they’d be nearly unstoppable. In this trade scenario, it doesn’t even
seem likely that the Spurs would need to lose any key pieces in this trade. There would be no
CP3 reunion in Phoenix, however they could gain young emerging talent like Devin Vassell.
Kevin Durant seems to be the only missing piece in the Spurs championship puzzle. If
the organization wants to return to the playoff pedigree that they were once accustomed to,
Durant might be the move needing to happen.
With the addition of Durant, San Antonio’s starting lineup could look like this:
PG: Fox
SG: Castle
SF: Johnson
PF: Durant
C: Wembanyama
Bench: Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie
Durant has voiced that he wants to be the last puzzle piece for a chamionship ready team, this
theoretical roster could likely bring one before Durant retires. Is it too good to be true? Or is history
being foreshadowed before our eyes?
Trade Prediction: Phoenix Recieves: Devin Vassell, 2025 1st Round #2 Pick, Future FRP
Spurs Receives: Kevin Durant
Houston Rockets
Houston, do we have a problem? Not a catastrophic, tank-worthy, blow-it-up kind of
problem, the Rockets might have a great problem on their hands. How is that possible, you ask?
Their roster's average age is under 23, and they’ve got a surplus of versatile forwards to
shuffle around to solve any rotation logjam. If Kevin Durant truly wants to be a key puzzle piece
— not the biggest one — on a win-now team, Houston should immediately be in the
conversation.
In terms of what the Rockets would have to give up, it’s all in the hands of Ime Udoka
and Rafael Stone. The only issue is that Houston has to be very cautious in what pieces they
move; one false decision and it’d be back to square one in the rebuild process.
Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks can all actually remain in a Rockets
jersey within this scenario. The addition of either three wouldn’t fit with Devin Booker. Instead,
Phoenix would most likely receive forwards and draft picks.
Trade Prediction: Phoenix Receives: Jabari Smith Jr, Cam Whitmore, 2025 #10 Pick or
Future FRP
Houston Receives: Kevin Durant
