Over the past 48 hours, speculation has increased that Phoenix Suns super star Kevin Durant could be on his way before Thursday’s trade deadline.
Durant, 36, still has another season on his contract before meeting unlimited free agency as a 38-year-old. He still plays at an extremely high level, but Suns is in the lower half of a charged Western conference, currently the ninth seed.
If Suns wanted to move Durant and recall for the future, they could still get a move. These three teams can be seamless destinations for KD:
Dallas Mavericks
6 Jan 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Dallas Maverick’s head coach Jason Kidd responds to an official during the fourth quarter against Memphis Grizzlies on FedExforum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Pictures Mavericks was already doing a jaw-taking trade in recent days when they sent the Franchise corner Luka Doncic to Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
Now Rumor says that GM Nico Harrison sees Durant to pair with Davis and Kyrie Irving to help Mavericks “win now” after moving on from Doncic. Dallas is the 11th seed in the west, so this move would at best be linear for Durant’s chances of winning another title.
Nor did we try Durant and Irving together? Add to Davis, and this is just a bad, older remix of Brooklyn Nets 2019.
While some may have the second Texas team (Houston Rockets, which is one of the best stories in the NBA) as a destination for Durant, Marc Stein reported that they are currently unlikely to do a major trade during the season. They want to see what their young core can do.
Unless Harrisons Mavericks makes another bold move, Durant will not return to Lone Star State at any time soon.
Golden State Warriors
December 28, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors’ guard Dennis Schroder (71) shoots the ball towards Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) (hidden) during the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Immagn Pictures Warriors is another fighting, aging team in the Western conference that refuses to embrace a rebuild.
Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will not be younger-left Warriors are in desperate trade with Durant or 40-year-old Lebron James at the deadline.
Unlike pairing Durant with Irving and Davis, we saw him making sweet music with curry and warriors. They dominated the NBA final’s rivalry against Cleveland Cavaliers 2017 and 2018 before Durant decided to unscrew California.
If Warriors wants another chance at a championship in the Curry era, you can add Durant at the deadline.
Oklahoma City Thunder
8 Jan 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder Head coach Mark Daigneault responds during the second half against Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket MortGage Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn images We are not done with Durant -re -reunions.
Thunder has finally recovered after Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden left them for dead. While it took almost ten years, Thunder has done a huge job that stores young players and drafts of choices to make this a dream rebuild.
And they reap the benefits like No. 1 seeds in the west and the best record in the NBA.
While there is something to say about not throwing away speed and chemistry, Durant would end what he started in Oklahoma City and deliver Thunder an NBA title to be a story that ends.
