Like meteorologists predicting a strong hurricane season, the general consensus among NBA insiders is that the NBA will experience perhaps its most chaotic offseason in recent memory.
Perhaps the most notable player on the trade block is first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant. Durant was nearly dealt to a few different teams at the trade deadline, including the Golden State Warriors, but he nixed all possible moves with the desire to remain in Phoenix for the rest of the season.
The belief then and now is that Durant’s departure is a matter of if, not when. The trade market is still robust for the 36-year-old Durant, largely because of how many young teams are an elite veteran presence away from being surefire NBA title threats. It seems like almost every viable team in the NBA has been listed as a potential landing spot, so let’s break down the best possible destinations for the “Slim Reaper”.
San Antonio Spurs
It won’t be long before Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Western Conference crown. If the Spurs were to acquire Durant, that process could be expedited as soon as next season.
San Antonio is expected to take Rutgers guard Dylan Harper with the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, which will create a logjam in the backcourt with former All-Star De’Aaron Fox and 2024-25 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. If San Antonio picks up that phone and offers the 28-year-old Fox or even Castle and some sweetener for the aging and disgruntled Durant, Phoenix would all but have to entertain it.
It’s hard not to daydream about a potential Wembanyama and Durant pairing, especially knowing Durant’s affinity for passing his knowledge of the game to the younger generation of players. It would be incredibly fun to see Wemby and KD borrowing from each other’s bags and it’s certainly interesting to think about the moves Wemby could develop under KD’s tutelage.
Minnesota Timberwolves
It’s no secret that Kevin Durant was Anthony Edwards’ favorite NBA player growing up. The two have shown a healthy respect for one another throughout their careers, even if that has come in the form of jawing back and forth on the biggest stages in the sport.
The Wolves have plenty to offer, including Julius Randle and young assets in Rob Dillingham and Terrance Shannon. The Wolves return to the Western Conference Finals even after losing Karl-Anthony Towns proves that this is Edwards’ franchise first and foremost, and it’s hard not to believe that KD would be an upgrade over Randle’s disappearing act in the NBA playoffs.
All I know is Ant-Man and KD would be must-see TV. With those two elite scorers mixed into an already well-rounded rotation, the Timberwolves might be the one to end Minnesota’s title drought against all odds. Wouldn’t that be something.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 57-win season, but it meant jack in the playoffs as they were eliminated by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in seven games. As good as the Rockets were this season, it was abundantly clear during the GSW series that the team needed a star veteran presence to take the team to the next level.
Only the Oklahoma City Thunder have a deeper stockpile of young talent than Houston does, meaning the Rockets can make a move for Durant without severely weakening their core. The same can’t be said about a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo deal, which is another potential trade that has been floated as a possibility for Houston.
A deal for Durant feels much more realistic, and while Durant isn’t the player Antetokounmpo is in 2025, he may provide a better fit within what the Rockets have already built than the “Greek Freak” would.
