6 Kevin Durant trade packages from his biggest suitors, ranked by best fit

For months, the worst kept secret in the NBA has been that Kevin Durant is going to get traded as soon as the offseason arrives. With the 2025 NBA Finals nearing a conclusion and the NBA Draft right around the corner on June 25, the Phoenix Suns are zeroing in on offers for Durant, and a conclusion is expected soon.

ESPN insider Shams Charania reported last week that five teams were in the running for Durant: the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks. On Saturday, Durant released a list of his preferred landing spots, naming Houston, San Antonio, and Miami. Charania reported that the Suns are determined to make the best deal for themselves regardless of what Durant wants, and said there are now 6-8 teams interested in making an offer. The Toronto Raptors are another team reported to have interest.

The NBA has already had one blockbuster trade to start the summer flurry before the Finals even end. A Durant trade is likely just around the corner. Here are some fake Durant trades we came up with for his six biggest suitors, and how we’d rank his best landing spots.

6. New York Knicks

Would the Knicks really get out of the Karl-Anthony Towns experience after only one pretty successful season? KAT was spectacular offensively for New York on the way to their deepest playoff run in 25 years, and he could be an appealing return for a Suns team that can’t tank without control of their first round picks through 2032. For as special as KAT can be as an offensive player, he brings two issues that call the Knicks’ championship ceiling into question: a) he’s a poor defender that struggles to survive in lineups alongside co-star Jalen Brunson, and b) he has an enormous contract with three years, $171 remaining. Durant is about to turn 37 years old, but he’s still an elite shooter and scorer who could play off Brunson’s scoring gravity effectively and balance out lineups. The Knicks would suddenly be extremely reliant on Mitchell Robinson, and that’s a tricky proposition. I have a hard time believing this deal really makes New York better. The Knicks should probably worry about hiring a head coach first before swinging another blockbuster trade.

5. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors once swung a trade for a superstar on an expiring contract, and it immediately resulted in a championship. It’s a tempting idea to try it again, but unfortunately this version of the Raptors is mired in mediocrity, not one move away like they were with Kawhi Leonard. Toronto should be poised to take a step next year after adding Brandon Ingram, but it’s still hard to see a high ceiling on their current core. Adding Durant without giving up Barnes or the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft would at least make them a lot more interesting next year. The Raptors really need a shooter of Durant’s caliber after finishing No. 29 in three-point rate last season. KD has always taken fewer threes than he should, but he still knocked down 43 percent of six attempts per game last season. I’m highly skeptical Toronto would be good enough to break through in the East even with Durant, but they have the pieces to make a serious offer if they want to.

4. Miami Heat

The Heat only won 37 games this season, but that was still enough to make the playoffs, where they got absolutely smashed in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Pat Riley is desperate to land another star after trading away Jimmy Butler, and pairing Durant with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo makes some sense. It would be painful for Miami to include promising rookie big man Kel’el Ware in this trade, but Phoenix should demand he’s included. It would be easy to still question the ceiling of Miami after this deal, but Erik Spoelstra has done more with less before. It feels like the Heat are the most desperate suitor, and that makes them a wildcard to really push their chips in.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves reportedly tried to land Durant at Feb.’s trade deadline, and they could be even more motivated now after two straight conference finals eliminations. Any Durant deal either has to be built around Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle, and the latter holds a player option for next season. I don’t see how swapping Gobert for Durant improves Minnesota’s title equity, so we’re going with Randle here and will assume a third team will help make the trade legal. Swapping Randle for Durant immediately makes the Wolves’ starting lineup so much more dynamic offensively. Durant was Anthony Edwards’ idol growing up, and two of them should be an unstoppable scoring at their best (of course, we thought the same thing would happen when Durant joined Devin Booker). Minnesota already has a couple fascinating decisions looming this offseason as Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid enter free agency. If the Wolves are determined to make a big move, there’s a pathway to a Durant deal.

2. Houston Rockets

The Rockets were the most pleasant surprise of the regular season, shooting up to the No. 2 seed in the West by winning 52 games. Houston won thanks to an elite defense, but their offensive limitations showed up in the playoffs during a first-round loss to the Warriors. The Rockets are in prime position to push some future draft picks in for a star scorer. Is Durant a worthy target, or are they better off waiting for Giannis or even Devin Booker? The best thing about the potential Durant offer listed above is that it doesn’t include Phoenix’s future first round picks owned by the Rockets in 2027 and 2029. Houston should have enough ammo to get this done without including the assets Phoenix will really want. Parting with Jabari Smith Jr. would be tough, but it’s a fair piece to send out for Durant. Jalen Green will be addition by subtraction. Durant would do a lot to aid Houston’s lack of shooting, but I still think their ideal star addition would be more of an on-ball creator than an off-ball sniper. The thought of landing Durant while still retaining the Suns’ future picks should be pretty appealing for Houston, and they can make it happen.

1. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs and Rockets are in the same situation: should they swing for Durant or potentially hold out for an even bigger offer for Giannis. Given that it feels like Giannis is leaning towards staying in Milwaukee for now, a Durant trade makes a lot of sense and won’t cost you the rights to Dylan Harper with the No. 2 overall pick. If San Antonio is really going to surround Victor Wembanyama with three shaky shooters in Harper, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox, Durant is the ideal player to round out that lineup. KD would probably have to trade in a few of his beloved mid-range attempts for more three-pointers in San Antonio, but the fit could be really cool. Wembanyama and Durant would form a devastating two-man game, and work well in a stagger to fill out other lineups. There’s a version of this trade San Antonio could also do built around Devin Vassell, but the Spurs should try to hang on to him if possible. Wembanyama still needs more elite talent around him, and Durant could be a bridge for the Spurs into legitimate playoff contention while still staying flexible for the future.