The NBA offseason is heating up with reports indicating potential movement for Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant. Less than three weeks before free agency begins and under two weeks from the 2025 NBA draft, sources have revealed that Durant and the Suns front office have engaged in discussions regarding potential trade scenarios.
Multiple teams are reportedly linked to Durant, with specific focus on the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Minnesota Timberwolves. While other “wild-card” teams remain in the mix, these five have been central to the early discussions.
To explore realistic possibilities for the two-time Finals MVP, ESPN enlisted five NBA insiders—Chris Herring, Zach Kram, Dave McMenamin, Kevin Pelton, and André Snellings—to craft hypothetical trade packages. These proposals were then presented to front office expert Bobby Marks, who evaluated each deal to determine the best fit for the Suns as they look to retool their expensive, underperforming roster.
Durant’s Future and Trade Considerations
Durant is entering the final year of his four-year, $198 million contract extension. While he doesn’t possess a no-trade clause like teammate Bradley Beal, Durant holds significant sway over his next destination. As he recently stated, his primary focus is ensuring his career concludes “on my terms,” emphasizing the desire to maintain control over his future.
Two crucial factors will likely influence any potential trade:
- Extension Willingness: Is Durant prepared to sign a two-year, $112 million extension with his new team? Given he can become a free agent in 2026, teams are hesitant to surrender significant draft capital and players for just a one-year rental. The 2026 free agent class is projected to see a substantial increase in teams with significant cap space, making a Durant extension critical for long-term commitment.
- Championship Contention: At age 36, Durant’s next stop is likely his last opportunity to chase a third NBA championship. Any team acquiring him must believe they are positioned to immediately compete for a title.
- Suns Get: Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, 2025 First-Round Pick (via Atlanta)
These factors significantly shape the potential trade landscape for the Suns.
Hypothetical Durant Trade Proposals
Here are five potential trade packages proposed by insiders, outlining the rationale for each side:
Houston Rockets
Proposed Trade:
Rockets Get: Kevin Durant
Suns Get: Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Jock Landale, 2025 First-Round Pick (No. 10, via Phoenix), 2027 First-Round Pick (via Phoenix)
Why it Works: The Rockets represent a natural partner due to their needs and assets. Durant directly addresses Houston’s lack of a top-tier scorer, a gap highlighted by their 22nd ranking in half-court offense and playoff struggles. Even at 36, KD’s efficiency and usage rate would significantly upgrade their offense. Crucially, Houston controls Phoenix’s 2025, 2027, and 2029 first-round picks (originally sent in the Durant trade). Reacquiring these picks allows the Suns to recover significant draft capital and plan for the future. The Suns also receive useful players in Brooks (a 3-and-D wing), plus young, upside prospects in Sheppard and Whitmore, who haven’t fully established themselves in Houston but offer potential alongside Devin Booker, allowing Phoenix to avoid a full rebuild.
Miami Heat
Proposed Trade (Three-Team Deal with Nets):
Heat Get: Kevin Durant
Suns Get: Nikola Jovic, Andrew Wiggins, 2025 First-Round Pick (via Golden State), 2030 First-Round Pick (via Miami), 2026 Second-Round Pick (via Lakers)
Nets Get: Duncan Robinson, Keshad Johnson, 2029 First-Round Swap (top-4 protected), 2031 First-Round Swap (top-4 protected), 2031 Second-Round Pick (via better of Indiana/Miami)
Why it Works: Miami lacks the premium young talent or draft capital of other suitors, requiring a complex three-team structure potentially involving Brooklyn to absorb salary like Duncan Robinson’s. The Heat would need competitors like Dallas and Houston to look elsewhere. For Phoenix, this deal offers substantial luxury tax savings (cutting about $20 million in salary) and improved forward depth with Andrew Wiggins (an above-average starter) and Nikola Jovic. The Suns also replenish their draft picks with a valuable unprotected 2030 first-rounder and the pick Miami acquired from Golden State.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Proposed Trade:
Wolves Get: Kevin Durant
Suns Get: Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham
Why it Works: Minnesota previously pursued Durant and sees him as a way to diversify their offense, which struggled in the Western Conference Finals (scoring 103 points or fewer in three losses to OKC). Pairing Durant with Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle would create an imposing scoring trio. For the Suns, this deal provides Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, to anchor their defense under new coach Jordan Ott, addressing Phoenix’s 27th defensive rating last season. They also acquire young guards on team-friendly contracts in Donte DiVincenzo and Rob Dillingham, boosting their offense around Booker and adding much-needed youth to one of the league’s oldest rosters.
New York Knicks
Proposed Trade:
Knicks Get: Kevin Durant
Suns Get: OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson
Why it Works: Six years after missing out, the Knicks land Durant. This move pairs KD with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, creating a potentially elite offensive core whose skill sets complement each other well. The goal is to elevate the Knicks to true Eastern Conference contention alongside teams like Boston and Cleveland. For the Suns, they acquire OG Anunoby, a 27-year-old elite wing defender (2023 Second-Team All-Defense) who fits Devin Booker’s timeline, creating a strong two-way wing tandem. They also receive Mitchell Robinson, a young, peak-age veteran big man who, when healthy, provides needed size, defense, and rebounding for Phoenix’s frontcourt.
San Antonio Spurs
Proposed Trade:
Spurs Get: Kevin Durant
Why it Works: San Antonio has a long-standing interest in Durant, dating back to 2016, fueled by Victor Wembanyama’s admiration for the superstar. Adding Durant would instantly push the Spurs, who recently acquired De’Aaron Fox in a move signaling a desire to accelerate their rebuild, into postseason contention. The Spurs possess ample draft capital (including two first-rounders in 2025) and salaries to make the deal work. While they wouldn’t move the No. 2 pick, offering the No. 14 pick, Devin Vassell (an ascending two-way player with a long-term contract), and Harrison Barnes (a veteran shooter capable of starting and providing leadership) presents a compelling package for Phoenix.
The Verdict: Bobby Marks Evaluates
After reviewing the five proposed deals, Bobby Marks offered his assessment, considering Phoenix’s objectives: acquiring controllable contracts, players who can help now, and achieving financial flexibility.
While proposals from teams like Houston and San Antonio offered valuable draft assets, Marks found them falling short on the player side relative to what Phoenix needs immediately. The Knicks’ offer, centered around OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson, provides strong “win-now” players. However, Marks highlighted Anunoby’s significant contract ($176 million remaining) as a major drawback for the Suns’ financial flexibility, deeming it a “hard no” compared to players like Dillon Brooks in other proposals who offer similar production at a much lower cost.
Marks ultimately favored the trade package proposed by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He concluded that Minnesota’s offer best satisfied Phoenix’s criteria. The acquisition of Rudy Gobert provides the Suns with an All-Defensive anchor for their defense on a multi-year contract. Donte DiVincenzo adds much-needed shooting and bench depth on a reasonable two-year deal. Crucially, Rob Dillingham injects controllable youth into one of the NBA’s oldest teams, addressing a roster imbalance where few players were under 24 last season. While the Timberwolves could potentially include their 17th overall pick, the proposed deal stands strong even without it, offering Phoenix the blend of current impact, future control, and defensive identity they need to reshape the team around Devin Booker.
