There are reportedly five teams interested in Kevin Durant’s dealings. But which teams have the best trade packages available?
Kevin Durant’s future is very clear and in the air. The Phoenix Suns superstar is almost guaranteed to leave the franchise through a deal.
Shams Charania yesterday reported that Sands will work with Durant’s management to find an appropriate destination.
The New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat are all nominated as suitors by ESPN experts.
But which teams can offer the Suns the best trading package? The NBA analysis looked at the best trade packages each interested party could offer to land Kevin Durant.
- Houston Rockets Received: Kevin Durant
- Phoenix Sands receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 2025 1st round pick (PHX, #10)
This deal is probably what the Sands are looking for. The most important thing this deal achieves is to give the draft pick Sands control again. Given that the Sands gave up on land Durant, they would be happy to have some of those assets recovered again.
Dillon Brooks is just this deal as a pay filler. Despite Brooks’ negative reputation, he is a strong wing defender and the players on his profile are in high demand these days, allowing the Suns to try and turn him over for more assets.
Jalen Green hasn’t grown into the star-level outlook that The Rockets expect, but he is still a talented young player that the Suns can develop. Green’s struggle in the playoffs is well documented and may help change the postseason game for a few years on the reconstruction team.
- San Antonio Spurs receive: Kevin Durant
- Phoenix Sands receive: Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, 2025 Firstround Pick (via ATL, #14), 2027 First Round Pick (via ATL)
This deal will help you compete for the Spurs in San Antonio, as well as boost your favourites completely in the West. Durant will be the centre of those picked by Victor Wenbanyama, Stefon Castle, Dearon Fox and the Spurs at their second overall pick (probably Dylan Harper).
As for the Suns, they will get two young players, Devin Vassel and Keldon Johnson. As for draft picks, the Suns can use the 14th pick to draft Maxime Reynaud, predicted on the picks of the 2025 NBA Mock Draft.
Kevin Durant hasn’t rejected the potential Spurs move, but he hasn’t even spoken out for his desire to go there. Bill Simmons encouraged the Spurs to ignore Durant, but players in Durant’s caliber are not easily available elsewhere.
Minnesota Timberwolves receive it: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Sands receive: Rudy Gobert, Donte Divincenzo, Rob Dillingham, 2025 First Round Pick (Det, #17)
This deal might be someone fans want. The chances of seeing Anthony Edwards play with Kevin Durant are just screaming for a must-see TV. Edwards recently praised Durant as a mentor and spent time together in Paris with Team USA.
The Timberwolves are now able to trade with Durant as the looming exits of Julius Randle, Naz Reed and Nickaire Alexander Walker are clearing up space for them. The Timberwolves don’t love giving up on Rob Dillingham for Durant, but players like Durant who deliver at high levels can go away that pain very quickly.
The Suns must take on Rudy Gobert’s bad deal in the process. But considering they were looking for a tank, they could hold onto him. Dillingham was the eighth pick in last year’s NBA Draft, offering the Suns a point guard option for development that will allow Devin Booker to return to the two.
Miami Heat receives: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Sands receive: Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic, 2025 First-round Pick (via GSW, #20), 2030 First-round Pick
Realistically, neither side will happily leave this deal. Rather than taking on Durant, the Miami Heat would like to make cap space transparent for the 2026 free agent class. There’s a reason the heat wasn’t my favorite to land Durant.
On the other side, the sun does not like assets that offer heat. The 20th overall pick in this year’s draft and the 2030 pick in the Heat are both mediocre at best. But these are the only drafts of assets that the fever is willing to give up as they try to rebuild their teams.
Andrew Wiggins is a solid player and the best option for the Suns is to turn him into a candidate in search of more assets. Perhaps the Suns will send Wiggins to the Lakers in return for some expired contracts and picks.
Duncan Robinson is an expired contract player in 2026, the Suns want to clean up their cap space. Nicola Jovic shows a flash of glow that Sands wants to grow even further.
New York Knicks receive: Kevin Durant, Oso Igodaro
Phoenix Sands receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Pacome Dadiet, 2026 Firstround Pick (NYK)
This is probably the weakest offer of all five teams. And there’s a simple reason for that. The Knicks have no assets to trade. Karl Anthony Towns was once thought to be out of hand, but the Knicks have no way of matching Durant’s salary without replacing a big man.
The Knicks’ coaching hunt could have an impact on Durant’s success with the team. Because his stint with the net showed he needed the right coach around him. Durant may have spurred the Knicks in 2019, but he has no problem returning to the city where he spent three years playing for Crosstown rivals.
But does this deal make sense for the Knicks? Paul Pierce claimed that when he moved for Durant, the Knicks would set up more Knicks from the Pacers and Thunder.
Teams that ultimately win Kevin Durant’s sweepstakes should understand that this is a win-loss move. Durant is 37 years old, far from the age of building a team around players.
Some of the other teams mentioned above could make superstar moves. The OKC Thunder could be seduced by a Durant reunion if he fails to win the NBA Championship.
The Suns’ goal is to land appropriate assets to rebuild the roster. Devin Booker has promised to stay in Phoenix, and the Suns should reward his loyalty by building a good roster around him.
The KD Trade Saga could be a very short or one of the longest things we’ve ever seen. So I recommend you believe it’s a messy, chaotic ride, also known as the Kevin Durant Experience.