The Kevin Durant sweepstakes are heating up. After reported interest from teams like the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat petered out, the Boston Celtics emerged as the favorites to land Kevin Durant in a trade this offseason. While the teams can’t agree on the inclusion of Marcus Smart, it seems other teams may be trying to swoop into the matter.
The Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as a possible destination for KD with a desire for Durant to reunite with James Harden. Harden left the Brooklyn Nets on the trade deadline to join the 76ers, with the team looking very strong for next season. Adding Durant may make them unstoppable.
Frank Isola has confirmed Philly’s interest in acquiring KD stemming from the fact that Durant and Harden met up in London over the summer. This would be the third team KD and Harden join forces on if this trade goes through.
It’s hard to follow at times but yes Kevin Durant would like to play with James Harden, who was in London with Durant around the time Durant met with Nets ownership. (Maybe Harden, an expert at forcing trades, is serving as an advisor.) https://t.co/UnuXdndnSk
— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) August 10, 2022
The 76ers will most likely have to part with Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, Tobias Harris, and more assets if they hope to land KD. Considering Philly’s dealings with the Nets over Harden, the team may be hesitant to send another star to the 76ers, a team in the same division as them.
If the Celtics don’t end up matching Brooklyn’s asking price, the 76ers could easily make the most of this situation. A Harden-Durant-Embiid trio will be one of the scariest we have seen assembled in ages. While the loss of Maxey will be a big one for the 76ers, it’s worth it to acquire Durant.
The roster will be left thin, but Daryl Morey will hope he finds the right surrounding pieces to accompany this possible new big three. The Durant trade saga is bound to go on for longer, but the inclusion of the 76ers in this mix is going to create a lot of intrigue around the league.
