After striking out on LeBron James this summer, the Cleveland Cavaliers are presumably content with running it back. As it stands, they have one of the best rosters in the league, and there is confidence internally that they can keep up with the likes of the Knicks, 76ers, and Heat in the East.
Even so, the Cavaliers may not be done looking for roster upgrades. According to Cleveland sports insider Nick Pedone, the Cavs are circling NBA superstar Kevin Durant as a potential surprise summer addition.
“The Cavs could be looking at higher-profile moves. Durant is probably the last big fish remaining this offseason,” wrote Pedone. “The Cavs are deep enough where they’d be able to load-manage him. It’s the lone remaining move that would significantly improve their title chances.”
Even at 37, Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the game, and a very ambitious target for Cleveland. In 78 games last season, he averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game on 52.0% shooting from the field. He’s a consistent scoring threat and provides floor spacing with his ability to shoot from the perimeter. Plus, as a two-time NBA champion, he brings valuable playoff experience to the locker room.
As it stands, the Rockets have no desire to trade Durant, but who is to say they wouldn’t consider it for the right package? For the Cavs, that would mean giving up Jarrett Allen and one or two future draft picks, at the very least. This would allow the Rockets to get back an All-Star talent in return for an aging veteran. Specifically, Allen could become a defensive anchor for Houston, holding down the frontcourt with Alperen Sengun.
The real opportunity here would be from Cleveland’s side. On paper, they already have an impressive roster, featuring Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Together, they led the Cavs to the Eastern Conference Finals last season before eventually losing to the Knicks in four games. But this group is flawed and has gotten humbled in the playoffs multiple times already.
As a proven winner and high-impact player, Durant would raise the Cavs’ ceiling, and it would drastically shift the balance of power in the Eastern Conference. Between Durant, Donovan Mitchell, and James Harden, Cleveland would be virtually unstoppable offensively, and they would still have Evan Mobley to hold it down on the other end. Their playoff concerns would be all but eliminated with Durant, who has proven time and time again that he can deliver in the biggest moments.
Ultimately, in what has been a crazy NBA offseason already, there’s no way to predict how things will play out between now and training camp. Anything can happen, and the Cavaliers are keeping all options open. For now, Durant is much more of a long-shot dream than a likely team addition, but it won’t stop them from trying to strike a deal.
At this point, it’s the Rockets who have the leverage, and they won’t just give up Durant without major compensation in return.
