Kevin Durant’s name has been at the center of trade discussions leading up to the deadline, but despite a serious push from the Golden State Warriors, he ultimately shut down any possibility of a return. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, a deal was close to being finalized that would have sent Durant back to the Bay Area in a three-team trade involving the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat.
“Well, this can be qualified, I think, as a genuine what if, because there was a trade sort of in place between Golden State, Phoenix, and Miami that would have returned Kevin Durant to Golden State. But Durant stepped up and made it known he did not want a reunion.”
“And once that deal fell apart, then Golden State pivoted and tried to get Jimmy Butler. The key that got this done was their willingness to give him that two-year $111 million extension.”
“Once that was in place, they had a deal with the Heat worked out and the deal finally went through. But it is amazing to think that this was close to being Jimmy Butler in Phoenix, Kevin Durant in Golden State.”
Durant’s decision effectively ended the Warriors’ pursuit of him, forcing them to shift their focus to acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat instead.
Anthony Slater of The Athletic provided further insight into the situation, stating that even Stephen Curry, the Warriors’ leader and the biggest advocate for bringing Kevin Durant back, was unable to change his mind.
“At some point in the last several days, Stephen Curry had a conversation with Kevin Durant that convinced him a reunion was extremely unlikely, no matter how much the Golden State Warriors ownership group and front office collectively ‘underestimated’ Durant’s coldness toward a return, as one team source put it.”
The Warriors had apparently miscalculated Durant’s feelings toward the organization, believing that time had healed past wounds. However, it was clear that Durant had no desire to return to Golden State, even with Curry personally reaching out to discuss a potential partnership once again.
With Durant unwilling to entertain a trade, the Warriors quickly pivoted and secured Butler in a massive five-team trade that involved the Heat, Jazz, Raptors, and Pistons. In exchange for Butler, Miami received Andrew Wiggins, PJ Tucker, Kyle Anderson, and a 2025 top-10 protected first-round pick from Golden State.
The Warriors also signed Butler to a two-year, $121 million contract extension, locking him in through the 2026-27 season.
Meanwhile, Durant remains in Phoenix for now, but his future with the Suns is far from certain. His unwillingness to return to Golden State indicates that he is still looking for a situation where he can be the unquestioned leader of a team. As the trade deadline looms, the possibility of Durant moving elsewhere remains a major storyline.
While Golden State has finalized their deal for Butler, they may not be finished making moves. According to Brian Windhorst, the Warriors are still exploring ways to improve their roster before the trade deadline.
He reported on Get Up that the team has multiple expiring contracts and could be looking to add a big man who can stretch the floor, such as Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic. Though their pursuit of Durant is over, Golden State’s front office remains active, seeking to reinforce the roster for another playoff push.
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