Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant has recently been involved in several trade rumors. The most recent iteration of these rumors sees the 36-year-old drawing the interest of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Suns are coming off a particularly disappointing 2024-25 campaign. Since reaching the NBA Finals in 2021, Phoenix has met with progressively greater degrees of failure in each campaign.
From being swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 playoffs to not even making the playoffs this season, the Suns are undoubtedly in need of restructuring. The first name that comes to mind in this process happens to be Durant.
At 36 years old, Durant is certainly not the player he used to be. But he has still garnered the attention of teams such as the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors, who hope to acquire him to bolster their roster strength.
The forward recorded an average of 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists this season. Although these are solid numbers, the Suns have made it clear that they intend to build around Devin Booker, and such a rebuild may not match the timeline that Durant is on.
With this in mind, the Clippers suddenly emerge as an interesting landing spot for the Suns forward. The Clippers themselves are coming off a rather harrowing end to their postseason. After a 120-101 loss in Game 7 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets, it became abundantly clear that the team needs to make adjustments if it is to be competitive next season.
The Clippers need players with playoff experience who are ready to win now. Kevin Durant looks like one of the most ideal trade targets in this regard. However, acquiring a star of his caliber will be no easy feat. Let’s take a look at a potential trade proposal that could help Durant make a move to Los Angeles.
Proposed Trade Details:
Los Angeles Clippers receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns receive: Norman Powell, Derrick Jones Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic, 2026 Second-Round pick from Memphis, 2031 First-Round pick
The trade benefits both teams in some capacity. For Phoenix, a trade involving Durant sees a large contract worth almost $55 million coming off the books. In return, they receive a savvy veteran in Derrick Jones Jr., a very reliable rotation player in Bogdan Bogdanovic, and an absolute scoring threat in Norman Powell.
Powell’s acquisition is the real winner for the Suns here. The Clippers guard had one of his best individual performances this season. While seeing a massive uptick in the scoring department, he averaged 21.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. His ability to score the ball, along with his championship pedigree, would pair beautifully next to Suns star Devin Booker.
The move also benefits the Clippers as they clear a lot of roster space to acquire a bona fide offensive threat and champion in Durant. The forward gives the team an incredible degree of offensive flexibility, taking some of the pressure off of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Considering Harden’s poor outing in the playoffs this season, the Clippers can counterbalance this with Durant’s tested mettle in postseason matchups. Additionally, his experience of being part of championship teams would fit right in with Los Angeles’ goal of winning a ring as soon as possible.
The real challenge with making this team work is the limited cap space available on both teams. The Suns are already on the verge of touching the second apron. Meanwhile, the Clippers will await Harden’s decision regarding his player option. Should the guard opt in to his contract, the team will have much less cap space to play with.
Facilitating a deal in this case may require both teams to offload more players or to get other teams involved. However, it is safe to say that both parties would stand to benefit from this move.
