The Kevin Durant era in Phoenix is unraveling faster than anyone anticipated. Despite Durant’s impressive individual play on paper — averaging 26.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 52.9% shooting this season — the 28-33 Suns have collapsed, sitting well outside the playoff picture with a roster that looks disjointed and directionless.
Rumors of a trade involving a few different teams swirled before the deadline, with Golden State emerging as a serious suitor, but Durant reportedly turned down a reunion while leaving the door slightly ajar for the summer. As the Suns prepare for what seems like an inevitable rebuild, the KD sweepstakes are about to heat up in unexpected ways.
While all eyes were on a potential Warriors return, there are several under-the-radar teams that could swoop in to land Durant this offseason. The New York Knicks, with their cache of picks and young talent, present an enticing mix of assets and big-market appeal.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have both the draft capital and an intriguing young core to pull off a shocking homecoming for KD. And they’re not alone.
Teams like the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, both desperate to capitalize on their current rosters, could make aggressive moves. As the Suns prepare to offload their superstar, the question isn’t just where Durant fits best, but which dark-horse contender can shock the league and pull off the blockbuster of the summer.
San Antonio Spurs
Proposed Trade Details
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Recieve: Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Stephon Castle, 2025 First-Round pick (ATL), 2027 First-Round pick (ATL)
This might be the most under-the-radar option of all, but it’s also one of the most intriguing. The Spurs have a generational talent in Victor Wembanyama and a new point guard in De’Aaron Fox, but they need a veteran star to accelerate their timeline.
Pairing Durant with Wembanyama and Fox would instantly make San Antonio a force in the West, giving the Spurs a devastating inside-out combo to work with. Durant’s scoring and floor-spacing would take immense pressure off the young big man, allowing him to grow into his role without the weight of carrying a franchise on his shoulders.
For the Suns, this package is all about potential. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson are both ascending talents, and Stephon Castle’s upside as a playmaking guard makes him an intriguing addition.Â
The two first-round picks from Atlanta sweeten the deal, providing the type of draft capital that could either be used to rebuild or flipped for other assets. Phoenix might not get a single All-Star in return, but they would walk away with a well-rounded package that could set them up for the future.
Durant’s willingness to go to San Antonio is the wildcard here. The Spurs aren’t a glamorous destination, but the chance to play with Wembanyama and Fox and compete for titles might just be enough to get KD on board. If the Spurs can pull this off, it would be the type of move that could shift the balance of power in the West for years to come.
Dallas Mavericks
Proposed Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Recieve: Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Jaden Hardy, 2025 First-Round Pick (DAL)
The Mavericks have gone all-in on the Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis experiment, and bringing in Kevin Durant would be the ultimate power move. The Mavericks have expressed interest in making this unbelievably talented Big Three work, so they would have to make some major roster moves including cutting players to get this deal over the line this summer.
Durant’s ability to play off the ball and his elite efficiency would make him the perfect co-star. A Kyrie-AD-KD trio would immediately be one of the most lethal offensive trios in the league, capable of scoring at all three levels with terrifying efficiency. Add to that Jason Kidd’s willingness to embrace an up-tempo style, and this move could make the Mavericks the favorites in the West.
For the Suns, this trade is a mixed bag. Klay Thompson’s best days are behind him, but he still provides shooting and championship experience, which could help stabilize their roster. Daniel Gafford’s rim protection and P.J. Washington’s versatility would help balance out the frontcourt.
Jaden Hardy is a wildcard — his flashes of scoring brilliance this season suggest he could become a valuable piece if given the chance to develop. The key here is the 2025 first-round pick, which could land anywhere if the Mavericks’ new-look experiment goes sideways.
The challenge will be convincing Durant to buy into Dallas after his experience with Kyrie and the uncertainty around the Mavs’ front office. GM Nico Harrison isn’t a loved man by the Mavericks faithful, but perhaps he can right his wrongs by bringing Durant on board to replace Luka Doncic.Â
New York Knicks
Proposed Trade Details
New York Knicks Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Recieve: OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, 2025 First-Round Pick (WAS), 2030 First-Round Pick Swap (NYK), 2025 Second-Round Pick (DET), 2028 Second-Round Pick (IND/PHX)
The Knicks have been lurking for a top-10 superstar ever since they struck out in the 2019 free agency sweepstakes. With Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns playing at an All-Star level, Durant could be the final piece to push New York into true contention.
A trio of Brunson, Towns, and KD would give the Knicks a balanced offensive attack and the star power to match up with the NBA’s elite. The Garden hasn’t seen a team this good since the ’90s, and landing Durant would immediately put them on the shortlist of Eastern Conference favorites.
From the Suns’ perspective, this deal is all about depth and defense. OG Anunoby’s ability to guard multiple positions makes him a valuable asset alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, while Mitchell Robinson’s rim protection would help shore up a porous frontcourt.
The picks are more of a sweetener than a centerpiece, but for a team likely headed for a rebuild, any future assets help. It’s not the blockbuster return Phoenix might have envisioned, but it’s a respectable haul given Durant’s age and the leverage he holds.
The real sticking point is whether Durant would want to retire with a Knicks team that hasn’t made him feel excited before. After leaving Golden State for Brooklyn to build his own legacy, suiting up for the Knicks might offer Durant the chance to rewrite his story on the league’s biggest stage.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Proposed Trade Details
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Recieve: Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, 2025 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2028 First-Round Pick (DAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (DEN)
A Kevin Durant homecoming to Oklahoma City would be the type of storyline the NBA lives for, which is why we floated this trade idea before. The Thunder are sitting comfortably in the top seed in the West this season, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing at an MVP level and Chet Holmgren back on the court and looking to get back to his best.Â
Adding Durant to this young core could transform OKC into the single team to beat in the NBA, ahead of the Boston Celtics. The idea of pairing Durant’s elite scoring with SGA’s playmaking and Holmgren’s versatility is downright terrifying for the rest of the league. More importantly, the Thunder have the cap flexibility and the draft capital to make this move without completely gutting their future.
For the Suns, this package isn’t the flashiest, but it offers a balance of useful players and picks to begin their rebuild. Luguentz Dort’s elite perimeter defense would immediately replace some of the toughness they’ve been missing, and Isaiah Joe’s sharpshooting fits the modern game’s demands.
The draft compensation — three first-rounders spaced out over the next six years — provides the Suns with the long-term assets they desperately need. When Phoenix decides to blow it up, turning Durant into a mix of young talent and multiple firsts isn’t the worst start.
The big question is whether Durant, who left OKC in one of the most controversial moves in NBA history, would even entertain a return. The door may not be completely closed, though, especially if Durant sees a chance to write the ultimate redemption story by leading the Thunder to a championship. With OKC’s ability to absorb his contract and their intriguing young pieces, this deal might just be too perfect for both sides to ignore.
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