Following the Kevin Durant-to-Golden State trade rumors that surfaced and then subsided around the trade deadline, five teams have consistently been mentioned as potential destinations for a likely move in the 2025 offseason: the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks. Current reports largely confirm these five teams as the primary contenders in the mix.
However, ESPN reported Wednesday that several wild-card suitors had also made inquiries. On paper, this makes considerable sense. Durant is 37 years old and on an expiring contract, potentially making his trade price low enough for many teams across the league to submit reasonable offers. Moreover, his adaptable playing style means he could easily fit onto almost any roster. When you factor in the significant branding value that comes with acquiring a top-20 player in NBA history, it`s inevitable that a number of unexpected teams would consider the possibility of pursuing Durant.
There is a significant caveat, however. Given his expiring contract and often volatile demeanor, Durant holds substantial influence over where he might land. If he opposes a move to a certain team, he can likely shut down almost any potential deal. This is what makes any potential wild-card team a true `sleeper` option. While it`s broadly assumed Durant would be interested in those initial five teams, any others would probably need to convince him to join them, presenting a considerable challenge. Nevertheless, from a purely basketball perspective, the following four teams make some degree of sense as potential fits for Durant.
Memphis Grizzlies
On deadline day, ESPN reported that the Grizzlies were interested in acquiring Durant, but he reportedly declined. It`s possible, and perhaps probable, that he would simply refuse Memphis regardless of the circumstances. Memphis isn`t widely considered a popular destination among stars, with Jimmy Butler also reportedly uninterested in heading there. The on-court fit, however, is quite compelling.
The type of player who best complements Durant at this stage of his career is a guard capable of driving to the basket. This provides offensive balance alongside Durant`s perimeter shooting. Ja Morant clearly fits this description. Ideally, a team with Durant would also possess strong front-court defense, allowing him to avoid taking excessive physical strain as a rim protector. Players like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey would enable him to play small forward. This team also boasts reasonable depth and a front office skilled in drafting. If Durant were open to it, they could genuinely contend for a championship.
Desmond Bane would likely be the primary outgoing player from Memphis. The Suns don`t necessarily need a scoring guard with Devin Booker already in place, which is fine. It would be relatively straightforward to involve a third team – Orlando makes a lot of sense, as could Houston if they`re willing to help another team acquire Durant – that possesses assets Phoenix would value. Memphis controls its future first-round picks, providing ample draft capital to send to the Suns. The Grizzlies are even technically below the salary cap at the moment, offering more financial flexibility for a trade than some other suitors.
The main obstacle is that the Grizzlies already have plans for their cap space. Their intention is likely to renegotiate and extend Jackson, who is significantly underpaid this season. They would also probably prefer to retain restricted free agent Santi Aldama, necessitating some preserved flexibility. Ultimately, Memphis might prioritize maintaining their future optionality. However, given their current position, they likely need to make a significant move in the near future if they aim to seriously contend for titles. They have three players who will soon command max salaries, but none are guaranteed All-NBA talents. Durant represents a risk with the potential for substantial reward.
Detroit Pistons
While the Grizzlies face challenges with salary and star appeal, the Pistons are relatively unencumbered. Cade Cunningham is expected to be a future All-NBA caliber player, and most of their core is still on rookie contracts. Detroit has significant flexibility this offseason. They could clear cap space to pursue external free agents, or they could choose to run it back and continue building around their young talent.
However, Boston`s potential absence from the top tier while Jayson Tatum recovers from injury creates a vacuum in the Eastern Conference leadership. Some team will attempt to step into that void. Could a team built around Cunningham, Durant, and an elite defense reach the Finals in the current Eastern Conference landscape? Quite possibly. One could argue they would possess the two best players in nearly any playoff matchup, provided Durant doesn`t experience significant age-related decline.
The central question for Detroit is how much of its future it`s willing to invest in the present. It`s entirely plausible that the Pistons already possess enough young talent internally to organically build a champion, though this would require several years for development. Alternatively, they might prefer to save their assets to potentially trade for a star closer to Cunningham`s age timeline. Cunningham likely has a decade of winning ahead of him, whereas Durant, obviously, does not.
If they are willing to push some chips in now, they possess assets that would appeal to Phoenix. Jaden Ivey`s ability to drive to the rim would complement Booker`s shooting, and trading him would resolve the tricky issue of extending him after injury. Isaiah Stewart could help address some of Phoenix`s front-court deficiencies, and Tobias Harris, contractual jokes aside, is a valuable two-way forward. While Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren are almost certainly off-limits, even without them, the Pistons can offer a package of youth, draft picks, and role players.
Dallas Mavericks
Reports around the trade deadline suggested the Mavericks were unlikely to get involved in the Durant sweepstakes, but Cooper Flagg`s potential arrival might change the equation. The depth and interior defense required to acquire Durant at that time would likely have doomed any championship aspirations a Kyrie Irving-Anthony Davis-Kevin Durant trio might have had. However, if Dallas believes Flagg could replace that lost depth, there`s an argument that now is the time to go all-in for a title. After all, they don`t control their first-round picks between 2027 and 2030, meaning they lack an immediate path to rebuilding around Flagg`s timeline unless they trade Davis (which they arguably should, but are unlikely to consider).
The Mavericks could check nearly every box for the Suns. Need a center? Here`s Daniel Gafford, whom Dallas probably can`t afford to extend anyway. Wings? Dallas has several options: P.J. Washington, Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, Max Christie – take your pick. Klay Thompson would likely need to be included for salary matching, which probably wouldn`t bother the Suns. Dallas doesn`t own any of its own picks until 2031, but they do have a 2029 Lakers pick that holds value. Matching salary would require multiple players and likely a third team, but a deal is certainly conceivable.
All of this hinges on Dallas`s priorities. If Irving can return healthy by February or March, a core of Durant, Irving, Davis, Flagg, and Dereck Lively would have a genuine chance at contending for a title, provided the Mavericks could retain a reasonable amount of depth. They`d need to find cheap guards to fill in while Irving is sidelined, but Durant raises the floor on what they would need in that regard. This path is feasible.
However, pursuing Durant would involve significant risk concerning Flagg`s future. The potential number one pick represents a lifeline after the problematic Luka Dončić trade. What good will that second chance do if, in three years, they`re largely depleted of young talent and picks needed to build around Flagg`s prime? That`s the fundamental dilemma. There`s an argument that Dallas has already sacrificed so much of its future that the only way to earn Flagg`s trust is to win now and ask him to be patient through leaner years later. But if they try that and fail, don`t be surprised if he starts seeking his own trade in four or five years. Dallas could likely transition to the Flagg timeline smoothly with a Davis trade, but as mentioned, Nico Harrison staked his reputation on his connection with Davis. He`s unlikely to make that move, even if it`s necessary.
The most probable course for Dallas is to try winning now with their current roster, which is likely insufficient, while simultaneously avoiding sacrificing what little remains for Flagg`s future, which probably won`t be enough anyway. There`s a strong case to be made that Dallas needs to definitively choose a direction. The future-focused path is arguably better, but considering who is making the decisions, the present-day pursuit must also be acknowledged.
Los Angeles Clippers
Viewing the situation cynically: the Clippers were eliminated in the first round. Viewing it optimistically: the Clippers pushed the Nuggets to seven games, and the Nuggets subsequently pushed the Thunder to seven games. If you subscribe to the transitive property, you might conclude the Clippers aren`t necessarily far from high-level contention, provided they can maintain health (a perennial uncertainty for them, but not impossible).
The Suns would almost certainly request Ivica Zubac in a trade. The Clippers would likely refuse, unwilling to part with a borderline All-NBA center on a team-friendly contract for a 37-year-old. However, this shouldn`t be a complete deal-breaker. The Clippers possess an obvious surplus of perimeter defenders that the Suns might covet. Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn should both be appealing. Norman Powell probably isn`t a good fit for the Suns, but he`d be an obvious asset to use in a multi-team deal. Perhaps involve the Nets to provide Phoenix with a center? The Clippers still have two tradable first-round picks in 2030 and 2032 available. Maybe one goes to the Nets for Nic Claxton, and the other goes to the Suns.
A key question is whether Durant would ever agree to play with James Harden again, a potential stumbling block given their seemingly strained relationship after Brooklyn. However, a foursome of Durant, Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac makes perfect sense from a basketball standpoint. The Clippers would feature a lethal pick-and-roll combination and two of the greatest difficult shot-makers in basketball history. As long as they could retain a reasonable portion of the perimeter defense that was so crucial last season, that team could potentially win the 2026 championship.
Jasper Hawthorne