Kevin Durant Trade Rumors: $4.4B franchise could beat Suns superstar's 3 preferred suitors with lottery pick
The race is on as several NBA teams pursue Kevin Durant this offseason, including the Toronto Raptors. Durant is the biggest name on the trade market after being made available before the 2025 trade deadline, though the Phoenix Suns failed to find a suitor at the time.
Despite retaining KD for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, the Suns made clear their intent to trade him in the offseason. Though rumors linked the 17-year NBA veteran to the Spurs, no deal has been finalized, keeping him on the trade market.
Kevin Durant expressed interest in joining the Spurs, raising the possibility of teaming up with Victor Wembanyama next season. Durant also named the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets as other preferred destinations.
While KD gets a say in which teams the Suns should transact with, it appears that the Toronto Raptors could be a wild card in the mix. According to a report by NBA insider Brian Windhorst, echoed by another NBA insider Evan Sidery, the Raptors are interested in trading for KD and are willing to include the ninth pick of the upcoming 2025 NBA draft.
"The Raptors are open to including the No. 9 overall pick in a potential trade for Kevin Durant, per @WindhorstESPN," Sidery wrote on X. "Toronto is lurking as a true dark horse option in the Durant sweepstakes. The Suns have been unimpressed by most offers, so Toronto could win out."
Kevin Durant gets denied by one of his preferred teams
Kevin Durant has openly shared his interest in joining one of three teams—the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets or San Antonio Spurs. While these were reported, insiders have yet to mention the New York Knicks.
According to NBA insider Marc J. Spears, the Knicks passed up on joining the KD sweepstakes. Durant openly expressed interest in playing for New York. However, it seems that the feelings aren't mutual.
"KD wanted the New York Knicks," Spears reported. "He wanted to go there. The Knicks have no interest in bringing him in."
Instead, the Knicks plan on upgrading their bench while retaining the core players that took them to this year's Eastern Conference Finals. New York will also focus on finding a new head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau. As for Durant, his future remains uncertain amid heavy interest from multiple teams.