Phoenix Suns
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The Phoenix Suns are looking to trade Kevin Durant, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
With Kevin Durant owed $54.7 million in the 2025-26 season, teams in the first- and second-apron of the NBA’s luxury tax face significant challenges in their pursuit of acquiring the Phoenix Suns superstar via trade.
The Knicks, for example, can’t acquire Durant unless they include multiple players in a potential deal. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Knicks are among five teams aggressively pursuing a Kevin Durant trade, with the Spurs, Rockets, Timberwolves and Heat also vying for the star’s services.
ESPN reporting: The Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant’s business partner, Rich Kleiman, are sorting through trade options – with interested teams mainly featuring Houston, San Antonio, Minnesota, Miami and New York.https://t.co/tqpprx47O4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2025
In light of the reports, ESPN’s Bobby Marks — a salary cap expert and former Nets front office executive — broke down four realistic Kevin Durant trade scenarios.
Kevin Durant to the Texas Teams
Marks explained why the Spurs and Rockets were “best positioned” to acquire Durant due to their chest of draft assets, controllable contracts and salary-cap flexibility.
This trade pitch would see Durant form a new Big 3 in San Antonio next to All-Stars Victor Wembanyama, and De’Aaron Fox.
Spurs would receive: Durant
Suns would receive: No. 14 pick (2025), Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes
This next pitch would see Durant head to Houston to pair up with All-Star center Alperen Sengun and head coach Ime Udoka, whom he played under in Brooklyn.
Rockets would receive: Durant
Suns would receive: No. 10 pick (2025), Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Jock Landale, first-round pick in 2027 (via Phoenix)
Linking Up With Ant-Man In Minnesota
There’s been some excitement among NBA fans about the possibility of Durant linking up with Anthony Edwards in a Minnesota Timberwolves uniform. “Ant-Man” grew up idolizing Durant and was mentored by the latter when they represented Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Furthermore, Durant has often spoken about his affinity for Edwards’ game and his passion for winning at the highest level.
This next pitch would see Durant head to Minnesota.
Wolves would receive: Durant
Suns would receive: Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham
Marks believes this trade would equally help the Suns, who desperately need a defensive anchor. While Gobert, a former four-time Defensive Player of the Year, would solve a lot of their issues instantly, DiVincenzo and Dillingham would provide guard depth behind All-Stars Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
Kevin Durant to the Knicks
The fourth and final trade pitch would see Durant heading to the Knicks to form a new Big 3 alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson.
Knicks would receive: Durant
Suns would receive: OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson
This potential Kevin Durant trade would work only if Robinson, on an expiring deal of $12.9 million, is viewed as a viable fit by the Suns. The shot-blocking big man missed a chunk of games in 2024-25 with injuries and was sidelined in the 2024 playoffs.
However, Marks believes Anunoby could prove to be the perfect 3-and-D wing for the Suns, a team that struggled mightily with its perimeter defensein 2024-25.
“In Anunoby, the Suns would get a 27-year-old impact forward on a similar career timeline with 28-year-old franchise player Booker,” he wrote. “Anunoby is an elite wing defender, named second-team All-Defense in 2023 and with Booker would form a wing tandem that is excellent at both ends of the floor.
“The Suns also still need more size and muscle in the middle, and the 26-year-old Robinson would give them another young veteran entering his peak seasons capable of contributing to the main rotation of a winning squad. Robinson has had health issues, but when on the court, he is one of the better defensive and rebounding bigs in the league.”