The Kevin Durant trade sweepstakes are heating up by the minute.
Early Friday, Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN reported that the 15-time All-Star Phoenix Suns power forward could land on a new team by the June 25 start of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Windhorst and Bontemps also noted that the market for his services had potentially expanded to include a new interested suitor, with the L.A. Clippers joining the ranks of previously reported clubs the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant
© Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Just hours later, however, Windhorst and Bontemps' colleague Shams Charania reported on "The Pat McAfee Show" that Durant could be traded in the next few days, not the next few weeks, and that three possible finalists had emerged in the hunt.
Durant, 36, is still one of the NBA's most elite scorers operating at all three levels, and among the great sharpshooters in the history of the game. But his defense and athleticism have slipped, thanks to 18 seasons of wear and tear and some major surgeries.
"I think a Kevin Durant trade could happen in the next few days," Charania revealed. "In the last 24 hours, the focus has been on the Rockets, the Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves."
Houston, under second-year head coach Ime Udoka, just made its first playoff appearance since James Harden's departure. This year, the Rockets won 53 contests and clinched the West's No. 2 seed before falling to the Golden State Warriors in a hard-fought seven-game first round series.
Miami, who flipped six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler to the Warriors midseason after the 35-year-old demanded a trade, finished with a middling 37-45 record and were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of this year's playoffs. The team, which went to the Finals with Butler just two seasons ago, does have two fringe All-Star talents in power forward Bam Adebayo and shooting guard Tyler Herro, but it's unclear what the team would need to give up in a Durant deal.
Led by All-NBA shooting guard Anthony Edwards and All-Defensive center Rudy Gobert, the Timberwolves have made the Western Conference Finals for two straight years. All-Star forward Julius Randle and 2024 Sixth Man of the Year power forward/center Naz Reid both have player options for next season.
"Let's not forget how great of a player Kevin Durant is," Charania said. "All three of these teams think they're gonna contend for a championship with Kevin Durant."