The Phoenix Suns are expected to trade future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant before the 2025 NBA Draft, which is set for June 25.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat or Minnesota Timberwolves could trade for Durant soon. Durant, 36, has one year left on his contract. He can sign an extension after he's traded.
“Really in the last 24, 48 hours, I’m told the focus of the Suns conversations has been on a few of the teams and here they are: the Houston Rockets, the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves, I’m told,” Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show.
Durant has been heavily linked to the Rockets, Heat and Timberwolves, but it appears there is a wild-card team that could trade for the NBA legend.
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant
The Toronto Raptors could trade for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Toronto Raptors could trade for Durant. The Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs in 2018, even though Leonard only had one year left on his contract.
Leonard led Toronto to the 2019 championship and then left for the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency.
“What you’re hearing now on Kevin Durant, there are teams out there that are saying, you know what, we know he’s only under contract for one more year at about $55 million. We’re willing to gamble on him. And the Toronto Raptors are one of those teams,” Stein said.
“And the Toronto Raptors have already done this. They’ve already gambled on a Hall-of-Fame-bound forward who had one year left on his deal, traded for Kawhi Leonard, won a championship, and immediately lost Kawhi Leonard.”
The Raptors went 30-52 this season. They haven’t made the postseason since 2022.
Toronto's lone All-Star is Scottie Barnes, who signed a $224 million contract with the Raptors in 2024. The forward won the 2022 Rookie of the Year Award. He has career averages of 17.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5 assists.
It will be fascinating to see where Durant is playing next season. The 15-time All-Star has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns.