Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Getty
Kevin Durant wants to play with Victor Wembanyama as the San Antonio Spurs landed on his preferred trade destinations.
The San Antonio Spurs are atop Kevin Durant‘s wish list of preferred landing spots as the Phoenix Suns ramp up trade talks for the 15-time NBA All-Star.
According to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania, one of the Spurs, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat is where Durant wants to play next and commit to a long-term extension.
Durant has one year and $54.7 million left in his current four-year, $190 million contract. He can sign a two-year, $112 million extension wherever he lands next. If he waits six months after the trade, he could fetch more — $124 million over two years, according to Charania.
The news leak gives the Spurs leverage, though they have to compete with the two other teams on the list to come up with the best offer to land Durant.
According to ESPN’s senior NBA writer Brian Windhorst, the Suns have a high asking price for Durant that has been dragging the trade talks.
“From what I am told, the Suns are looking for a comparable package for what they traded Kevin Durant, which is impact players and multiple draft assets,” Windhorst said on “NBA Today” on June 11. “I’m not sure they are going to be able to generate that because Durant is a couple of years older and his contract is short.”
The Suns gave up four first-round picks and a pick swap on top of Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges for Durant at the trade deadline in 2023. Three of those picks are now with the Rockets, which puts them ahead of the Spurs if they are willing to go the distance.
Spurs’ Underwhelming Offer
Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Spurs
Getty Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns has words with Chris Paul of the San Antonio Spurs.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Spurs’ initial offer did not enamor the Suns.
“It is obviously presumed that Durant would relish the opportunity to play alongside Victor Wembanyama, but it is also believed that the Spurs are only willing to discuss veterans such as Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes. The Spurs just managed to acquire De’Aaron Fox from Sacramento largely on their terms and the notion now of surrendering newly named Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle or the No. 2 selection in this month’s draft is simply a non-starter,” Fischer wrote on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter.
The Spurs own a significant draft capital, including this year’s Nos. 2 and 14 picks, that makes them a strong favorite to land Durant. But their lowball offer has caused them to fall behind in the race.
Kevin Durant Can Make the Spurs Contenders Again
Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, Spurs
Getty Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs talks with teammate De’Aaron Fox.
The Spurs did not qualify for the playoffs after a string of unfortunate events.
Longtime head coach Gregg Popovich suffered a mild stroke. Victor Wembanyama (deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder) and Fox (left-hand surgery) also had season-ending injuries.
A Durant trade will form a new Big Three in San Antonio. The trio of Durant, Wembanyama and Fox will catapult the Spurs into contender status in the stacked Western Conference.
Durant, who will turn 37 this September, is still among the elite players in the league. He averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 62 games in Phoenix this season.