Kevin Durant turns 37 in September and is still one of the NBA’s more prolific scorers.
Kevin Durant turns 37 in September and is still one of the NBA’s more prolific scorers.Abbie Parr/Associated Press
This story originally appeared in the Globe’s Sunday Basketball Notes.Read the rest here.
The Suns’ top priority is trying to find a new locale for Kevin Durant, with the future Hall of Famer entering the final year of his contract at $54 million. Durant, a two-time NBA champion, turns 37 in September and is still one of the league’s prolific scorers.
But he needs to be on a team with championship aspirations, and his stint in Phoenix has been an abject failure after the Suns gave the Nets Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, and five first-round picks to acquire his services.
With Devin Booker still considered the franchise cornerstone and Bradley Beal having perhaps the most unmovable contract in the NBA, the Suns have no choice but to move Durant to clear salary cap space and begin a semblance of a rebuild.
There is considerable interest in Durant because he could serve as the final piece to a championship puzzle. He remains durable and low maintenance and is aging well despite a torn Achilles’ tendon six years ago.
Here is a list of potential Durant destinations and how he could impact their title chances:
ROCKETS — They were the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, a meteoric rise after missing the playoffs last season but one thing they missed was a veteran, reliable scorer. The Rockets are just too young, and Jalen Green was unable to uplift the offense in the series loss to the Warriors. Houston needs a prolific scorer and has enough assets to make a trade work. The question is Durant’s contract status. He is a free agent at season’s end and may need to commit to an extension for a deal to work.
KNICKS — They are here because they are always here, looking to make splashy moves despite their rise to the Eastern Conference finals. They’ve already fired coach Tom Thibodeau and are in the midst of searching for his replacement, having contacted six NBA teams for permission to speak to their coach, and they’ve been denied six times. A Durant deal would require the Knicks to send Karl-Anthony Towns to Phoenix and there is concern that adding Durant but unloading Towns would make the Knicks different but not necessarily better. This is a move the Knicks probably shouldn’t make, but that is all the reason to believe they will go through with it.
TIMBERWOLVES — They have the assets to make a deal if Julius Randle opts into the first year of his contract at $30 million. The Wolves could package Randle, Jaden McDaniels and a couple of first-round picks for Durant, who would team with his mentee Anthony Edwards. Like the Knicks, the question Minnesota management would have to answer is whether the Wolves are better with Durant but without two reliable starters.
SPURS — This may be the best fit for Durant, who would return to Texas, where he went to college, to help an organization desperate to return to prominence. The Spurs have plenty of young talent and assets to offer the Suns. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson could be packaged along with draft assets. San Antonio has been a welcoming place for players in their final years and Durant would immediately upgrade the offense. Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle are the past two Rookie of the Year award winners and De’Aaron Fox is cemented at point guard after his acquisition from Sacramento.
HEAT — Miami was dispatched in the first round of the playoffs by the Cavaliers, ending what was a tumultuous season in dealing with the Jimmy Butler fiasco. The Heat may not have enough assets and may not want to part with a prospect such as Kel’el Ware. Miami doesn’t have much to offer — the final year of Duncan Robinson’s and Terry Rozier’s deals — along with Andrew Wiggins and draft assets. Any deal with Miami would be highly unlikely.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.