An NBA reporter floated a potential deal for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant that would see him return to Texas with the Dallas Mavericks.
Brandon Robinson, known as Scoop B, is a long-time reporter within the NBA, known for having connections in basketball circles.
He issued a hypothetical trade scenario that has Dallas sending out Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, Max Christie, and the 2029 first-round pick from the Lakers - via the Luka Doncic trade.
If this deal materialized, the Mavs would reunite Kyrie Irving and Durant, who were both on the Brooklyn Nets.
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The trade costs Dallas a good chunk of the team's depth, putting them in a similar position that the Nets were in after they gutted their roster to form a "Big 3" of James Harden, Irving, and Durant.
Durant would join Irving and Anthony Davis, forming another star-studded trio.
The Mavs getting Durant would be a full-circle moment for Irving, who once dreamed of playing with Davis and Durant when he was with the Boston Celtics.
"It was like a dream for Kyrie, A.D., and K.D. on one team and still keep J.T. (Jayson Tatum) and let him grow," the Dallas Mavericks guard told The Athletic's Christian Clark.
While the trade would energize a Mavs' fanbase, which is upset after the franchise traded Doncic away, there are risks in getting another aging star.
A red flag for the Mavs would be all three superstars' injury records. Davis is infamous for consistently picking up injuries, while Irving is recovering from a torn ACL, missing at least the first half of the upcoming season.
In the latter half of his career, Durant's legs have been prone to injuries, suffering calf, ankle, leg, and foot issues that have ranged from season-ending to missing weeks on the court.
The Suns, meanwhile, get several complimentary players for their roster, building around star Devin Booker and providing floor spacing and athletic defense.
They need to trade Durant to get under the second apron, freeing the team to make other potential deals with assets.
While there could be better deals in terms of draft capital and younger players, this potential trade provides reasonable arguments for both sides to accept the agreement.
The Suns get the chance to turn the page on the Durant-Booker-Beal era, while the Mavs pair three great players together and keep the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, which is likely set to be Cooper Flagg out of Duke.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 11:53 AM.