The NBA Draft Lottery was certainly filled with its fair share of twists and turns this year. The main focus for the majority of the NBA community was the Dallas Mavericks jumping up to first overall. However, there were plenty more points of intrigue.
The top four, overall, in this year’s NBA Draft involved three teams moving up from their originally-slated positions. The San Antonio Spurs leaped up to second overall and the Philadelphia 76ers climbed to third.
Unlike the Mavericks, both the Spurs and the 76ers are teams who should have considerably more interest in exploring potential trade packages involving their high-ranking selection. A potential reward for doing so could be the services of Kevin Durant.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant against Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant against Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Phoenix Suns have new potential trade suitor for Kevin Durant
The 76ers hold the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after a season straight out of a nightmare. Most of the things that could have gone wrong, did go wrong for Philadelphia.
Daryl Morey and his team were supposed to be a championship contender in the 2024-25 NBA season. Reports are indicating that Philadelphia could use this lottery luck to reposition themselves as that for the 2025-26 campaign.
Jeremy Woo and Jonathan Givony of ESPN wrote: “Some teams expect the Sixers to be active in trade conversations, with names such as Kevin Durant (Phoenix) and Lauri Markkanen (Utah) as potential targets in packages that could include Paul George and the No. 3 pick.”
Durant has been linked to several teams ahead of the 2025 NBA offseason. The Houston Rockets have been the most popular and consistent connection made for the Phoenix Suns superstar.
The 76ers make a lot of sense here too. If Morey and company still believe in the Joel Embiid timeline in Philadelphia, this would be a terrific opportunity to rid themselves of the brutal Paul George contract.
The Suns stand to benefit by selecting one of the truly elite prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft. That is a pathway worth exploring for the organization.