The trade chatter surrounding Kevin Durant appears to be heating up as the NBA Draft nears. While Durant has been linked to several teams in the offseason, primarily the Houston Rockets at this juncture, it appears the San Antonio Spurs have made a significant charge to acquire the forward.
Recent reports have suggested that the Spurs have emerged as the most likely destination for Durant in trade discussions. The Suns forward, who has seen reinvigorated efforts from Phoenix to trade him, was passed on because of the organization's high asking price for him. However, as the situation has taken a turn, the Suns have reduced their demands, allowing more teams to make a bid.
The current bid by San Antonio appears to be the most favorable one. The Spurs' most valuable draft assets for this season are their No. 2 and No. 14 picks. Meanwhile, for trades, the organization has some key assets that could be worth exploring. Given the current scenario, it is likely that the trade will go through before the draft, unless a more favorable offer presents itself.
That being said, as per Fansided's Jake Weinbach, the Spurs' current bid features a trade package including the No. 14 pick and two key rotation players in Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes.
While this may not be the complete package, it certainly presents a lot of potential. With this in mind, we take a look at an alternate trade proposal utilizing Weinbach's report.
Proposed Trade Details
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Receive: Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, No. 14 pick 2027 first-round pick (ATL), 2029 first-round pick
While such a trade doesn't necessarily help the Suns shed some salary, it does bring in a lot of young talent. Meanwhile, the Spurs find themselves in a position to form a terrifying "Big Three".
San Antonio's New Big Three
Durant's arrival would signal a new era in San Antonio. Considering the mutual interest in joining forces, the Spurs would have one of the most potent superteams in the league.
At 6'11", Durant is already oversized for his position. But placing him next to Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama could virtually help them form one of the longest frontcourts in the league. The potential for this lineup on both ends of the floor is tremendous.
With Durant and Wembanyama stretching the floor, the paint and the midrange open up for De'Aaron Fox to go to work. Fox has consistently shown his ability to dominate close to the basket. With even more attention being drawn away from him, the star trio has the potential to be lethal.
Even at 36 years old, Durant is capable of carrying his weight on the offensive end. With an average of 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists last season, he remains one of the most complete players in the league. Additionally, his efficient shooting splits of 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from beyond the arc garner enough attention from defenders to help create alternate opportunities.
Aside from the tangible elements, Durant brings a lot to the table as a veteran. As a mentor, he can help cultivate the incredibly talented young players on San Antonio's roster. Featuring the likes of Wembanyama and ROTY Stephon Castle, having Durant guide the young talent could be beneficial for the organization.
Additionally, his experience as a two-time NBA champion will also prove to be invaluable. As a young team with effectively no playoff experience, San Antonio will need veteran leadership to guide them through the challenges of the postseason.
The Phoenix Suns established their plan to retool around Devin Booker early on. Trading Durant to gain the assets to do so was a big part of the process, and with this trade proposal, the Suns acquire all the necessary pieces to start building.
While Booker remains a premier guard in the NBA, it has become clear that he is not capable of carrying a team alone. Although Bradley Beal would have been capable of aiding this process, his run at Phoenix has not yielded positive results.
In light of this, the Suns' decision to look in another direction would be wise. The addition of Devin Vassel and Harrison Barnes would prove to be helpful in this case.
Vassell has shown quite a lot of growth over the past season. Although he saw a reduction in minutes, he remained one of the Spurs' most impressive prospects.
At 24 years old, Vassell recorded an average of 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Although he was playing a secondary role, his shooting splits of 44.3% from the field and 36.8% from the three-point line could be very promising.
Meanwhile, the acquisition of Barnes is also quite valuable. The 33-year-old is coming off a solid season in San Antonio, averaging 12.3 points and 3.8 rebounds on 50.8% shooting from the field and 43.3% shooting from beyond the arc.
Barnes' veteran presence would be a favorable sight on a relatively depleted Suns roster. His skill as a two-way player would also be of some use when Phoenix is facing up against teams in a very competitive Western Conference.
On the flip side, Barnes is also an expiring contract. After a $19.0 million cap hit this season, Phoenix will free up ample cap space to continue its roster construction project.
Aside from the rotation players, the Suns will also be adding a very important draft pick to their list of assets. As projected, the Spurs were expected to select Carter Bryant from Arizona. While this may not necessarily align with Phoenix's requirements, the Suns will enjoy a lot of flexibility with building a competitive roster through the draft.
Overall, the trade has its benefits for both teams. The Suns put themselves in a solid position to restructure their team and recalibrate.
As per our alternate trade package, they would also acquire a key defensive player in Jeremy Sochan, along with more draft capital in the form of the 2027 and 2029 first-round picks. This would put the team in a stable position to structure their roster development plans over the next four years.
Meanwhile, the Spurs receive an elite veteran scorer, who is very capable of transforming them into a title-contender.
The key concern for San Antonio will be how well their ideals align with Durant. Considering that the forward has a short title window, the Spurs will need to be in a "win-now" mindset if they wish to see the best version of him.
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