76ers, Kevin Durant
76ers, Kevin Durant | Chris Coduto/GettyImages
The Philadelphia 76ers have every reason to go after a big change this offseason. Following a measly campaign that was more than sufficient to catapult them into a state of flux, the front office is now more incentivized than before to take matters into their own hands and tread an ambitious pathway en route to a desired return to relevance next season.
One of the most higly sought players in the market at present is Kevin Durant, who seems to be a safe bet to find a new home this summer. The superstar’s camp had already made it clear that they do have some landing spots in mind, and while Philadelphia has not had any momentum on that trail, it is definitely worth it to give it a fair shake.
Assembling a good return package for Durant that would entice Phoenix, however, is a different story. Teams like the Spurs and Rockets can shower the Suns with draft capital. But fortunately, the 76ers similarly tout the machinery to get a deal done along those exact lines.
Proposed Kevin Durant trade is virtually perfect for the 76ers
Bleacher Report recently dished out a trade pitch with the 76ers acquiring Durant from the Suns for a package consisting of Paul George, Adem Bona, the third overall pick in this year’s draft, a 2028 first-round pick from the Clippers, and a pick swap from the latter in 2029.
If the 76ers become determined to maximize their waning championship window, making a move for Durant, even at the expense of the third overall pick, should be worthwhile. Even at 36, the 15-time All-Star is still one of the best scorers in the NBA, especially from an efficiency standpoint.
While this will not change the fact that Joel Embiid’s health will still determine their fate, the 76ers cannot find anyone who’s better suited to fill a primary scoring load than Durant — a proven playoff standout with a couple of championships under his belt.
Parting with George’s mammoth contract is another plus for this deal, effectively giving the 76ers some much-needed breathing room given that the All-Star seems to be headed to a continuous decline.
True enough, this is taking things to an extreme, even for someone like Daryl Morey, but the Philadelphia 76ers, despite a down year, are looking at a wide-open Eastern Conference race next season. If the franchise manages to get its hands on Kevin Durant, their collective ceiling will indubitably soar to greater heights.
If the 76ers want to take a gamble, this is the one.