By this point you are likely well aware that the Phoenix Suns are going to trade Kevin Durant this offseason. Just where that will be remains to be seen, even if it is possible the player himself has literally already told us his next destination. Until that is actually confirmed however, speculation will be rife and it will be regular.
Just the other day the L.A. Clippers were mentioned as yet another team who have picked up the phone - like everybody else - to enquire about the 36-year-old. At the time we dismissed this as nothing more than another media outlet putting another name out there, because it was a break in between NBA Finals games and it is an easy thing to do to get engagement.
There might actually be something to these Clippers rumors.
Zach Lowe was on his still relatively new - and always insightful - podcast on The Ringer's network of shows, as he takes in Games 3 and 4 of the finals in Indiana. Attentions turned to Durant and what is going to happen with him this summer, and Lowe himself brought up the Clippers as a team to watch as all of this unfolds.
This might seem like nothing - after all just like everybody else it is easy for Lowe to mention the Clippers and keep it moving - only that's not really his style. He is somebody who is really plugged into the leak, and doesn't have a habit of saying outlandish things just for the sake of it. When others do, he is generally the one to bring sense back into the room, which again makes this interesting.
The angle Lowe came at this from - and it is the correct one - is the fact that financially at least there's a path to making this work. The New York Knicks for example would likely have to give up Karl-Anthony Towns to get a deal done, but the Suns apparently have no interest in that. It is similar for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who like the Suns are in a tough financial position right now.
As Lowe mentions, the Clippers have first round picks in 2030 and 2032 that they can trade, which is a good place to start. Their owner Steve Ballmer - much like Suns' owner Mat Ishbia - isn't known to be patient and although he has had roster building missteps, has done a better job of continuing to reload and go after star players. So the picks likely hold less appeal to him.
2025 Ivica Zubac defensive playmaking pic.twitter.com/uNMr3e9Jv1
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Even more importantly, the Clippers have the perfect center for the Suns in Ivica Zubac. Still only 28-years-old, he is coming off his best season in the league and would be the ideal rim-running big man to pair with Devin Booker. As we've already spoken about, he could also be the player who helps to bring the best out of Bradley Beal as well.
This could still end up being nothing, but it is hard not to keep returning to the fact the Clippers are an all-in team. The Houston Rockets for example make a ton of sense for Durant - as do the San Antonio Spurs - but they are building nicely and have the stars, depth and future draft assets to be relevant for a long time. The Oklahoma City Thunder showing right now why that should be the blueprint.
But the Clippers are going their own way, although it remains to be seen just how open to teaming up with James Harden again Durant would be. If he views their time together with the Brooklyn Nets as unfinished business, then we might just have traction here. Either way, we were wrong to dismiss L.A. so swiftly on this one, Lowe wouldn't have mentioned them for nothing.