Apparently Google AI thinks we will trade Ant for KD.
AI Overview
+9
Kevin Durant's trade from the Phoenix Suns appears imminent, with the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves emerging as the leading contenders. The Suns are reportedly seeking a package comparable to what they gave up to acquire Durant from the Nets, including multiple first-round picks. A deal could potentially materialize in the next few days, possibly before the NBA draft.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Leading Suitors:
The Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves are the frontrunners in the Durant sweepstakes.
Suns' Asking Price:
The Suns are likely looking for a package that includes multiple first-round draft picks, potentially alongside other assets like young players or salary-matching players.
Durant's Contract:
Durant is in the final year of his contract, which adds a layer of complexity to negotiations, as teams must consider the possibility of needing to re-sign him.
Timing:
A trade could happen soon, possibly within the next few days, and before the NBA draft on June 25th.
Durant's Preference:
Durant may have some say in where he is traded due to his desire to end his career on his own terms, according to ABC7 New York.
Potential Packages:
The Rockets might offer players like Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., while the Timberwolves could involve players like Anthony Edwards (though likely not in a straight swap). The Heat may need to include salary-dumping players like Duncan Robinson to match Durant's salary.
Suns' Motivation:
The Suns' disappointing season and early playoff exit have fueled speculation about a roster reset, with Durant potentially being the key piece to be moved.
Lip, I agree that I don't want Rob or Shannon included in a KD deal, as well as both of our draft picks. Somehow I think it's unlikely TC would do that. Rob and Shannon are "his guys", players that he had a hand in bringing in, and in Rob's case, a guy he gave up assets to draft. This is different than 2022 when he traded a few guys he had no attachment to to get Gobert. Even KAT was not "his guy". Trading either of them a year after drafting them to bring in a 37 year old might look like he made a mistake in the previous draft, and I think his ego won't let him do that. Our picks might be included, and I wouldn't like that, but I'll be very surprised if we see Rob and Shannon go.
I know people are tossing Gobert’s name around, but I have doubts TC would actually do that. If Rudy were the centerpiece instead of Randle, you would be left with 2 starting PFs and 0 Cs. That’s a tough situation to resolve this offseason. And Phoenix would be without a starting caliber PF - one reason they tried so hard to get Butler for KD at the trade deadline.
A trade centered around KD and Randle makes the most sense for both teams. And this requires some cooperation from Randle to either pick up his player option, or agree to an extend and trade. The interesting thing about an extend and trade is Randle could not pick up the player option and sign an extension starting at something like 36 mil (must be less than 120% of his current salary to avoid BYC issues). This would create a pathway for a 2-team only trade that did not have to include Rob.
The KD situation is not all that dissimilar from the Butler situation. But not only is KD a year older, we are another season further into his career. I would argue that the cost for KD should be less than the cost for Butler.
GS gave up Wiggins, Schroder, SloMo and Lindsey, along with this year’s 1st and a future 2nd rounder. Randle, DDV, Minott and Miller could be argued to have a similar value. Then it comes down to negotiating draft picks. I wouldn’t even offer #17 given the KD age issue.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 8:14 am
I know people are tossing Gobert’s name around, but I have doubts TC would actually do that. If Rudy were the centerpiece instead of Randle, you would be left with 2 starting PFs and 0 Cs. That’s a tough situation to resolve this offseason. And Phoenix would be without a starting caliber PF - one reason they tried so hard to get Butler for KD at the trade deadline.
A trade centered around KD and Randle makes the most sense for both teams. And this requires some cooperation from Randle to either pick up his player option, or agree to an extend and trade. The interesting thing about an extend and trade is Randle could not pick up the player option and sign an extension starting at something like 36 mil (must be less than 120% of his current salary to avoid BYC issues). This would create a pathway for a 2-team only trade that did not have to include Rob.
The KD situation is not all that dissimilar from the Butler situation. But not only is KD a year older, we are another season further into his career. I would argue that the cost for KD should be less than the cost for Butler.
GS gave up Wiggins, Schroder, SloMo and Lindsey, along with this year’s 1st and a future 2nd rounder. Randle, DDV, Minott and Miller could be argued to have a similar value. Then it comes down to negotiating draft picks. I wouldn’t even offer #17 given the KD age issue.
We’ll see what happens!
Dane had a draft guy on his most recent podcast and he argued that #31 is a more valuable pick than #17. I'd be fine parting with #17 if it meant keeping an existing player we value out of the deal.
FNG wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:34 am
Lip, I agree that I don't want Rob or Shannon included in a KD deal, as well as both of our draft picks. Somehow I think it's unlikely TC would do that. Rob and Shannon are "his guys", players that he had a hand in bringing in, and in Rob's case, a guy he gave up assets to draft. This is different than 2022 when he traded a few guys he had no attachment to to get Gobert. Even KAT was not "his guy". Trading either of them a year after drafting them to bring in a 37 year old might look like he made a mistake in the previous draft, and I think his ego won't let him do that. Our picks might be included, and I wouldn't like that, but I'll be very surprised if we see Rob and Shannon go.
That’s a nice insight, FNG. I hope you’re right.
After watching OKC and Indiana a lot through the playoffs I can see even more clearly how the Wolves can be a really special championship contending team in a couple seasons when Ant and Jaden will just be wintering the prime years of their careers and for many years thereafter. When you combine those two guys with Naz and also with TSJ, Dilly and Clark you have a tremendously athletic, fast, aggressive and also skilled group of players who would be a nightmare for opposing defenses and offenses. Interestingly, most of the best highlights of Dilly and TSJ are with Jaden and/or Ant on the floor. The fit is so perfect.
Like you, given our lack of picks going forward, including no picks at all in 2027, I also hate to give up our picks this year. This looks like one of the better drafts for talented bigs, which is what we need with Rudy getting older and possibly being traded. I’d love to add a defensive big like Thomas Sorber, Kalkbrenner, Berlinger or Raynard who can also do other things Rudy can’t. But alas, I don’t see a deal getting done without giving up at least our #17 unless we also include Dilly, TSJ or Clark.
FNG wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:34 am
Lip, I agree that I don't want Rob or Shannon included in a KD deal, as well as both of our draft picks. Somehow I think it's unlikely TC would do that. Rob and Shannon are "his guys", players that he had a hand in bringing in, and in Rob's case, a guy he gave up assets to draft. This is different than 2022 when he traded a few guys he had no attachment to to get Gobert. Even KAT was not "his guy". Trading either of them a year after drafting them to bring in a 37 year old might look like he made a mistake in the previous draft, and I think his ego won't let him do that. Our picks might be included, and I wouldn't like that, but I'll be very surprised if we see Rob and Shannon go.
That’s a nice insight, FNG. I hope you’re right.
After watching OKC and Indiana a lot through the playoffs I can see even more clearly how the Wolves can be a really special championship contending team in a couple seasons when Ant and Jaden will just be wintering the prime years of their careers and for many years thereafter. When you combine those two guys with Naz and also with TSJ, Dilly and Clark you have a tremendously athletic, fast, aggressive and also skilled group of players who would be a nightmare for opposing defenses and offenses. Interestingly, most of the best highlights of Dilly and TSJ are with Jaden and/or Ant on the floor. The fit is so perfect.
Like you, given our lack of picks going forward, including no picks at all in 2027, I also hate to give up our picks this year. This looks like one of the better drafts for talented bigs, which is what we need with Rudy getting older and possibly being traded. I’d love to add a defensive big like Thomas Sorber, Kalkbrenner, Berlinger or Raynard who can also do other things Rudy can’t. But alas, I don’t see a deal getting done without giving up at least our #17 unless we also include Dilly, TSJ or Clark.
FNG Connelly has a legit track record of moving his guys that he drafted. He LOVES Vanderbilt and traded him twice. He also traded Beasley Twice so he had attachment to both of those players in the Gobert deal. In the Aaron Gordon deal he traded RJ Hampton a guy he had drafted a few months earlier. He traded Walker Kessler in the Gobert deal. That's just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Connelly is not afraid to move players and that's a little maddening but I think it's one of the positives about him.
Look at what Houston and Miami have to offer compared to what the Wolves have, I can see why the Wolves are heavy favorites to get Durant. That same disparity also tells me TC should drive a really hard bargain and not negotiate against himself as I believe he did when he acquired Rudy. Here’s a breakdown of assets I think Houston and Miami would probably be willing to offer and that the Suns might have an interest in getting. I’m assuming neither team will be willing to part with any core players under age 30
HOUSTON
Players: I think Houston has three core young players, Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jalen Green, who would hands off in any trade discussions for Durant. Remember, this is the core of a team that had the 2nd best record in the West. I know there is disappointment in Jalen Green, but he’s putting up terrific numbers and he’s still young. Moreover, he’s the sort of fast, athletic player who flourishes in today’s NBA. As a SG, he fits well with a roster where most of the top young talent is in the front court, namely Sengun C, Thompson F, Jabari Smith, Eason F, Cam Whitmore F. With Sengun and Thompson as untouchabes in my view, that leaves Smith, Eason and Whitmore as the young talent they MIGHT be willing to give up and who the Suns would probably be interested in getting. Houston has last year’s #3 pick in the draft, Reed Sheppard. He was pretty bad this past season, but he was a consensus top 5 pick and had a great freshman season at Kentucky so he should be a player of interest to the Suns. So at most, I could see Houston giving up Whitmore or Eason and Sheppard. Or maybe the Suns would want VanVleet for more of a win-now PG to pair with Booker while also getting a young talent and pick in turn.
Picks: Houston has the #10 pick in this year’s draft. Their only tradeable future 1st round pick is the Suns’ unprotected 2027 pick. The rest of their future 1st rounders are untradeable under the CBA’s bar on trading consecutive 1st rounders.
Possible Deal: Without checking for salary match, I could see Houston offering VanVleet, Smith, this year’s #10 pick and the Suns 2027 1st. That would be a very robust offer but it would not give the Suns the center they purportedly want and I think the jig is up on Jabari Smith. I wasn’t a big fan of him coming out of college and I don’t see a lot of upside there. But VanVleet is still only 31 and has game left. So I’d say Houston has the assets to get Durant. But I think the Wolves can offer a more attractive package on non-core assets unless Houston is willing to part with Eason as well as Smith. Based on what we’ve heard, Phoenix was to win now but also bolster their future with this deal. Who helps the Suns more next season - Rudy and Donte, or VanVleet and Smith? If Houston offers #10; return of the Suns’ 2027 1st rounder; and Jabari Smith (has both present and long-term future value — would that be a better “future” package than this year’s ##17 and 31, Minott and Miller? I think we could easily beat that future package if we gave up Dilly, TSJ or Clark but I think giving up any of those three for Durant would be a big mistake.
MIAMI
Players: There’s no doubt that Bam and Tyler Herro would be off the table. There’s no point in trading for Durant as a win-now move if you let one of two go. Once you get past those two, there isn’t anything worth much on Miami’s roster. Wiggins? Duncan Robinson? Davion Mitchell? Jaquez? Jovic? Rozier? Kel’el Ware? I don’t see any of those players exciting the Suns front office. Ware is a talented young big who might interest the Suns as a future prospect with some current value on the court.
Picks: This year’s #20 pick. 2029 1st, 2030 1st. Not a particularly impressive collection of tradeable draft assets.
Possible Deal: I won’t even bother because I don’t see a realistic trade that would interest the Suns. So I don’t view Miami as a true competitive for Durant.
