Kevin Durant trade destinationsWith a tone of drama surrounding the uncertainty of Kyrie Irving’s future with the Brooklyn Nets, things are starting to look bleak as the two sides still haven’t come close to reaching terms on a contract extension. After reports came out that Irving and the Nets are still far apart in contract talks, it’s become highly likely that they’ll move him in the offseason. This, actually, brings us to Kevin Durant.
Now that all this has come into play, Kevin Durant has recently stated that he will demand a trade out of Brooklyn if the team decides to part ways with Irving. KD left a great situation with the Golden State Warriors a few seasons back to build something special with the Nets. Unfortunately for him though, it’s been anything but smooth sailing over the past couple years and Durant has been the only constant for the Nets.
Durant’s frustrations with the organization have begun to mount and if they ship Kyrie out of town, then he may find himself on the move once again. Having said all this, let’s now take a look at the five best trade destinations for Kevin Durant if they fail to re-sign Kyrie Irving this summer.
Kevin Durant trade destinations
5. Memphis Grizzlies
After publicly showing praise for Ja Morant and having a strong appreciation for his game, it only seems fair to assume that Durant would consider a move to an up-and-comer like the Memphis Grizzlies. As a team on the verge of championship stardom, Memphis could be an appealing destination for Durant. On the Grizzlies, Durant would form an unstoppable starting lineup with Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and Dillon Brooks.
The Grizzlies would even be able to run their own version of the death lineup to closeout games with Durant or Jackson Jr. at the center spot. the chances of Memphis successfully pulling off this trade without having to give up too many assets would be highly unlikely. However, if they’re able to acquire Durant and still keep Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr., then they’d still have a solid superstar core to build around. Which would make this trade a risk well worth it.
4. Los Angeles Lakerss
Coming off a disappointing season and hoping to bounce back in a major way, the Lakers would greatly benefit from the addition of Kevin Durant. This move would more than likely require them to part ways with Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook amongst others, but it’d be a major upgrade for Los Angeles. By forming a dynamic 1-2 punch with LeBron James, Durant would have a prime opportunity to win more titles while making history.
James and Durant are two of the greatest players to ever set foot on a basketball court, and in LA they would achieve greatness and finish out their playing careers on a high note. All the while further cementing their places in basketball lore as a merely unstoppable superstar tandem. It may seem like a long shot to make this happen, but with the crazy unpredictability of the NBA offseason you never know what could happen.
Still committed to doing all they can to build a championship caliber roster around franchise superstar Damian Lillard, Portland could be another ideal landing spot for Durant. With the Trail Blazers, Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard would arguably form the most lethal pairing in the league.
This would catapult the Blazers into title contention and make Portland a more desirable free agent destination. This would also allow them to build a more talented supporting cast around Lillard and Durant. Plus the recent addition of Jerami Grant would be the perfect complement to this All-Star duo.
2. Miami Heat
Fresh off a heartbreaking home loss in Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals to the Boston Celtics, the Miami Heat are one team that could use more star power. Durant’s versatile offensive game and elite defensive play would be a great fit in the Heat’s dominant two-way style of play. Plus a trio of Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo would make Miami the team to beat out East and put them in a better position to win it all in 2023.
Durant’s ability to score, facilitate, and play any position on the floor gives the Heat a proven playoff performer that would fill a major area of need for them. There’s no doubt that the Heat would have to give up a good amount for Durant, but with the right maneuvering they definitely could make it work. It goes without saying that Pat Riley always has a few tricks up his sleeve, and his savvy negotiating tactics could land KD in South Beach.
1. Phoenix Suns
Looking to bounce back in a major way after a disappointing finish to their 2022 campaign, the Phoenix Suns are due for some serious roster overhaul. By trading for Durant, the Suns would be taking a huge risk and changing course a bit. On the other hand, this would also show their continued commitment to winning a title for the first time in franchise history.
As long as they’d be able to keep Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Mikal Bridges, the addition of Durant would only inch them closer to winning an NBA championship. Durant would be a seamless fit in Monty Williams’ free flowing team-oriented system and he’d provide them with consistently good scoring while maintaining his strong defensive prowess. It may not seem like it now, but come playoff time this would be the best route for Kevin Durant to take if he’s hoping to compete for a title with a new squad next season.
