One NBA analyst proposed that the Golden State Warriors acquire old friend Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns this offseason.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Warriors and Suns:
The Trade: The Golden State Warriors acquire Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns for Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney and a 2025 first-round pick
The Warriors missed the playoffs this year, while the Suns lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round in four games.
“This deal would give the Suns immediate three-and-D help from Wiggins, a cheaper alternative to Jusuf Nurkić at center, a potential star in Kuminga, cash savings and actual draft equity—all for a player entering his age-36 season,” Hughes wrote. “Phoenix has shown no inclination to diversify, instead opting to build its team around stars and hoping to figure out the rest later. That approach didn’t work out so well last season, and Durant always feels like he’s a few disgruntled weeks away from his next trade demand.
“Durant’s shaky personal history with Draymond Green is an obvious concern, but he would give the Warriors one of the few players good enough to possibly get them back into the contender class. The Suns would assuredly ask for the Warriors’ 2027 first-round pick as well, and they might prioritize someone like Gary Payton II (player option) or Moses Moody over Looney. But the above deal is actually legal under the CBA, while one with Moody in Looney’s place wouldn’t quite meet the salary-matching rules.”
Durant played for the Warriors from 2016-17 to 2018-19. The NBA legend won two championships and two Finals MVPs before leaving for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.
One of the greatest scorers in NBA history, Durant averaged 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 208 games with the Warriors.
Since leaving the Warriors, Durant has won only two playoff series. He’s been swept twice in the first round of the postseason.
Durant will make $49.9 million next season and $53.3 million in 2025-26. He averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season while shooting 52.3% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 85.6% from the free-throw line.
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