An NBA source has told Hoops Wire that a trade sending Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors, Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga to the Phoenix Suns and Andrew Wiggins to the Miami Heat “could happen.”
The NBA trade deadline is tomorrow.
The Warriors are in hot pursuit of Durant, who helped the franchise win back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
The Suns wanted Bradley Beal to waive his no-trade clause so they could deal him and acquire Butler. However, Beal has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause, so they are now considering trading Durant to acquire Butler and Kuminga.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Durant is averaging 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season while shooting 52.4% from the field, 39.8% from beyond the arc and 82.7% from the free-throw line. The future Hall of Famer is making $51.2 million.
Meanwhile, Butler is averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks while shooting 54.0% from the field, 36.1% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line. He is making $48.8 million this season and has a player option worth $52.4 million for next season.
The Suns are interested in acquiring Kuminga or Draymond Green from the Warriors.
Meanwhile, the Heat are simply trying to get rid of Butler by any means necessary and acquire win-now players. They would likely get Wiggins and either draft picks or role players if this blockbuster trade went down.
The Warriors are desperate to trade for a star player after the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis. They have been linked to Durant, LeBron James, Paul George, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Butler.
LeBron and Beal are the only players in the NBA with a no-trade clause. Neither All-Star plans to waive it.
After the Doncic-Davis trade, all eyes have shifted to Durant and Butler. It will be fascinating to see what happens, but there is a growing belief that KD and Jimmy Buckets will be on new teams once the trade deadline passes.
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