NBA Trade Proposal Sends Kevin Durant Back To Warriors In Offseason

One NBA analyst proposed that the Golden State Warriors trade for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant this offseason. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Warriors trade Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, a 2026 first-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick to the Suns for Durant, who won two championships and two Finals MVPs with Golden State. 

The Suns almost traded Durant to the Warriors at this year’s NBA trade deadline, but Durant made it known behind the scenes that he didn’t want to get traded back to Golden State. 

Phoenix is expected to work with Durant and his camp on a trade this summer. It’s unknown at this point if Durant has changed his mind about returning to the Warriors, who acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat at the trade deadline. 

“That little nugget on KD not wanting to go back is important, but if the Warriors flame out of the 2025 playoffs early, they should at least consider the possibility again,” Bailey wrote. “Given Durant’s hefty $54.7 million salary in 2025-26, Golden State would almost certainly have to include Draymond Green in this deal. With the personality clashes between Draymond and KD, that might actually get the former Warrior to soften his stance on returning to the Bay. Much of the rest of the incoming salary could be offset by a sign-and-trade involving restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, who still has plenty of promise but wasn’t in Golden State’s rotation in its final game of the season.

“As for what a deal like this might mean for the Warriors on the floor, this would obviously and dramatically change the team. Draymond has been the backbone of this defense for well over a decade. His versatility and intensity set the team’s identity as much as anyone but Stephen Curry. But another early playoff exit this year would make it five of the last six years ending well shy of a title. And that might be enough to justify a philosophical shift. A team led by Curry, Durant and Jimmy Butler would be one of the older ones in the league, but it’d be a nightmare to defend. And while Butler isn’t the same defender as Draymond, he can still set a tone on that end.”

The Warriors are playing the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. 

Meanwhile, the Suns missed the playoffs this season despite having Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. 

One of the greatest scorers in NBA history, Durant averaged 26.6 points this season while shooting 43.0% from 3. He turns 37 in the fall.