League Source Floats Idea Of Warriors Trading Jimmy Butler To Suns For Kevin Durant In Offseason

March 10, 2025

A league source floated a wild trade idea to NBA reporter Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic involving the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.

Since the Suns wanted to acquire Butler and the Warriors tried to trade for Durant at this year’s NBA trade deadline, the league source suggested to Rankin that Golden State trade Butler to Phoenix for Durant this offseason.

“Considering they had such a high interest in Butler — and the Warriors still having enough of a love for Durant to pursue him — a league source floated an idea to The Republic having the Suns trade Durant for Butler in the summer,” Rankin wrote. “Butler signed a two-year, $121 million extension through the 2026-27 season after declining a player option for the 2025-26 season. The Suns would remain over the second apron, but finally land the player they pursued for weeks. Those are trading options, but standing pat for next season doesn’t appear to be an alternative action.”

The Suns are expected to trade Durant this offseason.

Durant will make $54.7 million next season in the final year of his contract.

The San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat will pursue a Durant trade this offseason, an NBA source told Hoops Wire.

Durant is a four-time scoring champion, a two-time champion, a two-time Finals MVP and a one-time MVP. The swingman has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns.

One of the best scorers in NBA history, Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, but he and the Suns are expected to work together on a trade so he can land somewhere he wants to be.

The Warriors had a deal to acquire Durant at this year’s NBA trade deadline, but Durant blocked it because he didn’t want to get traded “midway through the season.”

“I just didn’t wanna get traded midway through the season,” Durant told NBA reporter Malika Andrews of ESPN. “It was nothing against my time with the Warriors. Or I heard it was because I don’t like Draymond (Green). At the end of the day, I just didn’t wanna move and I wanted to see it through with my team in Phoenix and see what we can do through the rest of the season. So I’m glad I’m still there.”