KD To Spurs

[mlloyd10]

Very Simple Trade

Spurs get: KD
Suns get: Vasell/Barnes/14/ ATL 2027 1st / SAS 2029 1st

With the Bane trade, Suns might ask for more, but the value should be good.

Why Spurs: They Want KD, Rumor is KD will sign extension with them.
Why Suns: Start the retooling of their roster, get the reigning ROY, plus lottery pick, plus some 1st that they need.

[jayjaysee]

Do an AD one for me..

[babyjax13]

Take out Castle and the 2027 or 2029 1st.

[wemby]

Reasons for buying an ice cream for $1000: I want an in ice cream

[mlloyd10]

Reasons for buying an ice cream for $1000: I want an in ice cream

Going to edit as the Money doesn't work

Looking at he Jimmy Butler trade as a comp, but with a little more

[TimDunkin]

If this is the cost for the Spurs, then it isn’t worth it.

[Texas Chuck]

Don't think the trade of a locked up in his prime Desmond Bane increases the value of an expiring KD, but I guess we will see.

[Daddy 801]

Don’t see the Spurs doing this. I wouldn’t. Old and expensive. Durant has given only a few places he wants to go to which puts the leverage on the Spurs side of things.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Take out Castle and the 2027 or 2029 1st.

I'd say take out Castle and 14. A current-year draft pick with no top-of-lottery potential adds little value to the package, whereas the Spurs have been going through their draft process and may indeed value it highly for a particular prospect they hope to nab (or set of prospects from which they want one).

The Suns might not accept that for Durant, but it's the most I'd offer. (EDIT: Actually, I wouldn't offer anything because I don't want Durant from the Spurs POV, but I'm accepting the premise that they might disagree and be willing to spend a little to acquire his services.)

[Texas Chuck]

Don’t see the Spurs doing this. I wouldn’t. Old and expensive. Durant has given only a few places he wants to go to which puts the leverage on the Spurs side of things.

lEvErAgE is mostly a word used for posters to justify their position. Based on reporting we "know" this:

KD has 3 teams on his wish list
Phoenix is engaging with teams beyond his list
Phoenix says they will work with KD
Phoenix says they will make the deal best for Phoenix, not KD.

None of that to me says the Spurs hold all the cards in a KD trade at all. Now the OP is overshooting imo. But I don't think the Spurs get to say Keldon/Vassell/bad pick take it or leave it and think that gets KD either.

[wemby]

KD has 3 teams on his wish list
Phoenix is engaging with teams beyond his list
Phoenix says they will work with KD
Phoenix says they will make the deal best for Phoenix, not KD.

None of that to me says the Spurs hold all the cards in a KD trade at all. Now the OP is overshooting imo. But I don't think the Spurs get to say Keldon/Vassell/bad pick take it or leave it and think that gets KD either.

Reporting also says none of those teams are interested at the Suns asking price. Are we sure they really want Durant? Or do the Suns want them to want him?

[Texas Chuck]

KD has 3 teams on his wish list
Phoenix is engaging with teams beyond his list
Phoenix says they will work with KD
Phoenix says they will make the deal best for Phoenix, not KD.

None of that to me says the Spurs hold all the cards in a KD trade at all. Now the OP is overshooting imo. But I don't think the Spurs get to say Keldon/Vassell/bad pick take it or leave it and think that gets KD either.

Reporting also says none of those teams are interested at the Suns asking price. Are we sure they really want Durant? Or do the Suns want them to want him?

I assume they want him. Or they would not be engaging in talks. And yes they want to get him as cheaply as possible and the Suns wants as much as possible. That's literally saying nothing at all lol.

And yes a trade only happens if both teams think a deal is good. But clearly the Suns are getting enough calls that they don't feel desperate to take a bad offer from San Antonio(or anyone else). Or else they would have taken one of the offers they have gotten.

[Daddy 801]

Don’t see the Spurs doing this. I wouldn’t. Old and expensive. Durant has given only a few places he wants to go to which puts the leverage on the Spurs side of things.

lEvErAgE is mostly a word used for posters to justify their position. Based on reporting we "know" this:

KD has 3 teams on his wish list
Phoenix is engaging with teams beyond his list
Phoenix says they will work with KD
Phoenix says they will make the deal best for Phoenix, not KD.

None of that to me says the Spurs hold all the cards in a KD trade at all. Now the OP is overshooting imo. But I don't think the Spurs get to say Keldon/Vassell/bad pick take it or leave it and think that gets KD either.

I’m not saying the Spurs have all the leverage. I am saying them have some. They don’t need to get KD. They are on a list of three teams he wants to go to. Other teams would be buying a one year rental which means they aren’t giving up much. So the Spurs have to beat two offers and that’s only IF they want him. It’s not like they desperately need him.

I wish they would overpay for him. The Spurs are the single luckiest franchise in the NBA. They tank and it magically works each time. I think giving up too much for KD would be a bad move….but by all means if they feel inclined to overpay that’s on them. But they aren’t known for drastic moves so I don’t see it.

If I was them I would offer those players mentioned and one pick and if the Suns don’t like it so be it. I could see a scenario where Durant goes there and leaves in a year anyways. They are known for not catering to superstars and that doesn’t sound like it fits Durant. Not saying he is a diva or cancer, but it does appear he has been catered to at various times in his career.

The one team I don’t think has any leverage is Phoenix. They are not in a great spot. And every executive knows it.

[BleedGreen1989]

Can we have a mega thread where Spurs fans (and others) propose trades for KD and then **** talk him and his value to justify subpar returns for a top-15/20 player?

[wemby]

I assume they want him. Or they would not be engaging in talks. And yes they want to get him as cheaply as possible and the Suns wants as much as possible. That's literally saying nothing at all lol.

And yes a trade only happens if both teams think a deal is good. But clearly the Suns are getting enough calls that they don't feel desperate to take a bad offer from San Antonio(or anyone else). Or else they would have taken one of the offers they have gotten.

I'm sure there's a level of interest from several teams and of course the Suns don't have to take any offer they don't like, but let's not kid ourselves here: it's them who are urged to trade Durant, not the other way around. Any of the interested teams could end this right now if they were sufficiently motivated, it's not like they're lacking assets. The fact that this is being dragged out tells me that more so than a bidding war this is a matter of no one really being fully commited to getting Durant, or at least they're perfectly willing to risk it. We'll see, but I don't think this ends anywhere near what people like the OP believe.

[Texas Chuck]

it's them who are urged to trade Durant, not the other way around.

I mean both are true. The Suns are motivated to trade him. Nobody is denying this.

But with this many teams interested in trading for him it seems odd to suggest they aren't motivated as well. Again, they have a limit on what they are willing to spend, but that doesn't mean they aren't motivated.

you personally don't want him which is understandable, but then you seem to be using your personal belief to suggest all these teams who are calling on him don't want him. That simply isn't the actions of teams with no motivation to add KD...

And we agree the OP is overshooting considerably.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I assume they want him. Or they would not be engaging in talks. And yes they want to get him as cheaply as possible and the Suns wants as much as possible. That's literally saying nothing at all lol.

And yes a trade only happens if both teams think a deal is good. But clearly the Suns are getting enough calls that they don't feel desperate to take a bad offer from San Antonio(or anyone else). Or else they would have taken one of the offers they have gotten.

I'm sure there's a level of interest from several teams and of course the Suns don't have to take any offer they don't like, but let's not kid ourselves here: it's them who are urged to trade Durant, not the other way around. Any of the interested teams could end this right now if they were sufficiently motivated, it's not like they're lacking assets. The fact that this is being dragged out tells me that more so than a bidding war this is a matter of no one really being fully commited to getting Durant, or at least they're perfectly willing to risk it. We'll see, but I don't think this ends anywhere near what people like the OP believe.

I agree with both of you about the general nature of the negotiations. But I'm with you on the Spurs' bargaining position, not because of any general principle or "because leverage," but because of the particular asset on offer. Durant is not going to win you the arms race over other Western Conference contenders, and he's a major flight risk too (because he wants an unreasonable extension). The risk of overpaying for him far exceeds the risk of letting another team get him. Bid low and see what happens.

[wemby]

it's them who are urged to trade Durant, not the other way around.

I mean both are true. The Suns are motivated to trade him. Nobody is denying this.

But with this many teams interested in trading for him it seems odd to suggest they aren't motivated as well. Again, they have a limit on what they are willing to spend, but that doesn't mean they aren't motivated.

you personally don't want him which is understandable, but then you seem to be using your personal belief to suggest all these teams who are calling on him don't want him. That simply isn't the actions of teams with no motivation to add KD...

If Spurs REALLY wanted Durant, what keeps them from adding a couple more first rounders? They can do so without breaking a sweat. Same for the Rockets, give them back their picks, or Jabari, or Tari, or Sheppard, or a couple of their many, many picks. Same goes for the Heat, put Kel'el Ware on the table, same goes for McDaniels and the TWolves. The offers here are basically the bare minimum, this is very telling as to what the landscape actually is.

[Texas Chuck]

Huh? Teams wanted Dorian Finney-Smith because he was a playoff tested 3&D making reasonable money. But they didn't want him if they had to pay 2 additional firsts over the 2nds he was actually worth in trade.

I do not claim to know what the Spurs actual offer is(if they've even made a specific one) and most teams start low so I'd assume they are willing to come up. Doesn't mean they are willing to come up 2 more first rounders. But them not willing to pay an additional 2 firsts doesn't mean they have no interest in adding him.

But you apparently have some details I do not in terms of what exactly has been offered. Would be amazing if you shared that info with the board.

[wemby]

Huh? Teams wanted Dorian Finney-Smith because he was a playoff tested 3&D making reasonable money. But they didn't want him if they had to pay 2 additional firsts over the 2nds he was actually worth in trade.

I do not claim to know what the Spurs actual offer is(if they've even made a specific one) and most teams start low so I'd assume they are willing to come up. Doesn't mean they are willing to come up 2 more first rounders. But them not willing to pay an additional 2 firsts doesn't mean they have no interest in adding him.

But you apparently have some details I do not in terms of what exactly has been offered. Would be amazing if you shared that info with the board.

I don't pretend to have any details beyond those publicly available, but here are some of them:

https://hoopshype.com/2025/06/14/suns-not-that-interested-in-players-that-spurs-have-offered-as-part-of-kevin-durant-trade-package/
Sources add that Phoenix is not enamored with the players San Antonio has made available in the teams’ talks to date.
it is also believed that the Spurs are only willing to discuss veterans such as Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes.
the notion now of surrendering newly named Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle or the No. 2 selection in this month’s draft is simply a non-starter.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6426397/2025/06/14/kevin-durant-suns-trade-nba-rumors-wolves-rockets-spurs/
The Wolves are not including Jaden McDaniels in any KD trade talks, per team sources, which means that one of Randle or Rudy Gobert would have to be the primary salary eater in the deal.

https://hoopshype.com/2025/06/16/suns-have-done-background-work-on-andrew-wiggins/
The Suns have done background work on Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, league sources told HoopsHype. Wiggins is owed $28.22 million this upcoming season and would likely be a part of any Heat trade package for Durant. A key factor in Miami’s chances of landing Durant could hinge on whether the franchise is willing to part with talented 21-year-old big man Kel’el Ware, who’s of interest to Phoenix.

https://hoopshype.com/2025/06/16/suns-gauging-jalen-green-value-around-the-league-in-case-they-pick-him-up-for-kevin-durant/
Phoenix has done background on Green to gauge his value around the league in case Green is acquired, and it’s worthwhile to flip him again via trade, league sources told HoopsHype.

https://hoopshype.com/2025/06/16/rockets-unwilling-to-trade-alperen-sengun-amen-thompson-for-kevin-durant/
The Rockets, however, have been unwilling to part with 22-year-old First Team All-Defensive selection Amen Thompson in trade talks, league sources told HoopsHype. It’s believed that Houston would also not want to part with 22-year-old All-Star Alperen Sengun in talks for Durant.

https://hoopshype.com/2025/06/10/knicks-among-teams-likely-to-pursue-kevin-durant/
Kevin Durant is expected to be traded in the coming weeks, and the Knicks are among the teams likely to pursue him, per @WindhorstESPN

https://nypost.com/2025/06/11/sports/knicks-not-in-mix-for-kevin-durant-trade/
Despite long speculation and reporting to the contrary, the Knicks are not in the mix to trade for Kevin Durant, The Post has learned.

All of this is aligned with those teams offering none of their most prized assets, only those we already knew they were likely to be made available.
Also the list of interested teams seems quite sketchy, first the Knicks were interested but immediatey comes out they weren't? This sounds more consistent with the Suns trying to make a meager market appear larger than it actually is.

Your example about DFS actually supports my stance, teams are interested in Durant if the price is low enough, but this doesn't feel at all like a few desperate teams trying to top one another to land him. The Suns will get at least one decent offer, probably from the TWolves, but I very much doubt it will look anything like people speculate here.