RealGM

The Phoenix Suns are intensifying Kevin Durant trade discussions with a deal expected before the NBA Draft. Three franchises have emerged as the primary contenders: the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

According to Shams Charania, the Suns have received interest from six to eight teams but have focused recent conversations on the three frontrunners. Serious negotiations have developed over the past 48 hours with multiple offers on the table.

Durant's contract situation adds complexity to potential deals. The superstar is entering the final year of his current deal, earning $54.7 million in 2025-26 before becoming a free agent.

Durant's expiring contract opens possibilities for both contending teams seeking a championship rental and franchises willing to offer long-term extensions. This dynamic mirrors the Toronto Raptors' successful 2018-19 gamble on Kawhi Leonard, which resulted in an NBA championship.

Teams pursuing Durant must weigh the risk of a one-year commitment against the potential reward of adding a generational talent. His unrestricted free agency status in 2026-27 could attract unexpected suitors willing to make short-term moves.

"There is some serious traction on conversations, on trade scenarios," Charania said on the Pat McAfee Show. "They've had about six to eight teams reach out. There's been interest. There's been some offers. There's been some negotiation."

The Suns appear motivated to complete a trade quickly, potentially before the NBA draft on Wednesday, June 25.

"But really in the last 24 to 48 hours, I'm told, the focus of the Suns' conversations has been on a few of the teams," Charania added. "The Houston Rockets, the Miami Heat, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Those are the three teams right now where a lot of the focus lies."

Via Shams Charania/ESPN

Would be stupid if the Wolves give up Gobert or Heat give up Ware to land KD. KD is a superstar but Gobert impacts the outcome of winning a lot more than KD does. There is a reason why Utah was winning and why Minny started to win.

Naz Reid does not replace what Gobert brings to the team.

As for the Heat, you still ain’t winning with KD. Wade has a bright future and they should see it through.

For Giannis these players make sense, but not for KD

Houston is the only team that it remotely makes sense for.

It will be funny if he goes to the heat. Hes not a heat type of player. Plus hes going to be 37 before the season starts and he wont have anyone on the team because the suns will take their whole roster in a trade I cant wait

Charania has to be saying 6-8 teams at the behest of Phoenix, just to try to drive up the price for Houston.

I can't even find 3 teams where it would make sense to give up two players with $55M in combined salaries, for a 37 year old KD, who will insist on a 2 year extension. Any two players making this much, on 27 other teams, are much younger, with years of productive play ahead of them, who combine to offer more to their team then KD by himself would.

Phoenix will have empty roster spots in July, so they could theoretically do 3 for 1 or maybe even 4 for 1 deals. But still, it would be so hard to match salaries AND have it make sense for the acquiring team.

For example:
Minny Gobert and McDaniels. Hard pass.
Boston. Tatum straight up. Hard pass. Or Porzingis and White. Hard pass.
New York. Straight up for KAT. Hard pass. Or OG and Robinson. Weak pass? The Knicks would have to have really soured on OG.
Lakers. Salaries just don't work. Would have to be a 4 for 1 deal. Hard pass.
Bucks. Straight up for Lillard. Nothing else works. Is old man KD for Lillard a reason for Giannis to stay as a Buck?
Denver. Porter, Nnaji and (Braun or Holmes). OK, but Denver is already too thin on talented players. Still... could be interesting.
Golden State. Curry or Butler straight up is the only way to make it work financially. Hard pass.
Dallas. It would have to be a 4 for 1 deal. Won't work. Guts the team too much. Hard pass.
Miami. Wiggins and Rozier, plus a bunch of picks could work. Miami drafts well, so probably a hard pass.
New Orleans. CJ, Jones, Olynyk and the 2025 FRP? Works, but why would they do it? KD is a trade a contender with a bad salary makes.
Clippers. Powell, Bogdan and Zubac is the only way to make it work. They aren't gutting the team for KD.
Philly. PG for KD. I'm sure Philly says yes please. Phoenix says hard pass.
Washington and Toronto. Pointless. They aren't ready to compete, even with KD added and nobody going back to Phoenix.
Cleveland. Hunter, Allen and Straus works, but they aren't gutting the team for KD. Hard pass.
Nets and Charlotte. Hard pass for the same reason as Washington and Toronto. Wrong time to trade for old man KD.
Utah, Portland, Chicago. Same reason as above.
Memphis. Bane, Clarke and Konchar works. But Bane has many more productive years ahead of him. KD, who knows. Hard pass.
Orlando. KCP, Isaac and Anthony works. But they'd have to throw in picks. I guess which picks would decide if it was a pass or not.
Detroit. No combo of three players to match salaries would be given up by Detroit for KD. Hard pass.
San Antonio. Vassell, Johnson and Sochan. Plus a pick? Phoenix would insist on two picks, so this probably doesn't work. Hard pass.
OKC. Just no. No reason to do it. Even if they lose to Indiana. Plus salary matching would be insane. Hard pass.
Atlanta. Okongwu, Risacher and Mann. Works, but then what? KD and Tray and Johnson don't even make the play in by themselves.

So that leaves Houston. Green and Brooks works. Phoenix should take that deal, but probably wants to pretend there are 6-8 suitors for KD, just so that Houston would kick in an extra FRP and maybe some far distant potential swaps.

The team where it would make the most sense to get KD would have to be Houston. But I suppose other teams could be interested, just in a "I need to make a splash to keep my GM or President job" kind of way.

KD to Orlando doesn't get them to the ECF. But it would make them more interesting.
KD to Toronto... I guess for RJ Barrett and Poeltl, might be the best duo Phoenix could get back. But then Toronto wouldn't have a center. No point. Masai is probably gone after next season anyway when his contract is up. Barrett is like 24 and getting better every year. Poeltl is a top 15 C in the league and is only 29. He might play for another 5-6 years.
KD to the Bucks. When Lillard comes back, he'll be more productive then KD, but... KD would keep them competitive next season so... but would Phoenix want this? Lillard is only 2 years younger then KD, and is owed $63M in 26/27.

Yeah, he probably goes to Houston.