Could the Boston Celtics trade for vet Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant?
Is there any chance that the Boston Celtics could trade for vet Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant? It is one of the biggest open secrets in the entire NBA media sphere that the Suns star will likely be on the move this offseason after a failed experiment with the Suns organization.
But do the Celtics have the sort of offer that could land the future Hall of Fame forward in a way that makes sense for Phoenix as well? And if they did have such an offer, would Durant even be interested in the move, given he would be a rental otherwise with only a single season left on his current contract?
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The hosts of the CLNS Media "The Big Three NBA" podcast, A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn, and Kwani Lunis took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk it over. Check it out below!
If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network: https://ytubl.ink/3Ffk
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Could the Celtics trade for vet Suns star Kevin Durant?
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Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Heat reportedly among Kevin Durant's preferred trade destinations. Where things stand
The Miami Heat is interested in acquiring 15-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant and Durant is interested in joining the Heat. After a league source confirmed the Heat's interest in Durant earlier this week, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Saturday night that the Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are Durant's three preferred trade destinations. 'Those across the NBA have been made aware in recent days that those are the three teams that Durant would commit to long-term,' Charania reported. This is important because Durant has just one season left on his contract, as he's due $54.7 million next season before he can become a free agent in the 2026 offseason. Durant, who turns 37 on Sept. 29, is eligible to sign a two-year contract extension worth as much as $112 million following a potential trade. If he waits six months after the trade, he could sign a two-year extension worth up to $124 million. ESPN's report came shortly after The Athletic listed the Spurs and Rockets as Durant's only preferred trade destinations, 'but there are complicating factors with both of those negotiations that (for now, at least) make a deal look unlikely.' The Minnesota Timberwolves are another team reportedly that have engaged the Suns in trade talks for Durant, but he's apparently not willing to make a long-term commitment to the Timberwolves. Even though the Heat, Spurs and Rockets are Durant's preferred trade destinations, the Suns could still deal him elsewhere if another team is willing to take him in as a one-year rental on an expiring contract. The Toronto Raptors went that route when they traded for Kawhi Leonard in 2018 before winning the NBA championship with Leonard in 2019 and then losing him to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019 free agency. 'The Suns have made clear to six-to-eight seriously interested teams that they will make the best deal for the franchise — even outside of his preferred list of Miami, San Antonio and Houston,' Charania reported. The Heat holds Durant in high regard but doesn't want to offer all of its trade assets — meaning its top young players and all its available draft inventory — because he's entering his late 30s. The question is whether the Heat would be willing to include 21-year-old center Kel'el Ware in a potential deal for Durant after Ware made the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team for his work this past season. The Heat can also trade two-first rounds before the draft: the 20th overall selection in this month's draft and a first-round pick in 2030 or 2031. The Heat can trade as many as three first-round picks if the deal is agreed to before the draft but not executed until after the draft. In that scenario, Miami could select a player on behalf of another team at No. 20 in this year's draft and then trade its 2030 and 2032 first-round picks after the draft. The Heat's 2032 first-round pick can't be traded until after the draft because teams cannot deal picks more than seven years out. Duncan Robinson's contract could also be attractive to the Suns, as he's due to make $19.9 million next season but only $9.9 million is currently guaranteed. A team that acquires Robinson could release him by his July 8 guarantee deadline and save $10 million against the cap and luxury tax, which would save the Suns more than $20 million and help get them under the second apron and potentially under the luxury tax line. One thing is for sure, Durant is still one of the NBA's elite scorers even at this late stage of his career. He averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 43 percent on six three-point attempts per game this past season for Suns in his 17th NBA season. Durant and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic were the only two players in the league who averaged at least 25 points per game while shooting better than 50 percent from the field and better than 40 percent from three-point range last regular season. In fact, Durant has averaged at least 25 points per game while shooting 50 percent or better from the field and 40 percent or better on threes in three straight regular seasons for the longest such streak in NBA history, according to ESPN research. Durant also shot an NBA-best 49.7 percent on jumpers, an NBA-best 53.1 percent on midrange shots and an NBA-best 50.9 percent on off-the-dribble jumpers, according to GeniusIQ. This marks at least the fourth time that the Heat has attempted to add Durant to its roster during the past decade. The Heat tried to land Durant in free agency during the 2016 offseason, then tried to acquire him in 2022 (when he requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, but he was eventually dealt to the Suns), and then made an offer for him last season before this past February's trade deadline.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
ESPN report suggests Miami is gaining momentum in Kevin Durant trade talks
ESPN report suggests Miami is gaining momentum in Kevin Durant trade talks While Houston remains a preferred destination, ESPN's latest reporting suggests that Miami could be making inroads on a possible Kevin Durant trade with the Suns. The Miami Heat appear to be gaining steam as a potential trade destination for Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant. In turn, that could decrease the likelihood of a deal with the Houston Rockets. On Saturday night, ESPN's Shams Charania listed the Heat first among three teams that Durant would want a trade to and commit to long-term (joining the Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, who were the only teams previously reported). In all of Charania's other reports this week, Houston had been listed first among Durant suitors. As part of a separate story also published late Saturday, The Athletic's Sam Amick, Kelly Iko, and Jon Krawczynski referred to a deal with the Rockets or Spurs as 'unlikely for now.' In both cases, Phoenix seemingly isn't receiving the desired trade return from Houston or San Antonio that it would want. While it's possible that any of these leaks could be for leverage purposes, the momentum seems to be in Miami's favor as the Durant talks enter what is believed to be their closing stages. If there's a silver lining for the Rockets, should they not land the 15-time NBA All-Star, it's that Miami is an Eastern Conference team. Durant joining the Spurs or Minnesota Timberwolves — who were reported to be in the discussions on Friday — would likely be a worse outcome than the Heat from a Houston perspective, since those are West rivals. More: With Rockets among top suitors, Suns reportedly closing in on Kevin Durant trade
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Heat's Trade Offer to Suns for Kevin Durant in February Revealed
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