According to multiple reports, Brooklyn Nets‘ superstar Kevin Durant has officially requested a trade from the organization.
Kevin Durant has requested a trade out of Brooklyn, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
With Durant’s request triggering even more craziness to an eventful NBA offseason, wherever the 12-time All-Star lands will have a magnitude effect on the league. As one of the best players in the association with four years remaining on his contract, a deal for Durant should return the largest package ever in terms of value.
While the former MVP will have a list of preferred destinations, it’s important to note that Durant does not have a say on where the star forward gets moved. The Nets will operate patiently as they receive a boatload of calls regarding potential frameworks of deals.
More than half of the league should be interested in acquiring a player of Kevin Durant’s caliber, but some organizations are more realistic landing spots depending on assets that include All-Star-worthy players, promising talent, and a plethora of draft picks. In the wake of Durant’s monumental trade request, let’s examine five potential suitors for the two-time Finals MVP.
NBA Trades: 5 suitors for Kevin Durant and Brooklyn Nets:1. Phoenix Suns
Initially, the Phoenix Suns should emerge as a legitimate threat to acquire Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets. It’s been widely reported that Phoenix is one of Durant’s preferred teams, but the Nets don’t have to honor his preferences, even though they’re expected to honor his trade request.
Brooklyn should send Durant to an organization that’s willing to give up the most to absorb him, and while the Suns are interested in the 33-year-old star, they could also entice the Nets with a historically substantial package.
The Suns would be more than willing to sign and trade Deandre Ayton to Brooklyn in the midst of the drama surrounding the former first-overall pick and the franchise. In addition to Ayton, Phoenix could offer valuable producers such as Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, salary fillers if needed, and a wide range of draft picks.
To their advantage over some other teams, the Suns possess all of their own first-round picks moving forward. Since they’ll be able to include as many as four first-round draft picks in a potential deal, along with pick swaps. Phoenix could construct a loaded trade package in an effort to win the Durant sweepstakes.
An offer of Ayton, Bridges, Johnson, four first-round picks, and pick swaps could be an intriguing option for the Nets to consider. Brooklyn would want Devin Booker to be involved most of all, but the three-time All-Star reportedly signed a four-year, $224 million maximum extension with the Suns that makes him ineligible to be traded until the 2023-24 season.
Even without Booker included, the Suns could still push through on a deal with a variety of other promising assets. As the Phoenix Suns continue to chase its first NBA championship in franchise history, sacrificing essential parts of the roster to form a monstrous trio of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant for years to come could be well worth it.