Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are forced to watch the NBA Playoffs from the sidelines but are looking for ways to make it back next year. With an aging team, Curry included, Golden State needs more star power.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is their top trade option this summer, but perhaps former Warrior Kevin Durant should be a backup option.
The possibility of Durant returning to Golden State would have seemed far-fetched years ago, but a lot has changed. He previously declined to be traded back to the Warriors in 2024 while he was still a member of the Phoenix Suns.
However, his time there was largely a failure, resulting in him being traded to the Houston Rockets. Now, Durant may soon be on the move again.
Door cracks open for Warriors to trade for Kevin Durant
He's put up great numbers but hasn't gelled with their young core. That's not to mention him allegedly using burner social media accounts to criticize his teammate.
With Durant seemingly having burned another bridge, him returning to the Bay Area makes more sense now than it previously did, but what would a trade look like?
There are really two paths for a Durant trade. One would be trading Jimmy Butler and likely a first-round pick to the Rockets for KD. Butler is from Houston, and while he is coming off an ACL tear, he is a couple of years younger than KD and known for having an infectious winning mentality.
He wouldn't help solve the Rockets' spacing concerns. Even so, if they are adamant about moving on from Durant, then Butler might be an option.
What would a Durant trade look like for the Rockets and Warriors?
Another option would see the Warriors trading 14-year veteran Draymond Green, matching salary, and a first for Durant.
Trading Green might seem like a no-go given how long he's been with Golden State. Nevertheless, they were willing to trade him for Giannis, so moving him for Durant might not be out of the question.
To be clear, the Rockets don't have to trade Durant. However, he just doesn't seem like a great fit with what they are trying to build. He may have also worn out his welcome.
Ironically, even though he is still one of the best players in the league, his trade value may be suppressed. He's played for five different franchises and burned bridges everywhere, but the bridge to Golden State may be more singed than actually burned.
If Houston is willing to trade Durant and he and the Warriors are willing to reunite, then Golden State should do whatever it takes to make that happen. He might not be the same KD that helped them win back to back championships, but he isn't that far off.
Factor in that Curry is still near the top of his game and the Dubs could make magic by pairing Durant and Curry together again.
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