Potential Landing Spots For Kevin Durant
Discussing the Impact that Kevin Durant Would Add to Different Organizations
Kevin Durant recently requested a trade and is going to switch teams, once again.
Almost every team will try to acquire him, but I will only be discussing the main competitors who can acquire the all-time great. Furthermore, I won’t be giving specific trade packages, instead just mentioning the general players I expect to be traded.
Here is how I think Kevin Durant will impact other teams in the NBA.
Phoenix Suns
If the №1 seed in the Western Conference can acquire Kevin Durant, they would instantly rank among the top teams in the NBA. If the trade were to happen, I expect the Suns to send Mikal Bridges and Ayton, along with some others, to the Nets. This is arguably the best possible package for the Brooklyn Nets, making this trade a real possibility.
The main flaw of the Suns in the previous season was their lack of an “alpha” or a player who can lead them. Booker and Paul weren’t able to show up in their biggest game, which wouldn’t happen with Durant.
Also, almost every championship team in the past two decades has had a superstar on their team, and Durant is definitely one of them. The Suns already are a 60+ win team, but with Durant, they could finally reach their championship aspirations.
Miami Heat
The Heat was at the top of Kevin Durant’s list of preferred teams. He also said that he would want to play with Lowry, Bam, and Butler if traded there. Although it’s likely the Heat won’t trade Bam or Butler, Lowry is likely to be involved in a possible trade for salary cap reasons. I, also, expect Herro with young assets to be the focal point of the trade.
A core of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo already led this Heat team to the Finals in 2020. With the addition of a superstar, Kevin Durant, this team would be the favorite to win it all.
Jimmy Butler may be one of the best scorers in the league when it comes to the playoffs, but his consistency is lacking. Durant would help take the scoring load off Butler’s shoulders and vastly improve the Miami Heat offense.
Additionally, chemistry issues would not be a problem for this team due to Durant and Butler already being close friends. In the past, we have seen the two bond during their 2016 Olympics run. The Heat should be doing everything in their power to obtain Kevin and get to the top of the NBA world.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics could easily make the best package to the Nets, by offering Jaylen Brown. This may be a tough decision for many but in my eyes it’s well worth the risk. Although Jaylen Brown displayed his talent on the Finals stage at such a young age, Durant is much more proven and would give this Celtics team a much higher ceiling.
Tatum and Durant are already close friends and have similar play styles. Having two of the best wing-scorers in the game along with a newly acquired, facilitating point guard, Malcolm Brogdon, would create a lethal starting lineup.
Additionally, this team’s defense would be just as effective as their offense. Having Marcus Smart’s perimeter defensive skills paired with Robert Williams’ interior defense would make it very tough on opposing teams to put the ball in the basket. It would really spell scary times for the rest of the NBA if the Celtics decided to take the risk and offer Jaylen Brown in return for Kevin Durant.
The Philadelphia 76ers
According to Jason Dumas, Joel Embiid wants the Sixers to “exhaust every option in trying to acquire Durant.” The Sixers have constantly failed at achieving their goals for the past few years and Joel Embiid has been the first one to admit it. However, all of his problems would be solved if they were able to obtain Kevin Durant.
This potential package would likely be focused around Mathisse Thybulle, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and future first round picks. Although this is a massive haul, it would mean nothing for the Sixers if they were to win even one championship.
A core of James Harden, Joel Embiid, and Kevin Durant would spell another superteam. Unlike this past Nets team, this Sixers team would actually have a solid interior presence.
A pick-and-roll of Harden and Embiid with Durant on the wing would be unstoppable. The only thing that could hold this team back is the opposing personalities of their stars.
Portland Trailblazers
Portland has one last chance at building a championship-level team around their star, Damian Lillard. What better way at building this team than going out and acquiring the arguably best scorer of all time in Kevin Durant. This along with Jerami Grant, would create another big three in the western conference.
Damian Lillard and other Portland Trailblazer players have clearly advocated for their front office to trade for Durant, with Lillard posting on his Instagram story a photoshop of Durant and himself in Trailblazer jerseys.
Portland’s trade package, sadly, may not stack up against possible trade packages offered by other teams. It's likely this hypothetical trade would revolve around their young players with a combination of Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little, Josh Hart, or Shaedon Sharpe.
Brooklyn’s asking price is for multiple all-star level players, which Portland doesn’t necessarily have. Despite all of this, it would be extremely exciting to see Durant heading to Portland and finally giving Lillard a worthy teammate.
Those are the five teams that I think have the highest likeliness to acquire Kevin Durant in what would be a blockbuster trade.
Let me know in the comments where you think Durant could be heading to.
