NBA: 3 Possible Kevin Durant Trade Scenarios

This past Friday, Brooklyn Nets Star and Flat-Earth theory believer Kyrie Irving, requested a trade from the team.  The top possible landing spots included the Lakers, the Clippers and the Suns. According to a bunch of the top NBA insiders, Kyrie wanted to reunite with Lebron James in LA. Two days later, Kyrie’s trade request got granted. The Nets shipped him to the Dallas Mavericks (along with Markieff Morris), for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and 3 future draft picks.

The trade left Kevin Durant as the lonesome ranger in Brooklyn. The “Big 3” of KD, Harden, and Kyrie is no more, after barely two years. Immediately after the news about Irving came out, the media speculated that teams will be calling the Nets about Durant.

Which is a totally real possibility in my opinion. Below, I will lay out 3 possible trade scenarios for teams to snag KD. Using the NBA Trade Machine & Cap Manager on Fanspo.com. 

1. Phoenix Suns

The Suns offered SF Jae Crowder, PG Chris Paul and unspecified picks for Kyrie Irving. But obviously, they weren’t successful. That also makes me think that if Joe Tsai is fielding calls on KD, they will be on the phone ASAP. My idea is rather similar to the one they offered for Kyrie.

Mock trade offer:

Phoenix gets: SF/PF Kevin Durant, SG Seth Curry 

Brooklyn gets: PG Chris Paul, SF Jae Crowder, SF Torrey Craig, 2027 1st and 2nd round picks.

For Phoenix to even think about getting the 13x All-Star, salary wise, Chris Paul has to be included. With losing Durant, the Nets would need to get some frontcourt help back. Crowder, and Craig would help do that. Crowder hasn’t played all season, as he holds out from the team due to stalling contract extension talks. Which could sour the Nets interest in him, but if they are willing to give Crowder what he wants, then he could be useful for them as a 3 and D player. Adding Torrey Craig to the deal helps with the depth they lose by shipping out Curry.

I expect the Suns to be the most aggressive team for KD. A starting lineup with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Mikal Bridges, and Deandre Ayton could be scary for opposing teams come playoff time.

2. Miami Heat

The Heat currently sit at the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. According to FoxSports.com, the Heat are a top contender to land Durant. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo could use some help to make noise come playoff time. Team President and NBA Legend Pat Riley is looking for a way to put a championship ring on his lonely 10th finger (He has 9 rings currently).

Mock Trade Offer:

Miami gets: SF/PF Kevin Durant, SF Yuta Watanabe.

Brooklyn gets: PG Kyle Lowry, SG Victor Oladipo, 2026 2nd round pick, 2028 1st round pick, and 2029 2nd round pick. 

Lowry is the salary match for KD in this instance. Lowry’s production is also on a downward slope for the second year in a row. Oladipo is only 30, and isn’t producing at a level like he used to. But that’s mainly because his role is different. Besides the picks, Oladipo is the most intriguing thing about this offer for Brooklyn.

Miami gets what they want in Durant, and Watanabe (shooting 48% from 3) can fill at least some of the role Oladipo had.

3. Los Angeles Clippers

For my third and final mock trade, Durant heads to a place where he can form yet another “Big 3”. This time with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers are only 8 games behind the Denver Nuggets for 1st seed in the Western Conference. They could use another consistent/legitimate scoring threat, to be more lethal on that side of the ball.

Mock Trade Offer:

Clippers get: SF/PF Kevin Durant, PG Patty Mills.

Brooklyn gets: SG Luke Kennard, PG Reggie Jackson, SF Nic Batum, 2028 1st round pick and 2029 2nd round pick. 

Kennard gives Brooklyn shooting help, while Jackson and Batum help them more on the defensive side of the ball. Durant gets paired up with another top 15 player in the league (when healthy), in Kawhi. And the Clips get some backcourt help for John Wall and Norman Powell in Patty Mills. After giving up Kennard and Jackson.

This trade would make the Clips legitimate WCF contenders, if not NBA Finals.

There are my 3 mock trade scenarios for Kevin Durant. It’s still unknown if the Nets are answering phone calls for him, but if they do these 3 scenarios make sense for all involved.