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The Phoenix Suns could have a handful of suitors for Kevin Durant if they decide to trade the star.
However, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported “there was no tangible expectation percolating in Dallas, as of Tuesday night, to suggest that the Mavericks were a true factor in the Durant chase.”
It’s worth noting the Suns have downgraded Durant to “doubtful” for Wednesday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which is always something to monitor around the trade deadline.
The Mavericks haven’t been quiet ahead of the deadline. They stunned the NBA world on Saturday when they sent the face of their franchise, Luka Dončić, to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for Anthony Davis.
After that trade for the ages, it could be tough for the Mavs to pull off a deal for Durant unless they are willing to give away a slew of their future first-round picks.
Whether they commit to making a run at Durant or not, the Mavericks are hoping the addition of Davis and the departure of Dončić can lead to success. Dallas is currently in eighth place in the Western Conference at 26-24 and needs a big second half of the season to stay in the playoff race.
The young Rockets have emerged as a top team in the West, which might explain their potential interest in a player like Durant. With the right move, Houston can compete for a championship now rather than keep its focus on building and developing a young core.
Of course, going after a player such as the 15-time All-Star would be a risk for the Rockets. They would certainly have to give away some of the young players who have set them up to be a contender in the future and would get an aging star in return.
Durant is as good as ever, averaging 26.9 points per game, but he’s 36 years old and may only have a few more good years left in him.
While Amick, Aldrige and Slater reported Houston was debating a pursuit for Durant, Stein reported that the Rockets still want to give their current core a chance at a playoff run rather than make a drastic in-season change.
“The connection Houston’s head coach holds with Durant, having coached the lethal scorer in Brooklyn, lies at the center of the frequent links between Durant and the Rockets. Houston, however, has maintained for months that it would strongly prefer that any potential marquee acquisition after the playoffs would be a young player who fits well timeline-wise with the Rockets’ many promising twentysomethings.
“The Rockets hold plenty of expiring contracts and players with non-guaranteed future money to theoretically go out and chase any starting caliber player on the trade market. But Houston is still considered highly unlikely to even pursue any of those avenues, sources said, before this deadline. The Rockets are already struggling to find playing time to accommodate everyone on a deep roster when Houston is fully healthy.”
Still looming in the Durant sweepstakes is his former team, the Golden State Warriors. According to Amick, Aldridge and Slater, the Warriors “have only been met with an exorbitant asking price” in trade conversations. They also noted Draymond Green is one player who Suns owner Matt Ishbia “is known to covet.”
The Warriors, currently in 11th place in the Western Conference at 25-24, could make a playoff push with the addition of Durant, but adding him would likely mean sacrificing their future.
