Cavaliers Linked to Kevin Durant as Trade Buzz Builds

The Cleveland Cavaliers may be locked in a tight playoff battle right now, but their offseason plans are already starting to take shape, and Kevin Durant is reportedly on their radar.

Cleveland is one of many teams monitoring the situation surrounding Durant if he becomes available this summer.

“In all three of his latest stops—Brooklyn, Phoenix, and now Houston—Durant has ultimately symbolized a lesson each team has had to learn from and move past to reach the next step of its life cycle,” Michael Pina of The Ringer wrote. “He is a blessing by way of a curse, and as his Hall of Fame career nears its end, you could drive an 18-wheeler through the space between Durant’s talent and how said talent positively affects his surroundings. The Rockets thought that KD was their missing piece, and instead, there’s a chance they’ll turn him into a stepping stone this summer. It turns out that your best player shouldn’t also be a mercenary. But despite that, the Heat, Timberwolves, Blazers, Mavericks, Pistons, Knicks, Raptors, Hawks, Magic, Lakers, Nuggets, Hornets, Bulls, Wizards, Warriors, Pacers, Jazz, Sixers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Bucks, and Clippers would all have varying degrees of interest—pending how the rest of these playoffs go.”

That puts Cleveland firmly in the mix if the Houston Rockets decide to shake things up following their postseason run.

The Cavaliers already made a win-now move earlier this season, acquiring James Harden in a deal that sent Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The addition helped push Cleveland to a top-four seed in the East, but questions remain about whether this core can truly contend.

Adding Durant would be another aggressive swing. The two-time Finals MVP is still producing at an elite level, averaging 26 points per game this season while shooting over 50 percent from the field and over 41 percent from deep. He also remains under contract through next season, with a player option beyond that.