The league is buzzing with Kevin Durant rumors, and just like in 2016 and 2019, everyone’s got an opinion and half the league wants in.
But this time, it feels a little different. The 36-year-old Suns star is still elite, still pulling 26.6 a night, but the list of teams Durant’s actually interested in is not as long as the one of those who are trying to get him.
Shams Charania lit the match Monday on SportsCenter, reporting, “I’m told Durant has no desire to be in Minnesota with the Timberwolves.”
Minnesota’s been lurking, especially after back-to-back deep playoff runs, but it sounds like KD isn’t even picking up that call.
And if you think that’s just smoke, it’s not. Brian Windhorst also jumped in on ESPN, saying the Toronto Raptors are one of the teams “lurking” despite not being on Durant’s wish list.
“You don’t see Toronto on Durant’s list,” Windhorst said. “But the Raptors are one of the teams lurking out there… maybe Durant gets what he wants, maybe he has to accept something else.”
The Raptors would be willing to include RJ Barrett or Immanuel Quickley, both former Knicks, plus center Jakob Poeltl and their No. 9 overall pick in this week’s draft, according to Jake Fischer at The Stein Line.
“My sense is that Toronto would prefer to simply trade down rather than trade out of the first-round completely,” Fischer said.
And then there’s the Heat, Rockets, and Spurs, the only three franchises actually on Durant’s list, per multiple reports.
The irony amongst it all is that Phoenix is the one desperate to move on. Since landing Durant in that blockbuster 2023 trade, it’s all been downhill.
The chemistry’s off, the playoff runs have been short, and now the Suns seem eager to reset before KD’s contract year kicks off.
READ MORE: Kevin Durant Reportedly Eyes Spurs, Rockets, Heat as Trade Targets