This isn’t how it was supposed to go. When the Suns went all-in for Kevin Durant back in 2023—gutting the roster to bring in one of the game’s greatest scorers—the idea was clear: get Booker a co-star, win a ring, maybe two, and finally put a banner up in the rafters. Fast forward to today, and not only is there no banner, there’s not even a playoff win to show for it. The vibes? Honestly, it feels like a group project where everyone expected someone else to lead.

Durant’s heading into his age-37 season, Phoenix is on its third coach in as many years, and Bradley Beal’s hamstrings haven’t cooperated long enough for us to even know what this trio could’ve been. And now, with the NBA Draft around the corner, the clock is officially ticking.

What KD Wants (and Why That Matters)

Durant’s camp hasn’t exactly been subtle about his preferred landing spots — San Antonio, Houston, or Miami. And while those destinations seem all over the map at first glance, there’s a method to the madness. For one, all three are in warm-weather states with no state income tax, which is a big deal when you’re looking at a potential two-year, $122 million extension this summer.

There’s also the basketball side. In San Antonio, Durant could team up with Victor Wembanyama — arguably the most exciting young prospect the league’s seen in decades — and help build something special from the ground up.

Houston, meanwhile, has a talented young core and the draft capital to get a deal done without gutting their future. And Miami? Well, that’s Miami. A proven organization with one of the best coaches in the game and a culture built on winning.

But here’s the thing: by putting out a short list, Durant has also boxed the Suns in a bit. Teams outside those three know they’re not getting a long-term commitment, and that changes how aggressive they’re willing to be. Nobody wants to cough up a major haul for a guy who might bounce in a year. It’s classic superstar leverage — but it works both ways. Phoenix doesn’t owe Durant a move to a preferred team, and they’re under pressure to do what’s best for their franchise. That tug-of-war is what’s keeping everything in limbo.

So while Durant has his eyes on three specific cities, the rest of the league — and Phoenix in particular — is left trying to figure out whether any of those destinations can actually meet the Suns’ asking price. And until that gap closes, this whole thing stays in neutral.

San Antonio Spurs

The Basketball Fit

If Kevin Durant ends up in San Antonio, it’s borderline basketball poetry. You’ve got Wemby, the league’s 7-foot-4 alien prototype who can score the rock from anywhere, and then you drop in one of the most polished scorers in NBA history to teach him the ropes. Durant’s offensive gravity would instantly change the way teams defend San Antonio, pulling defenders away from Wemby and giving the Spurs a ridiculous inside-out combo.

On the other end, Wembanyama’s rim protection would let Durant coast a bit more on defense, which, let’s be real, he’d probably appreciate at 37 years old. It’s a pairing that makes a lot of basketball sense.

The Spurs’ Dilemma

San Antonio has the cap space, young talent, and picks to make a trade happen — but they’re not desperate. They’re thinking about the next five years, not just the next two. That’s why the Suns’ rumored asking price — Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle or the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft, plus other pieces — is a non-starter. Giving up Castle right after drafting him would be a hard sell to the fan base and feels out of character for how this front office operates.

The Spurs don’t want to mortgage their future for a short-term rental, and they’re certainly not going to outbid themselves. From everything being reported, they’ve gone quiet recently — not because they’re out, but likely because they’re waiting to see if Phoenix lowers the price closer to draft night.

Houston Rockets

The Asset War Chest

If you’re looking for a team that checks nearly every box in a potential Durant deal, Houston’s right there at the top. The Rockets don’t just have cap space and young talent — they’re also holding some of Phoenix’s most valuable future picks from the original KD trade.

But it’s not just about draft picks. The Rockets also boast one of the deeper collections of high-upside talent under 25. Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore — all recent top picks, all still growing, and all intriguing to a Phoenix front office trying to stay competitive around Devin Booker. If the Suns want players who can contribute now and still have long-term upside, Houston can put together a more compelling package than most of the league.

The Snag

Now here’s the catch: just because the Rockets can make a great offer doesn’t mean they want to. General Manager Rafael Stone has been preaching patience for the last few seasons, and it’s finally starting to pay off. Houston went 52–30 last year and earned the No. 2 seed in the West. Their young guys are developing, they’re under team control, and the roster actually makes sense for the first time in a while.

So why blow it all up now?

Adding Durant means jumping into full win-now mode, and with that comes serious payroll consequences. Durant’s contract plus what they’re already paying Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks could push them well into the luxury tax. Is it worth sacrificing Green or Smith Jr. if Durant is only staying one or two years?

Miami Heat

Culture Over Everything

If there’s any team in the league that can make a strong cultural pitch for Kevin Durant, it’s Miami. The Heat run a tight ship. It’s not for everyone, but for the right kind of star? It can extend careers and sharpen legacies.

That’s where KD might see the fit. He doesn’t need babysitting or fluff — he needs structure, accountability, and a locker room where everything’s about winning. That’s what Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra have built, and it’s why Miami stays relevant even when the roster isn't up to par with the top of the East.

On the court, Durant would fit next to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo with almost no adjustment needed. All three can operate in the mid-range, all three defend, and none of them need 30 shots a night to dominate. Miami’s half-court offense can go stagnant in playoff moments—Durant would give them a go-to scoring option that doesn’t rely on Butler bullying his way to the rim or Bam hitting floaters.

The Asset Issue

But fit isn’t the same as feasibility — and right now, Miami just doesn’t have the juice. Most of their future firsts are either gone or tied up in protections, and the ones they do own aren’t all that appealing. And let’s be real: if Miami is trading for Durant, they’re not doing it to break up the core of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. They’re doing it to add Durant to that group and make a real run. If either of those guys are going out, it defeats the whole purpose.

The Suns are holding out for impact — either a blue-chip young player, multiple unprotected picks, or both. Miami’s package just doesn’t get there on its own. If this is going to happen, it probably has to be a three-team deal, with someone else sending Phoenix the kind of assets Miami can’t.

The Wildcards

Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota has emerged as a legitimate Western Conference contender over the last few years. But despite the team's rise — and a potential title window opening with Anthony Edwards blossoming into a superstar — Durant has reportedly shut down the idea of heading north.

Still, the Wolves have shown real interest. The challenge is making the salaries work without including Rudy Gobert — a player Minnesota still values for anchoring their defense. Short of that, it’s hard to match Durant’s $55 million salary. And if KD isn’t willing to commit beyond 2026, why would the Wolves mortgage serious assets or depth to rent him for a year? Unless Edwards is pounding the table and convincing the front office to roll the dice, this one seems stuck in the hypothetical column.

Toronto Raptors

If there’s one exec in the league who loves to bet on distressed stars, it’s Masai Ujiri. He pulled it off in 2018 with Kawhi Leonard and won a title for his trouble. So it’s no surprise that the Raptors have been poking around. The rumored package includes RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley, and the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft. That’s a lot of solid pieces, but no one in that group screams future All-Star.

New York Knicks

There have been some light rumblings about a Durantheaded back to New York — not a return to Brooklyn, but a fresh start across the river at Madison Square Garden. The irony writes itself. But so far, nothing has seriously materialized. The Knicks reportedly aren’t interested in parting with the core of their playoff roster, and from the outside looking in, it seems like both sides are hesitant.

Durant’s time in New York with the Nets didn’t end particularly smoothly, and jumping to their crosstown rival might stir up more noise than it’s worth. Still, the Knicks have the market, the picks, and the appeal. If things drag out, and Phoenix gets desperate, don’t be shocked if their name creeps back into the mix — just don’t expect them to be the ones making the first call.

Phoenix is Stuck Between Yesterday and Tomorrow

Owner Mat Ishbia isn’t the type to sit on his hands. Since taking over in Phoenix, he’s been bold — sometimes to a fault — and swinging big has kind of become his brand. So the idea of trading Kevin Durant for what amounts to pennies on the dollar doesn’t sit right with him or the front office. But that’s the reality they’re staring down.

Durant isn’t the same trade chip he was in 2023. He’s about to be 37, has one year left on his deal at nearly $55 million, and he just played another heavy-minute season where he had to carry a team that didn’t have much of a system. Add in the mileage, the injuries, and the fact that everyone in the league knows he wants out? That’s a recipe for diminished leverage. Teams aren’t lining up to offer multiple firsts and a young star — not like the Suns did to get him from Brooklyn two Februaries ago.

And this isn’t a simple “rebuild and reset” situation either. Devin Booker is 27. He’s in his prime, and he’s not going to be content watching the team hit the restart button just to free up future cap space. If Phoenix trades Durant for scraps, there’s a very real chance they risk losing Booker next. That’s the nightmare scenario.

So what do the Suns want? Functional depth. Real rotation players. Draft capital that actually means something. They’re not going to take back bad contracts just to make the money match, and they’re not looking to stash a 2031 pick that may or may not ever pan out.

It puts the Suns in this weird in-between zone: not quite holding all the cards, but not ready to fold either. They’re trying to thread a very thin needle — keeping Booker competitive, getting something worthwhile for Durant, and not setting the franchise back five years in the process.

All Eyes on June 25

If Phoenix is serious about getting anything real in return for Durant, it almost has to happen before the draft. Once those picks are used, teams lose flexibility, and the leverage Phoenix has goes out the window.

Phoenix has been tight-lipped, but there’s a growing sense that they know this is their best shot at flipping Durant without completely punting on the Booker era. The Rockets and Spurs have the goods, sure, but it’s not just about who can offer the most — it’s about who’s actually willing to. And so far, the answer has mostly been "not yet."

So we wait. Draft night always brings noise, but this time it might actually bring answers. Or at least a little clarity on whether the Durant experiment in Phoenix ends with a bang, a whimper, or just a few more weeks of "we're still evaluating all options."