The Phoenix Suns are standing on the doorstep of a hugely important offseason for the franchise, and it is one that will surely see Kevin Durant traded to another team. The 36-year-old continuing to be linked with a move, even if some of the rumored suitors might not be as close as you think to pulling off a deal.
With the Suns having found their new head coach in Jordan Ott - who came with a seal of approval from Devin Booker - the time is now to move forward and recoup whatever value they can for Durant to build a better team around Booker's talents. Even if the franchise won't get close to what they had to give up to get the superstar in the first place.
Shock team could yet pull off heist in trading for Durant.
At this point all of the usual suspects have been brought up who would be interested in doing a deal, although the New York Knicks are a name that has come to the fore in recent days. No sooner did their season end and head coach Tom Thibodeau was shown the door, than Shams Charania of ESPN was coming out and saying the Knicks attempted to trade for Durant at the deadline.
Jake Fischer took to his column as part of "The Stein Line's" substack on Saturday, and revealed that none other than the Toronto Raptors could yet make a play for Durant this offseason. Erm... what? It seems ridiculous on the surface - but once you dig a little deeper - it makes a lot more sense why they would be interested.
The commonly held belief around the league has been that the organization that Durant ends up with would offer him an extension on his current deal - he's entering the final year of his contract in 2025-26 - to give him one more massive payday. That would also ensure the Suns got more back for his services as well - and with Durant getting paid - everybody would be happy.
But there are now murmurs that Durant is seen more as a one-year rental, and the asking price could reflect that when the time comes. This could also explain why teams like the Houston Rockets could be scared off. Why give up some legitimately good young players - plus first round draft picks - if you don't think you can win it all with Durant next season?
The Raptors though have successfully pulled this very move off before, trading for Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs back in 2018. They didn't have to give up everything to get him both because he said he wasn't going to stick around long-term, plus his injury history even then was worrying. None of that mattered though, because in his single season there the Raptors won their only title.
Right now they are also a franchise that is going nowhere, and the recent addition of Brandon Ingram was pretty uninspired and has yet to move the needle. Getting Durant however - even if just for one season in the weaker Eastern Conference - sure would be one way to get the fanbase back onside, while also basically ensuring they'll be a playoff team.
The Raptors can also easily create cap space to get a deal done, and are also in possession of the ninth pick in this year's draft. The kind of selection the Suns would love to have - as well as their own 29th selection - as they look to re-tool around Booker. This one still feels a little too crazy, but stranger things have happened.