We know that the Phoenix Suns are currently trying to get the best return that they can for Kevin Durant, but the main stumbling block has been that other organizations know this. They might have given up a ton to get him in the first place - but at 36-years-old and entering the final year of his current deal - getting the same haul back for him is never going to happen.
Which means this could drag on until beyond Wednesday's NBA Draft, far from ideal as the Suns would surely like to have another pick on top of their own 29th selection in what many feel is a deep draft class. The main suitors for Durant have been well documented at this point as well, not to mention the one franchise that Durant himself has ruled out of contention.
Which is why the Detroit Pistons should not be overlooked.
Although there have been no reports from reputable sources that Detroit is indeed interested in Durant, they tick a lot of boxes according to The Ringer to get a deal done for both sides. Not to mention a few for the player himself. Although owner Mat Ishbia has said in the past the team would work with Durant to find the best landing spot for him, that stance has changed in recent weeks.
Phoenix is now scrambling to get any sort of value back at all, and so are open to teams who have a combination of young players and draft picks. The Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs fit that bill, but to this point have not been open to giving up the kind of assets the Suns are looking for in return. This in turn has made Ishbia and his team look very foolish.
How happy are you going to be when the best player they can get back for Kevin Durant is Devin Vassell? (📸 @LucaLockheart)https://t.co/YozCA9o6TV
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) June 20, 2025
The Pistons however not only have young players such as Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson who could intrigue, they also possess future draft picks as well. Although they don't have a first round selection this year - time is running out for the Suns to get one of those anyway - so they may have to rethink their strategy on that.
Detroit also has a veteran in Tobias Harris who is coming off a serious bounceback year, and who could make the transition smoother around Devin Booker as he is a win-now player. The fit next to Booker works as well, while the Pistons could also be one of the few organizations in the league with real cap space this summer, depending on what they do with Malik Beasley and Dennis Schroder.
Durant could then get the extension he's looking for there, while he would almost certainly be back in the playoffs next season in the weaker Eastern Conference. To say his return to the West has gone well since joining the Suns has gone badly would be an understatement. In his two full seasons there, he never managed to win a single postseason game.
The tricky part in all of this is how Michigan native Booker might feel about Durant going to his state to try and win, but he has also never shown any outward concern about what is happening in Phoenix. He should - but until that happens - Suns fans don't need to hit panic on that. The Pistons would be a late addition to this long and drawn out race, but they might just have the tools to win it if they enter.