BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 08: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a call by referee Courtney Kirkland #61 in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 08, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors Reunite With Kevin Durant in Crazy Blockbuster Trade Proposition.
Is there a reason to believe that the Golden State Warriors and Kevin Durant are bound to reunite in the offseason? Durant reached the high point of his career with the Dubs in the latter half of the 2010s when he won two NBA titles with the team before going to the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns in search for another ring.
He’s still to accomplish that mission, which contributes to the rumors that he could potentially team up again with Stephen Curry and the Warriors.
Kevin Durant Back to the Golden State Warriors?
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report recently floated a huge trade proposition that sends Durant back to the Warriors via a trade from the Phoenix Suns . Under that scenario, the Suns will receive Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft in exchange for arguably the greatest scorer in the history of the NBA.
The Suns will push for an additional 2027 first-round pick, the only other one the Warriors can include, assuming this deal goes down on draft night. Meanwhile, the Dubs will try to swap in someone like Brandin Podziemski for Kuminga, whom the organization has labeled untouchable.
In addition to those negotiating sticking points, Golden State is still taking on about $3 million more in salary than is allowed—and that’s assuming it doesn’t include Kevon Looney’s non-guaranteed $8 million salary for 2024-25.
Put all those hangups aside and consider, though, that the Warriors are one of very few teams more tied to an immediate win-now timeline than the Suns. Stephen Curry has two more years on his deal, and it seems clear the organization is committed to surrounding him with a competitive team. Durant will turn 36 before next season starts and comes with health risks, but he’s probably the more valuable short-term contributor than Kuminga, Wiggins or Moody.
The Suns are coming off a season that started with immense promise and ended in a disaster. Plenty of questions now surround the Suns, who are also entering a new era, with Mike Budenholzer hired as Frank Vogel’s successor. Trading Durant would be a huge undertaking for the Suns, but that would also alleviate their expensive payroll and get Phoenix younger assets to build on for the future.
In three seasons with the Warriors, the former league Most Valuable Player averaged 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists through 208 games.
