According to Betonline, the San Antonio Spurs is a favorite of Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Saturday night that Durant’s preferred trade destination includes three teams: the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and the Spurs.
Spurs are more likely to trade Kevin Durant
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst also reported this weekend that the Los Angeles Clippers were the “team” of the Durant raffle as they “signed another contract to take another move to strengthen Kawhi Leonard, and maybe James Harden.
Although the Clippers are not one of Durant’s first choice, they are still pursuing two-time NBA titles. Los Angeles is an unlikely destination – reportedly no interest in reunion with Harden – and one that’s sure: Durant will trade soon.
NBA insider Jake Fischer mentioned that there is an “increasingly strong belief” in the league that the Suns will trade Durant in the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25.
Durant will be eligible for two-year signing of $124 million extension
Durant will expire at $54.7 million in the 2025-26 season. Durant, who turns 37 in September, will be eligible to sign a two-year contract worth $122 million on July 6. If he is to wait six months after the deal, he can sign a two-year extension worth up to $124 million in Charania.
Durant was almost traded to the Golden State Warriors before the February trade deadline, and then he told the Suns that he wasn’t interested in the party and prefers to finish the season in Phoenix.
In 62 games (all starts), the Suns in this campaign averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks and 36.5 minutes per game while shooting 52.7% from the field and 43% from the 3-point shooting.
Spurs can trade three first-round picks by 2032
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Spurs have six first-round picks, years of choice swaps and 17 second-round picks over the next eight years.
San Antonio sent four first-round first-round De’aaron Fox at the trade deadline, but still had the equity retained or used in the trade, including adding the second pick on the roster, and the first-round draft pick for Atlanta Hawks.
The Spurs are also entitled to swap with Atlanta in 2026, while Hawks’ first unprotected game in 2027. San Antonio is allowed to trade three more firsts by 2032, including two firsts in the 2025 NBA Draft.
San Antonio has $143 million in salary
Additionally, the Spurs have the right to swap first-round games with the Boston Celtics (protected by the top 1) in 2028 and to swap first-rounders with the Dallas Mavericks or Minnesota Timberwolves (if it lands at Nos. 2 to 30) in 2030.
Timberwolves will first send its 2031 unprotected person to San Antonio. It should be noted that the Spurs have the right to exchange the first round with the Sacramento Kings in 2031.
Each time Spotrac, the Spurs earn $143 million and exceeded the cap in both first-round draft picks. In addition to extending the Foxes in the first round and drafting two players, San Antonio will also receive its $14.1 million non-tax and $5.1 million biennial exception.
