![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-02-03-114115-min-1024x639.png\")
Kevin Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists across 62 games in 2024-25. (Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)<\/p>\nKevin Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists across 62 games in 2024-25. (Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
The worst-kept secret in the NBA is that Kevin Durant has likely played his last game with the Phoenix Suns. One could assume that the directionless 36-win Suns will be extending Devin Booker with Bradley Beal\u2019s immovable contract on the books for two more years\u2013thus making Durant the casualty.<\/p>\n
We know that the Heat will check in for Durant. But while the market will likely be dictated by Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s situation with Bucks, Durant\u2019s market appears to be fairly dry elsewhere.<\/p>\n
However, according to ESPN\u2019s Jonathan Givony, one Heat rival could make a push to acquire the 15-time All-Star ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n
Heat rival 76ers reportedly expected to explore market for Kevin Durant:<\/p>\n
The Philadelphia 76ers didn\u2019t quite #CaptureTheFlagg\u2122, but they landed the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. They will have the option of plucking anyone not named Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper, who\u2019s expected to go No. 2 overall. <\/p>\n
However, it appears that team president Daryl Morey will listen<\/a> to offers for No. 3. It\u2019s always good to explore all options, and the teams who trade up will have a plethora of good prospects to choose from.<\/p>\n According to Givony, the Sixers could be in the hunt to move No. 3 plus an aging Paul George for Durant, who\u2019s entering the last year of his contract at $54.7 million.<\/p>\n \u201cSome teams expect the Sixers to be active in trade conversations, with names such as\u00a0Kevin Durant\u00a0(Phoenix) and\u00a0Lauri Markkanen\u00a0(Utah) as potential targets in packages that could include\u00a0Paul George\u00a0and the No. 3 pick,\u201d Givony wrote<\/a> Monday. \u201cSixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has made a career of being active and aggressive on the trade front, but historically, it\u2019s rare to see a top-three pick being traded.<\/p>\n \u201cAdding a young, talented prospect could be appealing as a reset to the team\u2019s timeline, offering long-term hope among\u00a0Joel Embiid<\/a>\u2018s injury concerns and George\u2019s significant contract, which might not age well.\u201d<\/p>\n There is typically a lot of speculation pre-draft that certain teams\u2013especially at the top\u2013could be moving back to collect more assets. But it\u2019s very rare that a top-5 pick, let alone a top-3 pick, will be moved. The last time a team traded out of the top-5 was when the Cleveland Cavaliers traded the No. 1 pick (Andrew Wiggins) to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love in 2014.<\/p>\n The 76ers are in a state of peril with George\u2019s contract, which has three additional years for $162 million. The oft-injured 35-year-old only played in 41 games last season, one of the most ineffective years of his career. <\/p>\n Dangling the No. 3 pick to get off of George makes sense; the difficult part would be finding a suitor.<\/p>\n The Suns could, theoretically, be a suitor, but it also wouldn\u2019t make much sense from their perspective if they want salary relief. Other contracts that Philadelphia could use to incentivize Phoenix to make the trade legal would be Lonnie Walker, Jared Butler, Ricky Council IV, Adem Bona or Justin Edwards.<\/p>\n We\u2019re not privy to the conversations that Phoenix may or may not have with Philadelphia\u2013as well as other teams. Heat president Pat Riley said they would have interest in Durant without actually saying it, but the question remains if any other teams would gauge interest that Phoenix considers.<\/p>\n Ultimately, we won\u2019t know Durant\u2019s market until Antetokounmpo\u2019s situation is settled; if Antetokounmpo really wants out, the rest of the NBA\u2019s activity could freeze if he finds a new home. <\/p>\n Do you think this makes sense for both Phoenix and Philadelphia? Let us know in the comments!<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n To check out our other content, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter\/X\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Subscribe to our YouTube channel\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n \t\t\t