San Antonio Spurs: A Potential Landing Spot for Kevin Durant Despite Not Being the Most Aggressive Team
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the San Antonio Spurs have expressed mutual interest in acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. However, Charania reported on "The Pat McAfee Show" that the Spurs have not been the most aggressive team in trade talks for the forward. Despite this, the Spurs remain a potential landing spot for Durant, along with the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat, who are believed to be more realistic options at the moment.
The Spurs are currently in a unique position with a lot of team-building flexibility this offseason. They have a potentially generational center in Victor Wembanyama, a one-time All-Star and 27-year-old guard in De'Aaron Fox, and this year's NBA Rookie of the Year, guard Stephon Castle. Additionally, San Antonio is equipped with the No. 2 and No. 14 picks in this year's draft, giving them the flexibility to make a move if a player becomes available who fits their timeline.
Despite not making the playoffs since 2019, the Spurs have one of the brightest futures in the league with legendary head coach Gregg Popovich now serving as president of basketball operations and Mitch Johnson filling his big shoes as coach. Together with general manager Brian Wright, San Antonio hopes to replicate its longstanding success from the 2000s to the mid-2010s.
While Minnesota isn't on Durant's list of preferred destinations, the Timberwolves are still a wild-card team to consider. Charania noted that Minnesota wouldn't be the first team to trade for a player who didn't want to play for them, comparing it to the Toronto Raptors trading for Kawhi Leonard in the summer of 2018. The Raptors won an NBA championship in 2019, but Leonard still signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency.
Durant is currently on an expiring contract worth $54.7 million for the 2025-26 season with the Suns. If he is traded on July 6, he will be eligible to sign a two-year extension worth up to $122 million. If he decides to wait six months after the trade, that extension could be worth as much as $124 million, per Charania.
This season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in 62 appearances for the Suns. Despite having the highest payroll in league history, the Suns finished 36-46 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20.
In conclusion, while the Spurs are not currently in a position to be as aggressive as other teams like the Rockets and Heat in trade talks for Durant, they are well-positioned to make a move if a player becomes available who fits their timeline. With their current assets and team-building flexibility, San Antonio could be a long-term play that could pay off in the future if they can land a player like Durant who can help them return to their winning ways.
