Ever since Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns had their hopes crushed by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA fans worldwide were looking forward to how his tenure in The Valley would end. Would he sign an extension with plans of retiring a Sun, or would he request a trade before his term expires?
Based on the timeline of how he joined the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets, which shocked the world, Durant evidently wants to win, meaning he would soon request a trade out of Phoenix. He has a great connection with Devin Booker, but the Western Conference is rising, the Suns are falling.
The Suns had Booker, Durant, and an elite scorer in Bradley Beal, but because of outside circumstances, they finished just outside of the Play-In Tournament. This coerced the four-time scoring champion to want out, as his hard work was not being taken advantage of.
Countless teams across the league have shown interest, but a few, such as the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and San Antonio Spurs, have led the bidding. Every one of the four has young assets to offer, with appealing first-round picks, that would mesmerize the Suns’ front office.
However, of the four, Shams Charania recently suggested that the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat are incredibly close to pulling the trigger on Durant, which is something the LA Clippers have been wanting since last summer.
"The Rockets and the Heat are more realistic as of right now for Kevin Durant..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 17, 2025
There's more motivated teams than the Spurs..
What the other teams are offering is just a little bit more aggressive" ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive https://t.co/qWwfjIuRHH pic.twitter.com/JVn7LQ6A58
The Houston Rockets or Miami Heat are reportedly closest to crushing the LA Clippers’ dreams since July of 2024
With the two most realistic suitors being the Houston Rockets or Miami Heat, the Phoenix Suns’ front office would likely cherish their submissions as it is more than the few elite role players and draft capital the LA Clippers have to give.
The Rockets have assets such as Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green they can trade, as well as their first-round pick this summer. Meanwhile, the Heat also have their pick, along with rising star Kel’el Ware and former NBA champion Andrew Wiggins.
Moreover, this season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on a true shooting percentage of 64.2. His age, 36, has not affected him in the slightest, given how well his body is moving.
The Clippers may have been dreaming of acquiring Durant since their first-round exit against the Dallas Mavericks, but there is not much they can do if the Rockets and Heat have better packages that put them closer to landing the future Hall-of-Famer.