Kevin Durant has been at the center of trade discussions this offseason, and while the rumors swirl, his future remains uncertain. Back in February, the Suns floated Durant in trade talks at the deadline, but nothing came to fruition. Interestingly, though, there were hints that Durant had the Boston Celtics on his radar during those discussions.
According to reports, KD expressed a desire to join the Celtics or Knicks, but New York’s interest has since cooled off, and the current landscape makes a trade to Boston a challenging proposition. The Celtics’ cap situation complicates matters significantly; they were one of the teams operating at the second apron during the 2024-25 season. That status means Boston couldn’t easily aggregate salaries for a Durant deal, as his contract, last season worth $51 million, exceeds the salary of any player on their roster.
The math just didn’t add up. The Celtics were only $5 million over the second apron, and for a potential trade to work, they would have needed to shed salary first—something they were understandably reluctant to do midseason, given their competitive aspirations.
The connection to Boston isn’t new, either. Durant had been linked to the Celtics previously, even during his time with the Nets, yet no trade materialized then either. Fast forward to the current offseason, and the Celtics are looking to reduce their payroll amidst an uncertain future, particularly in light of Jayson Tatum’s recent injury. Bringing in Durant at this juncture doesn’t align with the team’s direction.
Durant has identified the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets as his preferred destinations. However, reports indicate that the Suns aren’t keen on the trade offers from these teams. One team that has shown marked interest in Durant is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who seem eager to pair him with rising star Anthony Edwards—now that could be an intriguing fit.
As we head into this offseason, the potential trade of Durant is poised to create ripples throughout the league. Despite being 37 years old at the start of the next season, his ability to impact games remains undeniable. Any team looking to make a championship push would undoubtedly want a future Hall of Famer like him on their roster.
However, the dynamics of Durant’s contract—just one year and $54.7 million remaining—add another layer of complexity. Any acquiring team will likely want to negotiate a long-term extension, thinking beyond just the 2025-26 season. How this all shakes out will have a significant impact not just on Durant but also on the broader league landscape, and with decisions looming, we could see movement sooner rather than later. The basketball world is watching closely—where Durant lands could shift the balance of power in the NBA.
