Before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors aggressively pursued a reunion with Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant.
Disappointingly, the two-time NBA champion announced he had zero interest in enjoying a second stint in the Bay despite receiving interest from the Dubs.
The Warriors successfully upgraded their roster by landing Jimmy Butler in a blockbuster Feb. 5 trade, but could the organization attempt to bolster their 2025-26 championship odds by revisiting a deal for Durant this summer?
The Athletic’s Anthony Slater has the answer.
“I don't hear any Durant to the Warriors noise currently at this current moment,” Slater said on the Warriors Plus-Minus podcast on Wednesday.
“And you do hear a lot of buzz in the league that the Durant market is moving, and it's probably going to be the first domino of the summer, and the draft is, what, two weeks away about at this point, and that by draft night, that domino might fall.”
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“There's reasons you're not necessarily hearing the Warriors, and honestly, it's Jimmy Butler. I mean, like, Jimmy, I'm not saying Jimmy Butler's a better player than Kevin Durant, but Jimmy Butler's a content, happy-to-be-here Golden State Warrior who just with this iteration of the Warriors had a very strong finish of the season, helped them win in the first round.”
It’s safe to say there’s a slim chance Durant will return to Phoenix next year. From disagreements with former head coach Mike Budenholzer to multiple early playoff exits, Durant and the Suns haven’t clicked during the 2.5-year partnership.
With the Warriors, Durant would not only return to a familiar situation but also give himself the best chance to earn his third ring before inevitably announcing his retirement from the NBA.
Although Klay Thompson, who won two championships alongside Durant, is no longer a member of the franchise, Durant’s rapport with Curry, Green, and head coach Steve Kerr could lead to a magical 2025-26 campaign.
At age 36, Durant is still among the most gifted scorers in the league. The slender 6-foot-11 phenom averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from downtown.
However, as Slater noted, Butler has been a positive fit with Golden State since joining the organization in February, which will likely make Durant a less attractive trade target in free agency.
More NBA: Warriors should cut ties with aging four-time NBA champion star via trade, per writer