NBA Trade Rumored to Include Three Teams, with Warriors’ Kevin Durant at Center.
While the Golden State Warriors are still being linked in NBA trade rumors, there isn’t a wilder theory than a potential Kevin Durant return. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report suggested a possible three-team trade involving the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Warriors.
Let’s start by concentrating on the Warriors portion of the trade proposal. Durant and Jett Howard, the son of NBA star Juwan Howard and a former Magic lottery pick, are acquired by Golden State. The Warriors lose two first-round picks (2026, 2028) as well as Jonathan Kuminga, Chris Paul, Brandin Podziemski, Kevon Looney, and Gary Payton II.
In return for letting go of the potential Hall of Famer, what do the Suns receive? Kuminga, Podziemski, Looney, Magic guard Caleb Houstan, a 2025 first-round selection via Orlando (from the Nuggets), and two more first-round picks (2026, 2028) from the Warriors are acquired by Phoenix.
With Paul, Payton, and a 2028 second round pick acquired from the Suns (through the Celtics), the Magic now have a seasoned point guard. As part of the Aaron Gordon trade in 2021, Orlando loses Howard, Houstan, and a 2025 first round pick to Denver.
Whether this historic NBA deal benefits the Warriors, Suns, and Magic will be examined in detail.
It’s crucial to remember that the Suns have played down the possibility of dealing Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, or Durant this summer. Nevertheless, Phoenix’s excessive payroll has prevented them from making the playoffs this year. Bailey referred to the Warriors trading five key players for Durant as a “huge risk.”
In a story headlined “A 3-Team Trade to Land Kevin Durant with the Golden State Warriors,” published on May 23, 2024, Bailey writes, “This may be the toughest sell of the exercise.” In September, Durant turns 36. It would be extremely risky to give away five rotation players—two of whom still have a lot of development left in them—as well as many choices in order to reopen the window for title contention for perhaps a year.
However, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson are 34, 36, and 34 years old, respectively. Besides, there was not going to be a long window open. And there’s a chance for serious competition as early as this upcoming season because of the inherent familiarity between those three and Durant.
To provide some further background, Durant’s four-year, $194.2 million contract has two seasons left on it. For 2024–2025, Durant’s cap hit is expected to be $51.1 million. If Golden State is able to re-sign Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, the Warriors would be all-in for one last push.
