December 26, 2024

One team has already been ruled out of the Kevin Durant trade sweepstakes. You’ll never guess who it is.

Durant #Durant

After news broke Thursday that Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has requested a trade, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer indicated that only one of the NBA’s 29 other teams will definitely not be part of the bidding war.

It’s hardly a surprise as to which team it is.

“The only team that NBA sources with knowledge of the situation have indicated is not a tangible option for Durant is Golden State,” Fischer reported. “And the Warriors likely don’t have a package of win-now pieces that would strike Brooklyn’s interest anyhow.”

It’s not clear whether Fischer’s “NBA sources” come from Durant’s side, Golden State’s side or both. Regardless, no one should be shocked that the man whose final year with Golden State included a shouting match with Draymond Green, frustration with how that shouting match was handled and then further alleged frustration over the team’s handling of his calf injury will not be coming back to the Bay Area.

Green and Durant have also mildly sparred on social media and on various podcasts in recent weeks.

Fischer reported that Brooklyn is itching to win now, and thus will demand that the players they receive for Durant be relatively finished products. ESPN’s Zach Lowe noted Thursday that if Brooklyn is seeking the best asset haul generally, the Warriors would actually be able to put together a pretty compelling package.

“Golden State has, ironically, the absolutely ideal package to get Kevin Durant,” Lowe said on-air. “All the young players that didn’t play much in the playoffs, plus Andrew Wiggins, plus a bundle of picks. They have everything.”

The “young players” in question would be some combination of Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman and Moses Moody. 

According to Fischer’s reporting, it’s a hypothetical that Warriors fans and reporters don’t even have to entertain. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat are “among” teams Durant would like to go to, but the Nets will ultimately decide to send him to the team that offers the most appealing trade package.

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