Since Kevin Durant left the Golden State Warriors after the 2018-19 season, he hasn’t found the same level of success in terms of winning a championship. While the Warriors managed to win without him, they are now facing a challenging period after losing in the Play-In Game last season and exiting in the second round the previous year.
Durant’s Phoenix Suns team was eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves last year. The Suns are also heavily constrained by the second apron, limiting their options for roster improvement, which could eventually become problematic.
Due to their limited opportunities for enhancement and concerns about staying healthy, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report predicted that Durant might eventually request a trade. “Sure, the Suns had some injury issues this past season, but that’s been a red-flagged concern since they first brought Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal together,” Buckley wrote in his July 15 column exploring five players who might ask for a trade. “Unless Durant is a glass-overflowing kind of optimist, he could easily be worried about more injury obstacles down the road. Even if this core is healthy, it might not be good enough to escape the perpetually improving Western Conference, let alone have enough left to knock out whoever escapes the East.
“Phoenix’s roster is top-heavy, defensively limited and lacking versatility on the interior. The Suns seem good-to-really-good, which is a problem when the West may well demand greatness. There really aren’t avenues to materially change this club, so if the plan is simply to play better and stay healthier, plenty of folks could have doubts about that actually working—Durant and his wandering eye included.”
The Warriors Could Benefit From Durant Asking for a Trade
With Durant being 35 and Stephen Curry already 36, the idea of pairing them one last time could materialize if he asks for a trade. The Golden State Warriors have assets and have been exploring the trade market for players this offseason but have yet to add a star. If Durant were to request a trade, the pairing would make sense for both sides. Durant would have another chance to win a championship, and the Warriors would become contenders again.
Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area noted that landing Durant would still be appealing. “The idea of KD returning to the Warriors remains appealing in 2024. He’s still playing at an All-Star level, and those in the Golden State front office are entering an offseason during which they will explore all options to open next season with an NBA championship-caliber roster,” Poole wrote on April 29.
The Durant and Curry Duo Would Still Be Lethal
Despite their age, Curry and Durant remain two of the best scorers in the NBA. In the 2023-24 season, Durant played in 75 games and averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. His efficiency continued to impress, with a shooting percentage of 52.3% from the field and 41.3% from 3-point range on 5.4 attempts per game.
Curry hasn’t slowed down either, making an All-NBA team and averaging 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. He shot 45.0% from the field and 40.8% from 3-point range on 11.8 attempts per game.
Pairing them together would be as exciting as it was the first time around. Defenses would have to focus on one of them, which would help the other get clean looks.