Could Kevin Durant’s next basketball home already be a done deal?
Bill Simmons thinks so.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if KD to the Spurs is done already and they just haven’t announced it,” Simmons said on Monday’s episode of his self-titled podcast. “Like they’ve agreed on the specifics and they’ll just announce it the week of the draft.”
While Simmons said he doesn’t have any real “inside info,” Durant and the Suns have been working together to find a landing spot for next season — and the Spurs have been one of the teams atop the list of those interested.
San Antonio has also been rumored to be pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo, though the soon-to-be 37-year-old Durant entering the final year of his contract would certainly be a less steep price for the Spurs to pay in a trade.
“It goes back to the Giannis thing, I think they’re just gonna trade for KD,” Simmons added. “It’ll cost a lot less, they’ll be able to be really competitive, go a couple rounds in the playoffs but they’re also gonna keep the No. 2 pick and do it that way.”
The Spurs’ top assets in a trade (aside from the untouchable Victor Wembanyama) would widely be considered to be this 2024-25 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and the No. 2 overall draft pick — which is likely to be Rutgers guard Dylan Harper.
San Antonio also owns the No. 14 pick and plenty of other young pieces.
While trading for Antetokounmpo would mean certainly parting ways with most of the assets the Spurs own aside from Wembanyama, acquiring Durant could look like a package of Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and the 14th pick.
Durant is entering the final year of his contract and will make about $55 million this season. With his age and no guarantee of him re-signing, a Vassell/Johnson/No. 14 deal could very well do the trick.
The Washington D.C. native played his college basketball at Texas — so a move to San Antonio would be a bit of a reunion.
If the Spurs are truly set to land Durant, they’d be pairing him with an already strong core of Wembanyama, Castle, De’Aaron Fox and (likely) Harper.
The Rockets and Timberwolves are the other main teams to keep an eye out for in the Durant sweepstakes.