Kevin Durant ((Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
A proposed deal that would send 13-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns to the LA Lakers has fans in disbelief this week.
With Kevin Durant having expressed his frustrations with this Phoenix Suns season and getting swept in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, there are rumors that Kevin Durant could be on his way to a new team yet again.
Like many other teams in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers have shifted from the “big three” concept to a solid supporting group centered around two standout players.
It appears that it could be on the cusp of a significant change, as a major rumor has the team getting Kevin Durant in a massive blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns.
In a hypothetical trade, the Lakers would get Kevin Durant, while the Suns would get D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince, Max Christie, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap.
In his professional career, Durant has been traded twice: once to the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 and once to the Suns in February 2023.
The Suns season is over after they were swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves finished their first-round victory over the Suns with a 122-116 win in Sunday’s Game 4 at Footprint Center.
The Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 to stop themselves from being swept, but only a few give them much chance in Game 5 as the series shifts back to Denver.
Kevin Durant’s Contract And Age Makes It Hard For Him To Be Traded
Kevin Durant (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
In 2023-24, Durant had a salary of $46.4 million, but that number is going up as the forward is set to make $49.9 million in compensation, followed by another bump in 2025-26, making $53.3 million in the final year of his deal.
Durant is under contract through the 2025-26 season and will be a free agent in 2026. He will be 38 that year.
His contract and age make it quite difficult for him to be moved without giving up a ton of assets.
