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NBA Star Reportedly Not Recruiting Kevin Durant Amid Trade Talks

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 8:15 PM ET

Fifteen-time All-Star Kevin Durant wants the Phoenix Suns to trade him to the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets or Miami Heat.

The Suns, who missed the playoffs this year, are expected to trade Durant before the 2025 NBA Draft.

However, Phoenix doesn't have to send Durant to San Antonio, Houston or Miami since the future Hall of Famer doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract.

The Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves are the three wild-card teams chasing Durant, who has one year left on his contract.

The Raptors famously acquired Kawhi Leonard from the Spurs in 2018 when Leonard had one year left on his deal.

Toronto knew Leonard didn't want to get traded to them, but Masai Ujiri made the blockbuster trade anyway and it paid off.

The Raptors won the 2019 championship against the Golden State Warriors, with Leonard winning the Finals MVP Award.

According to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, the Timberwolves are the team “with the most interest” in trading for Durant, who doesn't want to play for Minnesota.

Marc J. Spears and Brian Windhorst of ESPN added that Anthony Edwards is not recruiting Durant despite the two All-Stars being close friends.

Edwards and Durant were teammates on Team USA last summer, helping the United States win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Edwards has said numerous times that Durant is his favorite basketball player of all time.

According to Sam Amick and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the Timberwolves will not trade for Durant if he’s “not on board with the move.”

Minnesota has been made aware that Durant wants to play for the Spurs.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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