Mar 10, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket past Memphis Grizzlies forward Lamar Stevens (8) during the third quarter at FedExForum. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

New Report on Potential Kevin Durant Trade to Grizzlies

Originally posted on Memphis Grizzlies on SI
By Matt Guzman | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 3:49 PM ET

A Kevin Durant trade before the 2025 NBA Draft is seeming increasingly likely as the days go on. Yet the Memphis Grizzlies are nowhere near the top of his list of preferred destinations.

As it sits, the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs headline Durant's list, but with Phoenix focused on obtaining the best return it can get for the 36-year-old, Durant landing in one of those three spots is not yet a forgone conclusion.

Still, Memphis is unlikely to bite.

The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant's preferred trade destinations out of Phoenix, sources tell ESPN. Those across the NBA have been made aware in recent days that those are the three teams that Durant would commit to long-term. pic.twitter.com/Hqn5hDaWxC
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2025

"I wouldn't ... expect the Grizzlies to suddenly thrust themselves into the Durant sweepstakes," NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote in a recent Substack. "The Stein Line, as of Friday evening, was directly told that Memphis wasn't pursuing Durant."

Even if Memphis did get involved in a bidding war for the two-time champion, it would cost less than the return it received from the Orlando Magic for Desmond Bane.

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

“In speaking with several sources Sunday in the wake of the Bane deal," ESPN's Tim Bontemps began, "the universal belief is that any draft packages going to Phoenix in a Durant deal likely won’t surpass the haul of draft picks coming to Memphis for Bane, who hasn’t yet made an All-Star team.”

A Kevin Durant trade is not expected to involve as many picks as the Grizzlies received for Desmond Bane, per @TimBontemps

“In speaking with several sources Sunday in the wake of the Bane deal, the universal belief is that any draft packages going to Phoenix in a Durant deal… pic.twitter.com/XGYHczN8PN
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 16, 2025

Perhaps that knowledge would encourage involvement from the Grizzlies, who have been known to covet Durant in the past, though without being in the forward's favor, striking a deal could prove to be difficult.

It isn't impossible, however.

This article first appeared on Memphis Grizzlies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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