Report: Raptors, Cavaliers, Clippers, Nuggets Tried To Trade For Kevin Durant

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets tried to trade for Kevin Durant. 

The Phoenix Suns traded Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft and five second-round picks.

“The Suns engaged in serious talks to move Durant this week, primarily focused on the Heat, Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, sources said,” Charania wrote. “Several other wild-card suitors emerged as well — including the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets, sources said.

“But with Durant on an expiring, $54.7 million contract and eligible for a new two-year extension after the trade, the league’s market for him clearly showed his ability to dictate whether he wanted to play for a franchise long term.”

The Raptors missed the playoffs this year, the Cavaliers lost in the second round, the Clippers lost in the first round, the Nuggets lost in the second round and the Rockets lost in the first round. 

A top 75 player of all time, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Suns this season in 62 games. The 15-time All-Star shot 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line.

Durant has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He hasn’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs since leaving the Warriors in the summer of 2019. 

Durant won the 2014 MVP Award and four scoring titles with OKC and back-to-back rings and Finals MVPs with Golden State in 2017 and 2018. 

A four-time scoring champion, Durant tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals between the Warriors and Raptors. He signed with the Nets in the summer of 2019 and missed the entire 2019-20 season. 

Phoenix acquired Durant from Brooklyn in 2023. The Suns won only one postseason series with Durant, the eighth leading scorer in NBA history. 

A future Hall of Famer, Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 1,123 NBA games.