The NBA season is in the last week of the regular season, and seedings have yet to be fully finalized. Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder are gearing up for the playoffs, while teams like the Phoenix Suns could be gearing up for the offseason. If this year’s trade deadline indicated what this year’s offseason could look like, we are in for one crazy summer. One of those players who could become available is Kevin Durant. The Suns have been disappointing all year and are in danger of missing even the play-in tournament. Depending on how these playoffs go, the Thunder could be active in the offseason, but they should avoid a Durant reunion.
Even though the Suns have struggled this year, Durant is putting up quality numbers at 36 years old, he averages 26.6 points per game shooting 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from three. The Suns tried to trade Durant at the deadline and they could revisit moving him in the offseason. If they move him, people like Stephen A. Smith have been advocating for him to return to the Thunder. In honor of the Thunder playing the Suns this week, we will examine why the Thunder should avoid a Durant reunion this offseason.
Why The Thunder Should Avoid a Kevin Durant Reunion
It Would Cost too Much to Get Durant
The Suns don’t have a lot of draft assets left and would like a decent amount in return for Durant. In addition, even at 36, Durant is showing no signs of slowing down and will still demand a combination of players and quality draft picks in return. The Thunder have draft picks to spare, but matching his $54.7 million salary would be a problem for OKC. The Thunder won’t have cap space next year and would have to match that salary with any trade they make.
There are a few ways the Thunder could match that salary quickly. One of those ways could be a combination of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, another combination could be of Lu Dort, Caruso, and Isaiah Joe. However, this would deplete OKC’s depth, and they would be in a similar position as the Suns. If the Thunder are going to make a move this offseason it will be a smaller move to improve on the edges like they did this past offseason.
The Thunder Should Stick With Their Young Core
The Thunder have set themselves up to be competitive for the next decade. They are already the best team in the Western Conference, despite being one of the youngest teams in the NBA. In addition, they have tons of draft assets to recoup any losses they have throughout the years cause they won’t be able to pay everyone. Durant will be 37 next year and has at most, three to five good years left. This move would turn the Thunder’s championship window from 10-12 years to however long Durant will be relevant.
The move would shrink the depth on the Thunder’s bench and they would lose draft assets they could use to replenish those losses. Furthermore, Durant would only have one year left on his deal and they would have to sign him to an extension. This would also hurt their chances of re-signing their key guys, especially with the impending supermax deal that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in line for to sign this offseason. It would make more sense for the Thunder to stick with this young core they have even if they don’t reach their goal this year.
The Time Has Pass for the Thunder and KD
There was a time when a Durant reunion with the Thunder made sense for both sides. That time was during the 2022-2023 NBA season, the Thunder had more cap space to take on a Durant contract and he was only 34 at the time. Durant was traded from the Nets to the Suns at the 2023 deadline. This would have been the perfect chance for a reunion as the Thunder that year finished the year 40-42 and were on the rise with a young core surrounding SGA. However, the Thunder didn’t end up making the move, and now the time has passed for Durant to return to Oklahoma.
The Last Word
While a Durant return to the Thunder would be a great story for him to finish out his career where it all started, with how OKC’s roster is constructed and where they are right now, it makes no sense for them to pursue a KD trade. This move would shorten the Thunder’s championship window or they could even find themselves with the same problem the Suns have with no depth. Regardless of how this season unfolds for the Thunder and if they decide to make a move this offseason, a Durant reunion should not be among their options.
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