{"id":136755,"date":"2025-04-28T19:59:56","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T23:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=136755"},"modified":"2025-04-28T19:59:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T23:59:56","slug":"spurs-offseason-trade-hall-fame-kevin-durant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/04\/28\/spurs-offseason-trade-hall-fame-kevin-durant\/","title":{"rendered":"Spurs Offseason Could Lead to Trade for Hall of Fame Hooper"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The San Antonio Spurs were just 34-48 in the 2024-25 regular season, finishing 13th in the Western Conference standings. Nevertheless, they won 12 more games than they did in 2023-24. More importantly, they were 21-25 in the games that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wembavi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Victor Wembanyama<\/a> was available, a win percentage (.457) that would\u2019ve ranked ahead of a Phoenix Suns squad that featured <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Durant<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bookede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Devin Booker<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bealbr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bradley Beal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Essentially, the Spurs aren\u2019t where they want to be, but they\u2019re still evolving. Just imagine where they would be if <em>they<\/em> were the team with Durant, who has put together a Hall of Fame resume since being drafted in 2007.<\/p>\n<h2>Spurs Offseason Could Lead to Trade for Kevin Durant<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cSan Antonio is definitely going to be, without a doubt, a team that is looking to continue to upgrade and add talent around Victor Wembanyama,\u201d reports NBA insider Jake Fischer. \u201cWe\u2019re already seeing the process happen\u2026 We\u2019re seeing them make a move and go out and get the guard (De\u2019Aaron Fox) that they were looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Here is what Jake Fischer has to say about the Spurs being a team interested in Giannis this summer.<\/p>\n<p>He also adds that there are \u201cwhispers\u201d around the league of them bringing in Kevin Durant.<\/p>\n<p>Via <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JakeLFischer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@JakeLFischer<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BleacherReport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@BleacherReport<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xUqMqX6Z93\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/xUqMqX6Z93<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Spurs Interaction (@SpursInteracti1) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpursInteracti1\/status\/1916957853371273711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 28, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, what\u2019s next? People in the league are already starting to whisper about San Antonio potentially being a spot to bring former Texas Longhorn, Kevin Durant, this summer,\u201d he reveals. \u201cYou best believe they would call about Giannis Antetokounmpo as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adding elite talent isn\u2019t an instant recipe for success. The Suns, who failed to reach the playoffs this season, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/04\/05\/bradley-beal-struggles\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">know that all too well<\/a>. The Spurs, who traded for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/f\/foxde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a> midway through the season, do too. They went just 6-11 with Fox, and were 2-3 in the games that he played alongside Wembanyama.<\/p>\n<p>Durant would likely be a better fit with the Spurs than with the Suns though. Phoenix <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/03\/02\/3-biggest-moves-doomed-phoenix-suns\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">was doomed by<\/a> a Big 3 that stepped on each other\u2019s toes and didn\u2019t have a defensive backbone. San Antonio would have a Big 3, but not one with three players who feel the need to dribble and create. Furthermore, Wembanyama <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/04\/03\/nuggets-buy-victor-wembanyama-hype-future-nba\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">is arguably the best defender<\/a> in the NBA.<\/p>\n<p>Even when chemistry is pre-established, it takes time for teams to gel. Nevertheless, a Big 3 of Durant, Wembanyama, and Fox fits well on paper. With the right supporting cast, their offense would hum more often than not. Should those role players include a couple of high-level perimeter defenders, they\u2019ll undoubtedly be a playoff contender.<\/p>\n<h3>What Would It Take?<\/h3>\n<p>As Wembanyama\u2019s a rising star and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/16\/spurs-victor-wembanyama-details-1-on-1-with-youth-icon\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">has established a rapport<\/a> with Durant, he could view San Antonio as <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/24\/evolving-spurs-suns-main-kevin-durant-competitor\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">a legitimate destination<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At this point in his career, the 15-time All-Star\u2019s main focus is just being successful. That isn\u2019t to say he has to be in MVP conversations or a favorite to win the championship. More so that he needs to be on a promising team that\u2019ll be taken seriously and to be maximized individually.<\/p>\n<p>Whether he\u2019ll consider them true title-contenders in Year 1 is an interesting question though.<\/p>\n<p>Due to Wembanyama\u2019s youth, he may not. However, the Spurs centerpiece is exceedingly talented <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/25\/victor-wembanyama-new-generations-wilt-chamberlain\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">and already quite dominant<\/a>. Furthermore, Wembanyama possesses <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/16\/san-antonio-spurs-victor-wembanyama-reveals-what-he-prioritizes-over-nba-title\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">a level of maturity<\/a> that makes him seem older than he is. Not to mention, the 21-year-old <em>really <\/em>wants to be one of the all-time greats.<\/p>\n<h4>The Trade Package<\/h4>\n<p>Durant being convinced of the Spurs\u2019 worthiness is their biggest obstacle. Due to their cache of first-round picks, San Antonio\u2019s trade package would be particularly enticing. Even if Phoenix wants to compete for a championship every year, the picks they receive from San Antonio could be the master key for future transactions.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the Spurs could offer up starting-caliber wings in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/v\/vassede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Devin Vassell<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnske04.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Keldon Johnson<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/castlst01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stephon Castle<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sochaje01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeremy Sochan<\/a>, multi-skilled young players with a defensive edge, would appeal to the Suns. Lastly, they have an established and battle-tested veteran in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barneha02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harrison Barnes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If the Spurs were to offer Castle, Barnes, Johnson and 2-3 first-rounders, they could probably get a deal done. Offering Vassell rather than Johnson would make it that much harder to pass up.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 Scott Wachter-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The San Antonio Spurs were just 34-48 in the 2024-25 regular season, finishing 13th in the Western Conference standings. Nevertheless, they won 12 more games than they did in 2023-24. More importantly, they were 21-25 in the games that Victor Wembanyama was available, a win percentage (.457) that would\u2019ve ranked ahead of a Phoenix Suns [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":136768,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[34,1608,62,28,4721],"tags":[69,4774,4669],"class_list":["post-136755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spurs","category-basketball","category-nba","category-suns","category-trade-rumors","tag-kevin-durant","tag-rumors","tag-victor-wembanyama"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136755"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":136769,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136755\/revisions\/136769"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/136768"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=136755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}