Kevin Durant's journeyman career is kinda sad
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As if this trade deadline couldn’t get any weirder after the Luka Doncic trade — which still doesn’t sound like a real thing — another trade is potentially in the works that would also come from out of right field.
The Phoenix Suns are listening to offers for Kevin Durant, ESPN’s Tim McMahon reported Tuesday, a complete 180 from prior reporting that the Suns were trying to acquire Jimmy Butler to pair with Durant. Apparently those efforts have gone so poorly that, according to Marc Stein, the team is now considering moving Durant in order to get Butler (which makes absolutely no sense).
The team showing the most interest in Durant? The Golden State Warriors, according to multiple reports. Because of course.
.@Windhorstespn weighs in on the possibility of Kevin Durant returning to play with Steph Curry and the Warriors pic.twitter.com/UzfMlszg9p
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 5, 2025
Now, let me the first to say how weird all of this feels. From the Doncic-Anthony Davis swap to a potential Durant-Butler maneuver. Some of it feels like dealing simply for the sake of dealing. But I have to admit, a Durant move back to Golden State would be very heartwarming.
Durant is the rare aging superstar and future Hall of Famer who doesn’t really have a team to call home. No one to embrace him. A journeyman legend. He hasn’t been able to enjoy the twilight years of his career in one city the way LeBron James and Steph Curry have in Los Angeles and Golden State, respectively. James can always go back to Cleveland anytime he wants too.
To be sure, Durant brought most of this on himself, but Phoenix seemed like it could be the final stop. He’s 36 years old and didn’t request a trade this time (that we know of). And yet, it might still end up as just another team on the back of his trading card that we can’t quite say he truly belongs to. Right there under OKC, Golden State and Brooklyn.
The Warriors are indeed serious about reuniting with Kevin Durant, sources told SI. And with efforts to acquire Jimmy Butler stalled rival execs believe the Suns are strongly considering Durant deals before the deadline.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 4, 2025
A return to Golden State has the potential to change that, though. That’s where he won multiple championships and Finals MVP awards. They might not ever love him the way OKC used to (or the way they love Curry), but that’s not an insult. Durant will always be embraced there, and even more so if he returns to finish his career — whether they win another championship or not. And because winning will be a lot harder this time around, he might even appreciate the journey a little more.
Whatever trade has to go down for it to happen will undoubtedly be weird, but it’d be the one I’d want to see the most. It’d be sad to see Durant end up on another random team going nowhere in the last years of his career.
The Grizzlies have a tough Jake LaRavia decision
Art: Coley Cleary / FTW
Memphis Grizzlies third-year forward Jake LaRavia is finally blossoming into the player the team hoped he could be when they made him the No. 19 pick of the 2022 draft. But it’s happening right after they declined his fourth-year option, which puts the team in a tough spot.
Can they afford to keep someone around who’s been so instrumental but who may not have a future in Memphis?
Our guy Bryan Kalbrosky wrote a brilliant feature on LaRavia and how he overcame early-career injuries to impact winning for the Grizzlies by doing the little things:
“The analytics back this up, too. LaRavia is averaging 3.6 deflections per 36 minutes (third-best on the team) along with a team-high 0.8 defensive loose balls recovered per 36 minutes, helping create momentum and advantages — or “winning plays” in the words of teammate Scotty Pippen Jr.
These things matter considerably for a team that is looking to make a postseason run.”
Read more from Kalbrosky on LaRavia’s strides and how they make for an interesting trade deadline decision for the Grizzlies.
Shootaround
— Trade grades: Kyle Kuzma for Khris Middleton!
— Bucks lineup: Projected starters with Kuzma
— Lakers introduction: Luka Doncic looked really sad
— Luka lobs: 6 big men the Lakers could sign