The NBA is once again owning the news cycle in June, and we’re not just talking about the fascinating Finals matchup between the Pacers and Thunder.
In addition to the on-court action set to take place in Oklahoma City and Indianapolis over the next couple weeks, there are massive stories worth keeping tabs on in New York (where the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday), Milwaukee (is Giannis on his way out?) and Phoenix.
The Suns are drawing attention because of the growing likelihood that 36-year-old superstar Kevin Durant will leave the desert this summer.
Durant, who will turn 37 in September, is currently under contract in Phoenix for one more year, at a salary of just under $55 million.
The former Thunder, Warriors and Nets star joined the Suns via trade in February of 2023. He is coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons in ’23-24 and ’24-25, but his days as a Sun appear numbered after the team failed to reach the playoffs this year despite having the most expensive roster in the league.
Kevin Durant Next Team Odds
The odds below come from DraftKings (as of June 4).
Fine print, from DK: “First Regular Season minute played to be for which NBA team? [2025-26 only]”
Note: While DraftKings offers odds for all 30 teams in this market, we’re listing the eight that currently have the shortest odds (15-to-1 or shorter).
- Rockets (+225)
- Suns (+350)
- Timberwolves (+400)
- Spurs (+1000)
- Knicks (+1000)
- Pelicans (+1400)
- Heat (+1500)
- Mavericks (+1500)
Kevin Durant Next Team Breakdown, Prediction
While the reporting around Giannis and the Bucks stops short of indicating the Greek Freak already has a foot out the door, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that Durant will not be a Sun when the ’25-26 season begins next October.
The fact that the Suns are longer than 3-to-1 to retain him despite Durant being under contract for one more year is telling.
And Tuesday’s report from The Athletic’s Kelly Iko — who cited sources saying that Phoenix is in “aggressive in pursuit” of trading Kevin Durant — marked the latest indication that he will be in a new uniform in October.
Best Bet On Kevin Durant’s Next Team: Houston Rockets
Generally speaking, any time the favorite in a betting market is available at longer than 2-to-1, it’s hard to resist. And in this case, there’s a lot more to like about the possibility of Houston trading for Durant than those odds.
First, let’s talk about his potential fit with the young Rockets.
Is there a team with a greater need for a veteran halfcourt shot creator and scorer than Houston?
Ime Udoka’s squad was terrific defensively and in transition this year. Its ability to overwhelm opponents athletically helped it finished second in the Western Conference, behind only the Thunder, at 52-30. But the Rockets entered the playoffs as an underdog against the Warriors because of questions about their halfcourt offense.
As many expected, regular-season standouts Jalen Green and Amen Thompson both struggled to get going offensively against Golden State, and big offensive series by Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun weren’t enough for Houston to advance.
Anyone who’s watched Durant (a career 26.6 points per game scorer on 52.7 percent FG shooting) can easily envision him thriving alongside what would be one of the most athletic supporting casts in the NBA, regardless of who/what Houston has to get up to land KD.
With that in mind, where the future Hall-of-Famer ends up will probably come down to a bidding war between the Rockets, Timberwolves and whoever else emerges.
In terms of draft assets, Houston is as flush as almost anyone in the league. It holds the No. 9 pick this year, an unprotected first-rounder in 2027 and all seven of its own first-round picks in the years to come. In total, the Rockets have nine incoming future first-round picks.
They also have a deep rotation full of young talent: a staggering eight of the Rockets’ top 12 players by minutes played this year are 23 years old or younger.
It’s hard to pinpoint what it will take to appease Phoenix in a Durant trade, but assuming that A) the Rockets are truly set on landing him, and B) the Suns don’t stick to a trade demand that changes Houston’s mind, KD feels like a safe bet to start next season as a Rocket.
Given those two substantial caveats, I wouldn’t recommend the following bet at much shorter than the current price. It’s hard to resist at longer than 2-to-1 right now, though.
A 0.5-unit play on Durant Next Team: Houston Rockets (+225 at DK) is the way to go here.
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