Kevin Durant Next Team Odds: Suns Favorites at -125, Followed by Raptors

Where Will Kevin Durant Play Next Season?

Every year, the NBA seems to have a major event that optimizes free agency. For 2022, it is the trade request of Kevin Durant.

Even at 33 years old, Durant is still a top-five player in the league and has an unprecedented four years left on his deal after his request. It could potentially cause one of the biggest blockbuster trades in the league’s history. 

The Brooklyn Nets flamed out of the playoffs in Round 1, getting swept by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. They swarmed Durant the whole series, forcing him into doubles and zones to make him a playmaker. The only real other offensive option was Kyrie Irving and the Nets just could not keep up. 

It’s reported that Durant’s main frustration with the franchise has been the handling of Irving, mainly his contract. Irving was not given a contract extension by Brooklyn, and now with just one year left on his deal, he could walk in free agency next year.

Every single team will come calling for the superstar that just averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists in the previous season. Durant is still an unguardable unicorn, being able to shoot from all over with a silky-smooth jump shot.

If he’s on your team, you are an automatic title contender.

Kevin Durant Next Team Odds

The Safe Pick: Suns | -125 at DraftKings

The Phoenix Suns were unceremoniously bounced out of the second round of the playoffs. Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks came on the road and trounced them in an embarrassing Game 7 loss. After a dominant regular season with the best record in the league, questions started to arise if this core could win it all. 

After Durant made his trade request, he put the Suns and Miami Heat as his top options. Those were the two 1-seeds in each conference, and adding Durant would definitely make either of them favorites going into next season.

Durant would slide perfectly into what the Suns do. Chris Paul running the team with Devin Booker and Durant as off-ball threats would be terrifying to defend. It would take a massive burden off of Paul and Booker as shot creators, and assemble a very formidable big three. 

The Suns’ biggest question is what happens with rising center DeAndre Ayton, who they opted to not offer the max extension. It remains to be seen if the Nets would like Ayton in a potential Durant package, along with other players and a hoard of draft equity. 

The Suns are the favorite and safe pick to land Durant at -125. 

The Longshot: Warriors | +1400 at DraftKings

After winning an NBA championship, it would be easy for the Warriors to just “run it back.” There might not be a team that knows the value of Durant more than the Warriors. After three straight NBA Finals with two championships when he joined the team in the summer of 2016, the Warriors are finally back on the mountain top. 

Adding Durant back into the fold would instantly make them heavy favorites for repeating, and the potential to dominate the league for years to come. Steph Curry and Durant are up there for the best duos the league has ever seen, breaking defenses with their generational abilities to score the basketball. Durant already has a familiarity with the organization, coaching staff and star core. 

Whether Durant would like to return and reface the backlash he received when originally deciding to play there remains to be seen, but the Warriors have one of the best trade packages to offer. A slew of lottery picks and young talent to pair with the number of draft picks the Nets are likely to ask for.

The Warriors are the longshot pick here at +1400. 

The Value Pick: Raptors | +250 at DraftKings

The Toronto Raptors are coming off of a first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers but surprised a ton of people with their regular season.

They were built meticulously by the vision of the president of basketball Masai Ujiri. They were not on the short list of teams Durant requested to go to, but they have arguably the best package of former All-Stars and young talent to send to Brooklyn. 

Scottie Barnes is coming off of a rookie of the year campaign and projects to be a future superstar in this league. The two-way rookie averaged 15.3 points, and 7.5 boards and highly impacted winning in his first season.

Whether they decide to offer him in a deal likely decides if Durant is a Raptor. They also have the talented forward Pascal Siakam and former All-Star Fred Vanvleet to include in a package. 

Durant has four years still left, which could entice the Raptors to throw their chips in for the next few seasons. The Raptors are the best value pick at +250. 

2022-2023 Kevin Durant Prediction: Suns | -125 at DraftKings

The Suns have been the favorite since Durant has asked for a trade, and it seems like the most likely outcome. It’s a hand and glove fit for him to fill in for the likely wings that are traded in the deal.

The Suns have enough NBA talent and draft equity to meet Brooklyn at what is likely a hefty price.