Rumors: Raptors’ Kevin Durant Pursuit Involves Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett

Masai Ujiri is willing to sacrifice many young Raptors as trade pieces in his pursuit of Kevin Durant

Rumors: Raptors’ Kevin Durant Pursuit Involves Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett

Kevin Durant, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley (FS Image)

Kevin Durant has been openly on the trade market since the All-Star break. The Phoenix Suns tried to find a viable trade partner before the trade deadline, but KD stayed put. They played out the 2024-25 season in an attempt to gain a play-in spot, but are now resigned to losing Durant. With Durant approaching his final NBA seasons, his championship window is now too short for Phoenix to try and win with his help.

As expected, a lot of front offices have already enquired about the price for acquiring Durant’s services. He is rumored to have specifically demanded a trade to the San Antonio Spurs. This would put him on the same team as perennial DPOY frontrunner Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. The French No. 1 pick showed that he is capable of winning now, with any help the Spurs get him.

However, they aren’t the only team in the running. Teams like the Clippers and Raptors are also looking to add Kevin Durant to their ranks. The Clippers’ path is less obvious, but the Raptors have a number of assets that could potentially be in play. According to the latest reports, the Raptors are willing to part with their young players like RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.

League sources say the Raptors have explored a range of trade concepts that could involve a framework including any combination of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl and the No. 9 overall pick. While nothing appears imminent, there is internal openness to parting with one of Barrett or Quickley in a larger package, and Poeltl could be included depending on the structure.

Can the Raptors viably swing a trade for Kevin Durant?

On the face of it, this trade idea makes a lot of sense. The Raptors have a high pick in the loaded 2025 draft class. The Suns could add valuable help for Devin Booker and Bradley Beal at the guard and forward spots. They could also plug Jakob Poeltl into the center spot, which has been a big hole since the Deandre Ayton trade.

Kevin Durant Sports Illustrated 1
Kevin Durant (Sports Illustrated)

A starting five featuring Booker, Quickley, Beal, Barrett, and Poeltl in some combination seems more balanced than what they had to make do with in the final two years of the Kevin Durant era. While they would only be low seeds in the Western Conference, Barrett and Quickley have time on their side. Both former Knicks are around 25 years of age and theoretically have much to add to their repertoires.

However, any serious offer by the Spurs or Rockets would undoubtedly make more sense for Phoenix. In particular, Phoenix would aim to get some of their picks back from Houston if they send Durant there. The Rockets could also send Jabari Smith Jr, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, and other pieces as salary fillers.

The Spurs have been rumored to have offered Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Harrison Barnes and other rotation players as their own salary fillers. They own the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft as well as the No. 14 pick.

While picking Dylan Harper would be a good long-term choice, if push comes to shove, the front office could also decide to win while Wembanyama is still on his rookie-scale contract alongside Kevin Durant. Durant has also seemingly marked out warm-weather cities as his primary destinations. The Toronto Raptors should still be viewed as outsiders in this scenario.

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