Kevin Durant Trade Talks Between Suns, Rockets At Impasse
The Rockets are considered to be among the favorites to trade for Kevin Durant, and they’re one of three teams on Durant’s list of preferred destinations that was leaked to the media last weekend. However, during an appearance Friday on The Athletic NBA Daily podcast, reporter Sam Amick revealed that the Rockets and Suns haven’t discussed a Durant deal in several days (hat tip to Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire).
“I was told yesterday (Thursday) that Houston hadn’t talked to Phoenix since last week, and that call didn’t go particularly well,” Amick said. “That could have changed by now, again that’s as of yesterday. They would love to have KD, but it’s on their price.”
Phoenix appears to be at a standoff with several teams while working to close a Durant deal before the first night of the draft on Wednesday. The Suns have reportedly been underwhelmed by offers from the Rockets, Spurs, Heat, Timberwolves, Raptors and others, believing they’re not getting enough in return for a player of Durant’s value.
A report earlier this week from Amick and Jon Krawczynski stated that Houston has made a “firm offer” for Durant. Although the details of that offer haven’t been revealed, it may be as high as general manager Rafael Stone is willing to go under the circumstances.
Even though Durant is still producing at an All-Star level, his age and contract situation are limiting what rival teams are willing to give up. He’ll turn 37 in September and is entering the final year of his current deal at $54.7MM. He’ll be eligible for a two-year extension with his new team, but has communicated that he’ll only consider signing long-term with Houston, San Antonio or Miami.
DuBose states that Stone would love to trade for Durant, but only if the deal serves the team’s short-term and long-term interests. He won’t mortgage the future for a player nearing the end of his career, so he’s hoping the Suns’ asking price will eventually go down.
On the Burns and Gambo Show (audio link), Suns insider John Gambadoro reported that Phoenix is unlikely to agree to a Durant deal with Houston unless Jabari Smith Jr. is included (hat tip to Evan Sidery of Forbes). Gambadoro also indicated that the Suns are willing to extend trade talks beyond the draft if they don’t get an offer they like.
Fischer’s Latest: Kuminga, Grimes, Grizzlies, Nets
The Bulls expressed interest in Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga during past trade talks and could be a candidate for a sign-and-trade deal to land the restricted free agent, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). Sources tell Stein that Chicago inquired about Kuminga during discussions that involved Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
Fischer states that re-signing with the Warriors appears to be the most likely outcome for Kuminga, but cautions that it’s hard to predict his potential market until the Suns decide where they’re trading Kevin Durant. Fischer hears that Kuminga could be among several players the Heat plan to target if they don’t land Durant, echoing a report earlier this week from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, who mentioned Chicago and Miami as potential sign-and-trade destinations for Kuminga.
Fischer adds that Kuminga will probably need a sign-and-trade to change teams because the Nets, the only current club with significant cap space, don’t appear to be interested, nor do the Pistons, who could theoretically create enough room to make a competitive offer, or the Hawks, who have a $25MM trade exception from the deal that sent Dejounte Murray to New Orleans last summer.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. will meet with the media on Monday, and Fischer expects Kuminga’s future to be a prominent topic.
Fischer shares more inside information from around the NBA:
- “Numbers-crunchers” who talked to Fischer expect Sixers free agent guard Quentin Grimes to get offers in excess of the $14.1MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Grimes turned into a potent scoring threat after being acquired from Dallas in February, averaging a career-high 21.9 PPG in 28 games. The financial experts that Fischer consulted expect Philadelphia to be able to afford to keep Grimes, although the team’s financial situation will be affected by what Kelly Oubre, Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond do with their player options.
- After acquiring the No. 16 pick from Orlando in last weekend’s Desmond Bane trade, the Grizzlies may opt to move up or down by draft night, sources tell Fischer. He hears that the team’s priority with any moves will be to create enough financial flexibility to renegotiate and extend Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s contract and to re-sign free agent forward Santi Aldama.
- With four first-round picks and a ton of cap space, the Nets have a chance to be the league’s most active team on draft night. Fischer suggests that one option will be to facilitate deals by taking on unwanted contracts and then try to flip those players for more assets ahead of next season’s trade deadline.
And-Ones: LeBron, Amazon, Local Broadcasts, Top FAs
Lakers forward LeBron James, who recently starred in an ad for Amazon Prime and has been doing a press tour ahead of the company’s Prime Day promotion next month, could end up joining Prime Video’s coverage of the NBA following the end of his playing career, sources tell Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.
According to McCarthy, ABC/ESPN and NBC would also almost certainly have interest in James if he wants to get into broadcasting, but LeBron’s growing business relationship with Amazon could give Prime the upper hand. The four-time MVP has previously criticized ESPN’s and TNT’s coverage of the NBA for being too negative, but spoke glowingly about his expectations for Amazon in an interview with Tony Maglio of The Hollywood Reporter.
“(Prime Video’s team of analysts) has so much knowledge and (so many) people that know the game and appreciate the game and talk about the game in such a positive manner,” James said. “So, I think Amazon Prime Video, they’re gonna do a great job showcasing our sport; (the talent) love(s) our sport. Great intellect, great commentary, great insight — I really look forward to that. And like I said, those guys that they have signed up for it, they’re gonna do great things.”
James’ former teammate Dwyane Wade and podcast partner Steve Nash are among the Amazon Prime analysts he singled out for praise, along with Dirk Nowitzki and Candace Parker.
In that interview with Maglio, James was also asked about his stance that he’s unlikely to play in the 2028 Olympics for Team USA — he made it clear his position on that subject hasn’t changed.
“Me being able to support Team USA for the rest of my life — that’s for sure. But me actually going on and playing, I don’t see it happening,” James said. “I’ve given everything that I have, and I will always be appreciative and loyal and dedicated to Team USA and USA Basketball.”
We have more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Although the NBA reached 11-year media rights deals with Disney (ABC/ESPN), Amazon, and NBC that will go into effect later this year for national broadcasts, the outlook for game broadcasts in local markets is murkier. Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic explores that subject, noting that the NBA has considered the idea of introducing a local version of League Pass, though that likely wouldn’t happen until 2026/27 at the earliest.
- Keith Smith of Spotrac has published his list of this year’s top 50 NBA free agents, while Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has projected possible contracts and landing spots for 30 of the best players on the market. John Hollinger of The Athletic, meanwhile, wraps up his look at the 2025 free agent class by focusing on the top power forwards and centers. Our own top-50 free agent list will be published on Monday, after the NBA Finals conclude.
- ESPN’s Brian Windhorst takes a look at five storylines and 12 players who could shape the 2025 NBA offseason, starting with the Kevin Durant trade sweepstakes and what happens with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
Bucks’ Pat Connaughton Opts In For 2025/26
Bucks guard/forward Pat Connaughton has picked up his 2025/26 player option, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The move locks in Connaughton’s salary of $9,423,869 for next season and puts him on track to reach unrestricted free agency in 2026.
Connaughton’s option decision comes as no surprise. He played a key role on Milwaukee’s championship team in 2020/21 and had a career year in ’21/22, when he averaged 9.9 points per game on .458/.395/.833 shooting, but his playing time and his production have dropped off significantly since then.
This past season, the 32-year-old wing averaged just 5.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 14.7 minutes per game across 41 outings. His 32.1% three-point percentage was his worst mark since his rookie year in 2015/16.
Since Connaughton wasn’t going to receive a starting salary of $9.4MM if he had become a free agent, it makes sense for him to take the guaranteed money by exercising his option.
Now, the decision on Connaughton’s future is back in the Bucks’ hands. He’ll likely be a trade candidate on that $9.4MM expiring contract as Milwaukee looks to reshape its roster and remain in the playoff picture while Damian Lillard recovers from an Achilles tear. Given his drop-off in minutes and effectiveness, Connaughton won’t have any trade value on his own, but his deal could be used for salary-matching purposes.
As our player option tracker shows, Connaughton is one of three Bucks players with an option decision to make this month. Bobby Portis ($13.45MM) and Kevin Porter Jr. ($2.55MM) are viewed as good bets to opt out in search of more lucrative multiyear deals.
Poll: Who Will Win Game 7 Of NBA Finals?
For the first time since 2016, there will be a Game 7 in the NBA Finals.
The last time an NBA Finals went the distance, Cleveland completed a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the 73-win Warriors, with a LeBron James chase-down block and a Kyrie Irving three-pointer in the final two minutes of Game 7 helping to seal the first championship in Cavaliers franchise history.
While there’s certainly no guarantee that Sunday’s Game 7 between the Thunder and Pacers will be as dramatic as that one from nine years ago, the two teams have put on an impressive show so far in this year’s Finals, starting with a Tyrese Haliburton game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 to give the Pacers the upset victory.
The series has been back and forth since then — after falling behind 1-0 and 2-1, the Thunder won Games 4 and 5 and – with Haliburton battling a calf strain – appeared to be on the verge of their first championship since the team relocated to Oklahoma City.
But with their backs against the wall in front of a supportive home crowd in Indianapolis, the Pacers responded by racing out to a 22-point lead by the half of Game 6, then expanded that lead to 30 points by the end of the third quarter. The home fans didn’t exactly have to sweat out a close finish in the fourth.
As resilient as the Pacers have been all postseason, they’ll enter Game 7 as the solid underdogs. BetOnline.ag currently has Oklahoma City listed a 7.5-point favorite.
The Thunder’s regular season success is one big reason why that betting line is where it is. Oklahoma City submitted one of the best seasons in NBA history, with a 68-14 record and a +12.7 net rating. The Pacers also finished strong after getting off to a 10-15 start, but they had more losses by the 25-game mark than OKC did all year.
Home-court advantage in Game 7 is another significant factor to consider. The Thunder had an NBA-best 35-6 home record during the regular season and have gone 10-2 at Paycom Center during the playoffs.
While one of those two postseason home losses came to the Pacers, the Thunder have played far better basketball in Oklahoma City than in Indiana over the course of this series, with averages of 117.7 points and 10.7 per turnovers in their three home games, compared to 103.0 points and 18.7 turnovers per contest on the road.
Still, the Pacers have been excellent away from home over the course of the playoffs, winning seven of 11 games outside of Indiana, and their role players haven’t performed significantly better at Gainbridge Fieldhouse than elsewhere. In the Finals, Aaron Nesmith has knocked down 55.0% of his three-pointers on the road, while Obi Toppin has hit 38.9%. T.J. McConnell has put up 12.7 PPG and 4.7 APG on .630/.750/1.000 shooting in his three Finals road games.
Most importantly, even though his health was a major question mark entering Game 6, Haliburton was able to suit up on Thursday and will do so again on Sunday. The Pacers star said on Saturday that he’s still sore and is getting around-the-clock treatment, but not having to play in the fourth quarter on Thursday helped him and he’ll be good to go on Sunday (Twitter link via Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star).
Ahead of Sunday’s big game, we want to know what you think.
Do you expect the Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, to win the first of what they hope will be multiple championships? Or do you expect Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and the upstart Pacers to pull off yet another upset and earn the franchise its first NBA title?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your predictions!
Who will win Game 7?
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Oklahoma City Thunder 54% (550)
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Indiana Pacers 46% (474)
Total votes: 1,024
Mavs’ Dwight Powell Picks Up Player Option
June 21: Powell has officially exercised his option, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
June 20: Mavericks center Dwight Powell is exercising his player option for the 2025/26 season, reports Mark Stein of The Stein Line (via Twitter). Powell had until Tuesday to make a decision on the option, which will pay him $4MM next season.
Powell, Dallas’ longest-tenured player, appeared in 55 games for head coach Jason Kidd last season, averaging 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game in 10.0 minutes per night.
Powell has been with the Mavericks since the 2014/15 season, when he was traded from Boston to Dallas in a mid-season deal. He was a regular starter for the club as recently as the 2022/23 season, but has seen his playing time decline within the last couple years.
The Mavericks have Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford all currently under contract at the center position and are on track to draft Cooper Flagg, who is expected to play minutes at power forward.
Powell’s return will give the Mavericks some depth in case of injury, as well as a veteran who can help instill Kidd’s schemes, assuming he remains on the roster. The big man, who will turn 34 next month, could also end up becoming a trade candidate if the team faces a cap or roster crunch this summer.
If he plays out his contract, Powell will be extension-eligible during the 2025/26 season and would become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Powell is one of two Mavs who holds a player option for ’25/26. Teammate Kyrie Irving also has a decision due by Tuesday.
Hoops Rumors’ 2025 NBA Offseason Previews By Team
In advance of the NBA’s 2025 draft and free agent period, Hoops Rumors has been previewing the coming offseason for all 30 teams, looking at their salary cap situations and the roster decisions they’ll have to make this summer.
Our Offseason Preview articles are linked below, sorted by conference and division. While a Trade Rumors Front Office subscription is required to read most of them, our Jazz preview is open to all.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
Central
Southeast
Western Conference
Northwest
Pacific
Southwest
Southwest Notes: KCP, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Weaver
Former Magic wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said in the latest episode of his Dawg Talk Podcast (YouTube link) that he got a heads-up he would be traded to the Grizzlies before the agreement was reported last Sunday, so he wasn’t caught off guard when the news broke on social media. And while it took him a little time to wrap his head around the idea of changing teams again just one year after signing with Orlando, the 32-year-old is enthusiastic about what he’ll be able to bring to his new club in Memphis.
“The more I talked about it, the more I got excited,” Caldwell-Pope said, singling out Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Zach Edey as new teammates he’s looking forward to playing with. “A lot of the guys over there I know and I’m going to enjoy playing with. Seeing them, playing against them and the style that they have, I think it fits right into my game.”
Caldwell-Pope had a down year with the Magic in 2024/25, scoring just 8.7 points per game with a 34.2% mark on three-point attempts — both marks were well below his career averages. However, he knocked down 40.3% of his outside shots in the five seasons before ’24/25 and won a pair of titles during that stretch, so he’ll bring championship experience to a Grizzlies team that has won just a single playoff series during the Morant/Jackson era.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- Having acquired this year’s No. 16 overall pick in their deal with Orlando, the Grizzlies took a closer look on Friday at a prospect who could be a target in that spot, bringing in Georgia’s Asa Newell for a pre-draft workout, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link). Earl Timberlake (Bryant), Jahmyl Telfort (Butler), Jordan Gainey (Tennessee), and Obinna Anochili-Killen (Marshall) also participated in the session, Cole notes.
- According to Grant Afseth of RG.org, a number of agents who represent point guards in this year’s free agent class have said they’re eyeing the Mavericks. With Kyrie Irving expected to miss a portion of next season while recovering from ACL surgery, those player reps view Dallas as a good spot for their clients to “build value and contribute to a playoff-caliber roster,” Afseth writes. Chris Paul and Malcolm Brogdon are among the free agent point guards who have been linked to the Mavs, while Jrue Holiday and Lonzo Ball have been cited as possible trade options.
- New Pelicans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars tells Rod Walker of NOLA.com that he wasn’t disappointed when the club’s first-round pick slipped to No. 7 on lottery night, since he’s confident New Orleans will still get a good player at that spot. As Walker details, one reason why Dumars isn’t worried is because he trusts the scouting ability of new senior VP of basketball operations Troy Weaver. “Troy has a unique skill set,” Dumars said. “His ability to identify talent in this league is elite. He has a long track record of being able to identify players at an elite level.”
Rudy Gobert Will Reportedly Miss EuroBasket 2025
Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert will not compete in this summer’s EuroBasket tournament, according to Yann Ohnona of French outlet L’Equipe.
A longtime member of France’s national team, Gobert suggested in February that he was likely to sit out the event, per RealGM.
“After the Euro, it’s always harder, that’s when you feel the backlash. And you don’t recover the same at 33 years old than at 23,” said Gobert, who turns 33 next week.
The four-time Defensive Player of the Year has not missed an international competition with France since 2017, Ohnona writes. That was also a EuroBasket tournament.
Gobert, who was named to the All-Defensive Second Team this season with Minnesota, has won a total of six medals with France, including a pair of silvers at the 2021 and 2024 Olympics. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is also considered unlikely to play for France this summer after being diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis — a blood clot — in his right shoulder in February, Ohnona notes.
EuroBasket 2025 begins August 27 and runs through September 14.
Latest From Fischer, Stein: KD, Suns, Ware, Raptors, Knicks, Donovan
The Suns continue to project confidence that a trade involving star forward Kevin Durant will be agreed to before June 25, the first night of the 2025 NBA draft, sources tell Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).
According to the authors, Phoenix’s front office — led by new general manager Brian Gregory — is “quietly hopeful” it will be able to land a first-round pick in a potential Durant deal to use next Wednesday. The team currently controls one late first-rounder (No. 29 overall) and one late second-rounder (No. 52).
Fischer and Stein point to the first-round selections controlled by the Raptors (No. 9), Rockets (No. 10), Timberwolves (No. 17) and Heat (No. 20) as examples of some of the picks the Suns have tried to acquire in Durant trade talks. But they also haven’t been thrilled with the offers they’ve received to this point, which is why a deal has yet to come together.
Here’s more from The Stein Line duo:
- The Heat have been “firmly against” including big man Kel’el Ware in their offers to the Suns for Durant, sources tell Fischer and Stein. The 15th pick of last year’s draft, Ware was named to the All-Rookie Second Team in 2024/25 after a solid debut season. Phoenix is believed to be prioritizing draft capital from Miami with Ware evidently off-limits.
- Fischer and Stein confirm that the Raptors also are unwilling to part with starting center Jakob Poeltl to acquire Durant. Assuming he isn’t moved, league sources tell The Stein Line that Toronto and the Austrian big man have mutual interest in a contract extension “in the near future.”
- Toronto continues to be active in trade talks, particularly when it comes to the draft. According to Fischer and Stein, the Raptors have expressed an openness to moving down from No. 9, but have also discussed the possibility of trying to add a second lottery pick. No matter which pick(s) they ultimately control, rival teams believe the Raptors are focused on drafting a center.
- The Knicks are not expected to hire a head coach until after next week’s draft, which will take place over two days (the second round is on Thursday), one person familiar with the matter told The Stein Line. Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins interviewed for the job this week and both of the former head coaches are believed to have “levels of support” in New York. According to Fischer and Stein, Brown is said to be close with executive William Wesley, while Jenkins reportedly impressed the team in his interview.
- Although New York was denied permission to interview Billy Donovan, the Bulls claim their extension talks with their head coach preceded that request, per Fischer and Stein. “They love him,” one source familiar with management’s thinking said of Chicago’s fondness for Donovan. Stein first reported that the Bulls and Donovan were finalizing an extension.
- In case you missed it, Fischer and Stein also reported that multiple teams have shown interest in Suns wing Cody Martin as part of the Durant trade talks.