The Kevin Durant sweepstakes have reportedly been narrowed down to just a few teams, but it does not sound like the 15-time All-Star’s top choice is among them.
Durant is owed $54.7 million in the final year of his contract next season. A report over the weekend claimed Durant would only be willing to sign a long-term extension with three teams: the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. The Spurs may not be a legitimate suitor for Durant, however, as a separate report said the Heat, Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves are the finalists for him.
During a Monday appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Marc Spears said the team Durant most wants to play for is not interested in the 36-year-old. That team is the New York Knicks.
“K.D. wanted the New York Knicks. He wanted to go there. The Knicks have no interest in bringing him in, which probably makes Knicks nation probably quite interested in why not,” Spears said. “I think these three choices (the Heat, Rockets and Timberwolves) are by default. He definitely doesn’t want to go to Minnesota.”
Spears added that Durant has some concern that the Suns are seeking too big of a return in trade talks.
“I think there is some fear from him and (agent) Rich Kleiman that they’re hoping there’s gonna be respect at Kevin’s age to give him what he wants, rather than try to trade him like he’s 31 years old, which he’s not anymore,” Spears said. “I think they’re trying to get a major haul, but they’re hoping that they work with him and get it done.”
Marc Spears:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 16, 2025
"KD wanted the New York Knicks. The Knicks have no interest in bringing him in"
"There is some fear from him and Rich Kleiman that they're hoping that there's going to be respect at Kevin's age to give him what he wants rather than try to trade him like he's 31" pic.twitter.com/bzWLWq1j4e
Durant is said to want nothing to do with the Timberwolves, even though they just went to the Western Conference Finals. That does not necessarily mean Minnesota will bow out of the sweepstakes, as they could make the best offer in hopes that they win a title next year and/or Durant changes his mind about signing an extension.
Durant has been linked to the Knicks for years. He claimed a while back that the thought of being the player who saves their tortured franchise does not appeal to him, but maybe this year’s Eastern Conference Finals run changed his mind.
