Report: Kevin Durant now has 1 clear trade preference

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Kevin Durant on the court
Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant appears to be zeroing in on a new target.

The former NBA MVP Durant prefers a trade to the San Antonio Spurs, Ashish Mathur of Hoops Wire reported on Tuesday. Mathur further adds that Durant and the Spurs had mutual interest at the trade deadline last February and notes that Durant played his college ball at the University of Texas.

The information aligns with other recent reporting linking Durant to the Spurs. For one, Bill Simmons of The Ringer suggested on the latest episode of his podcast that a San Antonio trade for Durant may be “done already.”

Durant, now 36, is entering the final year of his contract next season at $54.7 million. He is widely expected to be traded away in the coming weeks by the Phoenix Suns (whom Durant has spent the last two-and-a-half seasons with, including a miserable 36-46 finish this season).

The Spurs obviously have plenty of intrigue with all-world seven-footer Victor Wembanyama, 21, and former All-NBA point guard De’Aaron Fox, 27, to build around. San Antonio also holds a lot of superb trade assets to offer to Phoenix, including reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, 20, and the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft.

Granted, the Spurs finished this season with an even worse record (34-48) than Durant’s Suns had, and there are multiple teams way closer to championship contention who are also pursuing Durant. But armed with the leverage of a walk year, it looks like Durant is ready to steer his way to the Lone Star State and attempt to join San Antonio.

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