ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns are expected to work together on potential trade destinations and have been going through scenarios over the past week.
The Portland Trail Blazers would be wise to get involved in this seemingly inevitable blockbuster deal as the third team to help facilitate the trade, landing some combination of draft capital and up-and-coming players.
Blazers have the supporting pieces a contender needs
Any team that trades for a 36-year-old Durant will be doing so as an aggresive win-now move; that's what makes the Blazers such ideal trade partners as that third team.
For one, the emergence of the Blazers' young core, particularly over the second half of the season, has proven that they are ready to take on an increased role. That should make their veterans -- Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton, Matisse Thybulle, Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III -- much more expendable, as several of them are cutting into roles and minutes for more long-term pieces.
Grant is the only one not on an expiring deal of that group, meaning they would make great salary fillers as well (sending Ayton back to Phoenix would be hilarious).
The Blazers don't have star power, but they have plenty of depth and defense. The team that trades for Durant will need both, as his time in Phoenix and the NBA Finals have shown that top-heavy teams no longer cut it. Someone like Thybulle would be the perfect player coming off the bench for a contender with his ability to guard the opposing team's best player, potentially even swinging a series in their favor.
What teams are pursuing Kevin Durant?
Charania specifically names the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks as teams that have inquired about Durant.
These five teams have several players the Blazers should be targeting this offseason. For instance, someone like Jabari Smith Jr. -- who could be available due to looming extension talks -- would be a perfect addition to Portland's young core.
Of these teams, if Portland were to acquire draft capital, they'd be better off betting against Miami or New York (though the Knicks don't have much to offer in that regard). Houston, San Antonio, and Minnesota are built to contend for years regardless of whether they give up future picks for Durant, as they already have young star talent in place.
Ironically, that's exactly why the Rockets, Spurs, or Wolves make perfect sense as KD landing spots -- they can afford the luxury of taking on a top-20 player nearing the end of his career without drastically affecting their long-term trajectory.
The Blazers look increasingly unlikely to facilitate a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and should instead focus on the more realistic blockbuster. Even if Portland trades veterans to help a Durant contender, they'd still have Milwaukee's future picks, giving them significant leverage if Giannis eventually wants out.