Blockbuster NBA Trade Concept Links Kevin Durant With Nikola Jokic in Shocking Move
Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic are two of the most iconic players in NBA history. Together, they have amassed four MVP awards, three NBA championships, and three Finals MVP honors.
Durant, who has previously played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and now the Suns, won the league MVP in 2014 with OKC. He also claimed two consecutive championships and Finals MVPs with Golden State in 2017 and 2018.
Jokic, on the other hand, has spent his entire professional career with the Denver Nuggets, earning three MVP titles, one NBA championship, and one Finals MVP.
With the 2025 NBA Draft set for June 25, rumors strongly suggest that the Suns plan to trade Durant before then. Multiple reports indicate that Durant’s preferred destinations include the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat.
One proposed trade scenario would see Durant landing in Denver to team up with Jokic.
Although Durant has reportedly expressed preferences, he does not have a no-trade clause in his current contract, meaning Phoenix has the authority to trade him to any team offering strong value in return. Durant, a 15-time All-Star and the NBA’s eighth all-time leading scorer, is still one of the league’s most valuable assets.
Despite reports that Houston, Miami, and San Antonio are currently far from securing a deal for Durant, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports suggested a bold alternative: a trade that sends Durant to Denver.
O’Connor’s proposed deal includes the Nuggets giving up Michael Porter Jr., Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, Hunter Tyson, and a 2031 first-round draft pick in exchange for Durant, with Zeke Nnaji potentially rerouted to a third team.
“This trade strips Denver of much of its bench depth, but the potential payoff is immense,” O’Connor noted. “A core lineup of Durant, Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun could be overwhelming. The key would be finding quality role players on minimum contracts to round out the rotation.”
Following a tough seven-game second-round playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, adding Durant could push the Nuggets back into serious championship contention.
At 36, Durant is still performing at a high level, averaging 26.6 points per game this past season while shooting 52.7% overall and 43.0% from beyond the arc.
