NBA – Kevin Durant heading for the Eastern Conference? A franchise is indirectly flirting with the star

Par Mathieu Seguin | Rédacteur sport

On the Suns’ way out for many insiders, including Shams Charania, Kevin Durant should know more about his future as early as next month. And an Eastern Conference franchise should soon be joining the party.

We still don’t know where Kevin Durant will be playing from October onwards. His departure from the Suns has long been teased after an absolutely catastrophic season, but it’s not impossible either that he’ll stay with the arrival of the new GM, a big fan of the star. And if Phoenix manages to get rid of Bradley Beal and his contract, that’s another story too.

But that won’t stop some franchises from calling the Suns to find out more about the availability of number 35. We’re thinking of the Rockets, who have quite a few assets and took the door in the first round of the playoffs against the Warriors. The Texan team clearly needs a scorer and Durant would be an ideal reinforcement for them.

Conference change for Kevin Durant?

The Wolves and Spurs are possible teams for Durant, while the Heat are also expected to join the discussions. This was more or less confirmed on Friday following a statement by Pat Riley, who spoke about Miami’s disappointing end to the season. And changes are clearly to be expected.

When asked if he’s against the possibility of picking up a slightly older player, Riley declares:

Pat Riley : “For us, if it’s the right name and the contract is the right length, yeah, I still think an aging player can play.”

Durant isn’t mentioned of course, which would be against league rules, but it’s confirmation that he should be closely watched by Miami in the coming months.

And if some need further confirmation, Marc Stein has a little comment in his recent article. He explains that the Heat should join the race for this summer, although it’s unclear whether the organization is willing to go to any lengths to draft him.

Marc Stein : “The Heat are frequently forecasted as a team, along with Minnesota, expected to show trade interest this offseason in Phoenix’s Kevin Durant.”

But after an elimination against Cleveland and another disappointing season, it’s clear that Miami needs to change the way it operates. Recruit a star or rebuild everything? It’s up to Pat Riley to decide in Florida.