Mock Trade: Kevin Durant to the Spurs could mark the start of a Suns soft rebuild

The Phoenix Suns would have the possibility of a youth movement in this proposed Durant trade.

Welcome to Kevin Durant Mock Trade Week. As one of the most valuable assets the organization holds — and the most likely piece the Phoenix Suns could move — we’re putting together a weeklong series exploring trade possibilities to determine his true market value. If you haven’t read the lead-up articles laying the groundwork for this, I’d recommend catching up before diving in.

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The San Antonio Spurs find themselves at a unique crossroads. They’ve done a lot of things right…and gotten a little lucky along the way. After the Tim Duncan era ended, they embarked on a rebuilding process that finally paid off when a few fortunate ping-pong balls fell their way, landing them a generational big man in Victor Wembanyama. Because they always get lucky when it comes to the draft and big men.

Since then, the Spurs have endured a couple of losing seasons, but they’re clearly building toward something meaningful. The acquisition of De’Aaron Fox at the trade deadline signaled their readiness to compete and start constructing a core around Wembanyama.

It’s a tough spot for San Antonio. Wembanyama is only entering his third NBA season, and rushing his development could be costly. The Suns know that lesson all too well, having taken some aggressive — and arguably unnecessary — big swings with their roster.

But a team with cap flexibility and a generational talent like Wembanyama is beginning to make waves in the Western Conference standings. So much so that Kevin Durant’s name has reportedly come up in connection with the Spurs, at least according to his own admission in a recent interview with Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

So, let’s talk trades. What would a deal between the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs for Kevin Durant actually look like?

At first glance, the Spurs’ roster isn’t exactly overflowing with star power. Instead, they’ve got some expiring contracts that could be packaged to bring in Durant, plus plenty of draft capital. Viewed through that lens, trading Durant could be a smart move for Phoenix, not just to offload salary, but to stockpile future assets. And that makes San Antonio a logical potential landing spot.

Let’s plug some names into the old trade machine and see what shakes out.

Suns receive: Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, 2025 1st Round Pick (14th)

Rockets receive: Kevin Durant

Let’s start with San Antonio’s motivation. Why would the Spurs want Kevin Durant?

Here’s how I see it: Victor Wembanyama’s season was cut short last year due to deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in his right shoulder. On top of that, there are rumors he’s grown another inch, now standing an astonishing 7’7”. As agile and elite a defender as he is, there’s a realistic concern that his window might not be as wide open as it seems. Think Ralph Sampson. Think Yao Ming. Even rookie Zach Edey in Memphis is facing physical challenges. When you’re abnormally large, medical issues tend to follow, unfortunately robbing us of what could have been incredible NBA careers.

So while optimism for Wembanyama’s future is natural, the history is a cautionary tale.

If the Spurs had the chance to add a proven superstar like Kevin Durant alongside Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, this could be a rare opportunity they simply can’t pass up. That’s the logic behind why they might make a trade.

On the flip side, what would San Antonio offer in return?

Harrison Barnes and Jeremy Sochan aren’t exactly headline-makers. They’re solid players but carry overpaid contracts, a byproduct of the Spurs needing to offer competitive deals over the past few years. For Phoenix, they’d serve as contract fillers in what would likely be a soft retooling year.

But Devin Vassell? That’s a different story. He’s the player you’d want to explore keeping long-term. Just beginning to carve out his role as a reliable rotational wing, Vassell can knock down threes at a respectable 36.9% for his career and brings solid defense. He’d be a valuable addition for the Suns at small forward, although he’d be undersized at 6’5”.

The others — Barnes and Sochan — could be trade deadline assets or candidates to let walk when their contracts expire. But Vassell? He’s the real prize here.

Once again, it’s the draft return that might make you a little uneasy. The Spurs hold both the third and the 14th overall picks in the upcoming draft. If I were the GM playing NBA 2K and could push any trade through, I’d include that third pick in the deal. Imagine getting both the third and 14th picks from San Antonio for Kevin Durant.

But in reality? I don’t think the Spurs would part with that third pick. That third overall selection might be more valuable to them than you’d expect. Ace Bailey, the projected third pick, probably won’t single-handedly transform the franchise. Still, he gives them options. He’s the kind of player they’d almost certainly take with that pick.

The 14th pick? That, I think, the Suns would gladly accept.

Paired with Phoenix’s 29th overall pick, it would signal the true beginning of a youth movement. You’d have Dunn and Ighodaro from last season, plus three fresh draft picks this year. Throw in Devin Booker and Devin Vassell — the “Double D’s” — and then Harrison Barnes and Jeremy Sochan to see how they fit. Chances are, Barnes and Sochan might be released next year for cap flexibility, giving the Suns the freedom to swing on free agents when the timing is right.

Is it a perfect trade? No. Nothing in this situation will be perfect. You have to envision the best possible outcome, one that balances short-term flexibility with long-term growth. The short term being the next three years, the long term the next decade.

For Phoenix, this could be an opportunity to ease some of the pressure they’re under. It might not mean the Suns are ultra-competitive next season, but with the Western Conference rising, maybe it’s time for the Suns to take stock, embrace a soft rebuild, and aim to be competitive in two or three years.

With Devin Booker in his prime, that would be the ultimate win, given the scenario they currently find themselves in.

What do you think? Are you on board with this train? Am I crazy for not including the third overall pick? Would it kill you to see Kevin Durant land in San Antonio, or would it just give you more reasons to hate? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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