Spurs must grant Kevin Durant his wish for unexpected reason

The San Antonio Spurs are in the running for Kevin Durant, but The Athletic reported that the team has been "conservative" in their pursuit of the superstar forward (subscription required). San Antonio is the team at the top of KD's trade wishlist, which is telling in itself. Trading for Durant will be a good test for the Spurs' ability to manage a star like the 36-year-old forward, who has left several teams because he no longer wanted to be there.

Durant has one season left on his current contract and could sign an extension this summer. The team that trades for him will want that assurance, but there is always the chance that he could be traded again before the deadline, or worse, sign with a new team in free agency. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Monday that KD doesn't want to be traded to Minnesota, so the Timberwolves would be taking a risk on him if they were to acquire him.

The Spurs would also be taking a risk. Star trades always present a level of risk, especially when it comes to what a team gives up for a player. San Antonio doesn't need to overpay for Durant, not when he's nearing the end of his career. If the Spurs can get him for the right price, they should do it. The front office would still need to handle his situation with caution, because the last thing they'd want is for KD to decide he doesn't want to stick around in San Antonio.

Spurs could prove themselves in trade for Kevin Durant

Everything changed for the Spurs when they won the 2023 draft lottery and selected Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick. The organization was already well-respected around the league, but adding a generational talent like Wemby led to star players wanting to be in San Antonio. De'Aaron Fox isn't on Durant's level, but the Spurs were at the top of his destination list.

Having Wembanyama as a teammate is enough reason to want to play in San Antonio, but it says a lot that Durant wants to be a Spur. He could retire with the organization, which would, of course, hopefully happen after he helps lead the team to a title. The key to getting that far will be keeping him happy, a task San Antonio should be able to handle. The Spurs are a step above the rest.

Durant won't be the first superstar to try to push their way to San Antonio to play with Wemby. The way his situation unfolds with the Spurs, if they trade for him, could lead to even more stars listing San Antonio as their primary destination. Small market teams can win big, too.