The Golden State Warriors are facing a long summer full of franchise-defining decisions. First and foremost, they must decide whether Steve Kerr will return to the hot seat or embark on a search for a new head coach. Then, the futures of potential free agents De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford will need to be addressed, with both players holding player options for next season.
Of course, Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr. will also need to figure out what the team is missing, and whether it’s time to begin a wider-scale retooling process or continue doubling down on the final years of the Stephen Curry era. If the front office chooses to push forward with the latter, they could find themselves back in the market for another star-level talent during the offseason.
Therefore, Golden State could once again find itself linked with a move for Kevin Durant. Like Curry and Draymond Green, Durant is in the final stages of his career. His first season with the Houston Rockets is about to come to a disappointing end, and there’s no guarantee he will be back with the team for the start of the 2026-27 season.
In a recent article from Michael Pina of The Ringer, the Warriors were listed among a sizeable group of teams that should be expected to show interest in a trade for Durant, assuming the Rockets look to cut their losses this summer.
“The Rockets thought that KD was their missing piece, and instead, there’s a chance they’ll turn him into a stepping stone this summer. It turns out that your best player shouldn’t also be a mercenary,” Pina wrote. “But despite that, the Heat, Timberwolves, Blazers, Mavericks, Pistons, Knicks, Raptors, Hawks, Magic, Lakers, Nuggets, Hornets, Bulls, Wizards, Warriors, Pacers, Jazz, Sixers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Bucks, and Clippers would all have varying degrees of interest—pending how the rest of these playoffs go.”
Durant has been linked with moves back to the Bay Area before; however, they’ve never materialized. However, if he wants a shot at another championship before retiring, returning to the Warriors to team back up with Curry is arguably his best bet.
Of course, nothing regarding Durant’s future is set in stone right now. Unfortunately, that means Warriors fans will likely need to prepare for another summer of speculation, especially regarding Durant.
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors named among teams who could be interested in Kevin Durant
Reporting by Adam Taylor, Warriors Wire / Warriors Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
