The Oklahoma City Thunder have an opportunity to do something that would turn the NBA upside down and bring the franchise's history full circle. It's based on a once outlandish idea that has suddenly grown new legs in the aftermath of the latest 2025 blockbuster trade.
After Jimmy Butler was traded to the Golden State Warriors, the door seemingly opened for the Thunder to complete a move for Kevin Durant.
Butler had been linked to the Phoenix Suns throughout the 2024-25 regular season, but Bradley Beal's no-trade clause proved to be the ultimate hurdle. Beal reserves the right to veto trades, including a potential move to the Miami Heat, which may have ultimately made Butler unattainable.
That was finalized when Butler was officially acquired by the Warriors in a deal that extinguished the Suns' dreams of adding a new third star.
BREAKING: The Miami Heat are finalizing a deal to send Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/82mWHKCnVM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
With the 25-24 Suns sent back to the drawing board, it's fair to question if the franchise would consider hitting the reset button and building for the future.
Thunder reuniting with Kevin Durant is more realistic than ever before
Providing an attractive trade package to bring Durant back to Phoenix is far from an issue for Oklahoma City. They have an abundance of future first-round draft picks to entice the Suns with, as well as salaries that can be included to complete the deal from a financial perspective.
It's fair to question if the Thunder would be willing to part with the necessary players to bring a 36-year-old Durant back to Oklahoma City, but the opportunity may legitimately exist.
The Suns are struggling to stay above .500 despite investing heavily in the trio of Beal, Devin Booker, and Durant. It also revealed its cards as a franchise that isn't certain about how much they can achieve with their Big Three by expressing interest in swapping Beal for Butler.
If Oklahoma City can offer them a chance to load up on future first-round draft picks and potentially add a quality young talent, then it stands to reason that Phoenix would at least weigh the offer.
In a perfect world, the Thunder could complete the trade without giving up any one of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, or Jalen Williams. It would likely need to include Isaiah Hartenstein to make the salaries align, however, as well as either Luguenz Dort or Isaiah Joe, if not both players.
The returning package, however, would result in Oklahoma City adding a player who won MVP in its jersey and led the franchise to its only NBA Finals appearance in 2012.
Simply pairing Durant with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would give the Thunder an exceptional perimeter duo. Adding Holmgren or Williams to that group—or ideally both—would give Oklahoma a three or four-player core to which no team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics included, could compare.
It's a long shot, but with Butler out of the picture, Phoenix may actually be willing to trade Durant—and the Thunder could execute the most memorable NBA reunion in over a decade.