Kevin Durant Betting Odds Update: Suns, Nets, Raptors Favored

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Kevin Durant Betting Odds Update: Suns, Nets, Raptors Favored
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NBA offseasons have traditionally been filled with drama. There was Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s beef with the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James shifting the culture of the league on numerous occasions, and Kevin Durant turning the Golden State Warriors into a juggernaut.  

The marquee player moves have remained the same, and now sportsbooks have started to let bettors wager on where a player is headed next. And once again, one of the biggest player markets is on Durant’s future. DraftKings Sportsbook has odds listed on where Durant is favored to go next, with the Phoenix Suns currently at +135 leading the way.  

Here is a breakdown of some of the favorites to secure Durant for the 2022-23 NBA season.  

Phoenix Suns +135 

When Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on June 30, he listed the Suns as one of his preferred destinations. Adding Durant to a lineup with Chris Paul and Devin Booker would immediately make the Suns NBA title favorites. Currently, Phoenix has the third-best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook at +650.  

Durant to Phoenix will likely depend on what happens with Deandre Ayton. It’s been reported the Suns are attempting to trade Ayton out of Phoenix on a sign-and-trade to secure Durant, but the Suns would likely need a third team to pull this deal off because the Nets are past the luxury tax to take on Ayton in a sign-and-trade.  

The Suns do have the assets to entice another team to get involved. They could throw in Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder or Landry Shamet to make a deal work, but there are a lot of pieces to figure out before Durant can make his way to Phoenix.  

Brooklyn Nets +250 

The fluid news landscape can shift these player prop odds quickly. The Nets have seen their odds drop with the latest report from Bleacher Report that the team is not operating “with any sense of urgency to move Durant.” Brooklyn could hold tight with both Kyrie Irving and Durant if a trade package does not pique its interest.  

Adding veteran Royce O’Neale this offseason also points to the Nets preparing to contend this year. If they were set to tank and rebuild, they wouldn’t have gone out and added a reliable perimeter player. Also, it’s possible Durant sees a core with a rehabilitated Ben Simmons and Irving as his best chance to win next season.  

Toronto Raptors +380 

Toronto’s odds shift can be attributed to the latest report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reported the easiest Durant trade for Brooklyn would be with the Raptors.  

“That’s the least complicated deal and people should keep watching as the Raptors stay involved in these conversations,” Wojnarowski said.  

Toronto has an established All-Star in Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, in addition to the reigning rookie of the year, Scottie Barnes. But the Raptors have made it known they will not include Barnes in any trade, which could affect its chances of securing Durant.  

Miami Heat +1400 

The Heat were Durant’s other preferred destination, but he made it known he wants to play with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry. But if you take those players out of a potential trade to Brooklyn, what’s left for the Nets to get back to want them to send Durant out? Tyler Herro? I doubt the Nets would send Durant away when the best return is a sixth man.  

But if there’s a team that has found a way to lure big names, it’s the Heat. Miami brought in Shaquille O’Neal in 2004 and then acquired James and Chris Bosh in 2010. Perhaps Pat Riley has one more blockbuster he can pull off.  

Golden State Warriors +1400 

When the Durant market was listed, he was at +2500 to rejoin his former team. But reports are current members of the Warriors and Durant would be open to a reunion. The Warriors have solid young talent such as Jordan Poole, James Wiseman, Moses Moddy and Jonathan Kuminga, in addition to Andrew Wiggins, who had an All-Star season and flourished in the NBA Finals.  

Still, it’s uncertain whether the Warriors organization would be willing to blow up its core for another run with Durant. The team just won a title by developing a new core around Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson and is currently built for success going forward with this younger group.