DETROIT – Even though the Detroit Pistons and President Trajan Langdon have repeatedly stated that they will be patient this summer, they remain a constant presence in the national media, with trade rumors including those involving future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame forward Kevin Durant.
The speculation intensified this week when several national pundits named the Pistons as one of their preferred destinations for Durant.
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The reality of trading for Durant is daunting, given his age and the cost of acquiring him, which would likely require the trade of at least three players or the involvement of a third team.
The Phoenix Suns would likely want a couple of young players in return to secure a deal, as Durant is a no-brainer; even at 36, he remains an elite scorer.
The Slim Reaper, or the Easy Money Sniper, was selected for his 15th All-Star team during the 2024-25 season.
With the Suns, the Durantula averaged 26.6 points per game, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 62 games this season.
Durant, in the last three seasons, has averaged 25 points per game on 50% shooting from the field while knocking down 40% from beyond the arc, which is the longest streak in NBA history, according to ESPN.
The catch is that Durant is in the final year of his deal, so any team that acquires him will have to offer him a new contract for the trade to be finalized.
Durant is one of the greatest scorers in league history, but the Pistons clearly cannot deplete their roster for a player who will be 37 in September.
However, there is a reason that their team is being mentioned in the national media.
Langdon recently expressed confidence that such a player could emerge from the group, which includes Jaden Ivey, who is coming off a gruesome injury, Jalen Duren, Ron Holland II, and Ausar Thompson, but these players are no Durant.
The Pistons made an incredible jump with those guys last season, overcoming a 14-68 season to a 30-game improvement, going 44-38 to secure the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference behind head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
However, adding Durant alongside Cade Cunningham is something that can revive the old-school Detroit Bad Boys identity in the Motor City.
NBA Insider Zach Lowe called Detroit a fun destination for Durant. He put out a proposed deal that would land Durant.
Although it was a hypothetical idea, what Detroit is giving up doesn’t seem that bad.
| Detroit Pistons receive | Phoenix Suns receive |
|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | Jaden Ivey |
| Tobias Harris | |
| Isaiah Stewart | |
| Future 1st-round pick |
The Pistons were just a blown call and a couple of missed shots away from defeating the New York Knicks in their first-round series. Imagine if they had a bona fide closer in those matchups.
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New York made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, but they were in a dogfight against the young core of the Pistons.
--> Heartbreak in Detroit: Knicks eliminate Pistons in Game 6 as Brunson delivers late-game heroics
According to Stephen A. Smith, the Pistons are among his top five destinations for Durant during Monday’s (June 9) episode of ESPN’s First Take.
.@stephenasmith gives us his top five destinations for KD and Giannis this offseason 🗣️ 🔥
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 9, 2025
You'll never guess who's number one on both lists 👀 pic.twitter.com/TJKyFCKbw4
Smith believes a pairing of Cunningham and Durant would be advantageous for the Pistons, which is why he doubled back on Thursday, June 12, 2025, episode of First Take, this time with Michigander Erving “Magic” Johnson as a guest.
Stephen A Smith drops his four team that should land #KevinDurant and he and Magic agree on one team!!! Story loading… pic.twitter.com/bLfgWsudFL
— Brandon L. Carr (@Carrpediem21) June 12, 2025
Smith reiterated his top four potential landing spots for Durant: “In no particular order, I would say the Knicks, Miami, Houston, Detroit.”
Magic responded, “Ohh, that would be wonderful.”
Magic stated that Detroit needs Durant to help close out games, something they struggled with in the playoffs against the Knicks, who eliminated them in six games (4-2).
“Cunningham is still learning,” Magic said. “But you need a guy like Kevin Durant.”
“Kevin Durant would make Cunningham even better,” Smith said. “So he’s not taking away from the Pistons; he’s an addition, not a subtraction.”
Adding the four-time scoring champion, 11-time All-NBA selection, two-time NBA Champion, NBA regular season Most Valuable Player, and two-time Finals MVP would be the ultimate addition.
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