As the Denver Nuggets navigate the 2025 NBA playoffs, their quest for another championship has exposed a critical need: a consistent second scoring option to complement Nikola Jokić.
With the team facing challenges in maintaining offensive firepower, speculation is swirling about a blockbuster move this offseason.
One name that has surfaced as a potential target is Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant.
On Wednesday, Forbes’ Evan Sidery fueled the conversation, writing, “One team who should seriously consider making a push for a Kevin Durant trade this summer is the Nuggets. It’s on full display in the playoffs ... Denver needs another consistent alpha scorer to take some burden off Nikola Jokic. A Jokic/Durant pairing would be lethal offensively.”
Sidery’s point resonates as Denver’s playoff performance has highlighted the strain on Jokić to carry the offense, especially in high-stakes moments.
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A trade for Durant would be a seismic shift for the Nuggets. The 36-year-old, two-time NBA champion remains one of the league’s premier scorers, averaging 27.1 points per game this season with elite efficiency.
Pairing Durant’s versatility with Jokić’s playmaking could create an offensive juggernaut, capable of stretching defenses thin and exploiting mismatches.
Denver’s current core—Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon—has championship pedigree, but Durant’s addition could elevate them to a new level.
However, pulling off such a trade would be complex. Denver would likely need to offer a package centered around young talent like Christian Braun, draft picks, and possibly Michael Porter Jr., whose contract aligns with Durant’s $49.9 million salary for 2025-26.
Salary cap gymnastics and Phoenix’s other (perhaps superior) offers for Durant would be hurdles for Denver.
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