Top 5 NBA Teams Most Impacted by Kevin Durant Trade for 2025-26

5) Washington Wizards

You're probably wondering what the Washington Wizards have to do with the Durant deal. Well, not only does this blockbuster directly impact them, but they may be the biggest winner of this entire situation. Heading into next season, the Wizards currently own the rights to swap first-round picks with the Suns in the 2026 NBA Draft. Assuming Washington earns a top-eight pick in next year's draft lottery, they could be in a position to have two chances at the No. 1 overall pick if Phoenix finds itself in the lottery when it's all said and done at the end of next season. If the Suns do indeed have a down year and accompany the Wizards in next year's NBA Draft lottery, Washington's odds to earn the top pick and AJ Dybantsa, who many expect to be the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 draft class, increase.

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1) Houston Rockets

The team most impacted by this deal is the Rockets. Houston managed to land a top 10 player in the league while giving up a package that many deemed a lackluster return for the Phoenix Suns, who dealt a large portion of their future away to acquire Durant from the Brooklyn Nets in 2023. Although the future Hall of Famer is 36, coming off a dominant season averaging 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 62 games, it's clear that Durant has plenty left in the tank to offer the Rockets moving forward, giving them a small championship window.

Odds to Win the NBA Championship Prior to Durant Trade: +1300

Odds to Win the NBA Championship Following Durant Trade: +800

2) San Antonio Spurs

When the writing on the wall became clear that Durant's tenure in Phoenix was nearing an end, the talented forward made it known where his preferred destinations in a potential deal would be. Undoubtedly, the top team on that list was the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs seemed like a no-brainer team to get this deal done with their abundance of young talent and future picks, but it was clear early on that San Antonio had little to no interest in bargaining any of their young assets away in a deal to land an aging star. Had the Spurs acquired Durant, they would have immediately become a contending team in the Western Conference, but at the expense of their future, the small championship window wasn't worth the risk for a team already on the rise with a bright future. Instead, the Spurs opted to keep their assets intact with the possibility of pursuing another star that closely aligns with their timeline.

Odds to Win the NBA Championship Prior to Durant Trade: +1800

Odds to Win the NBA Championship Following Durant Trade: +2200

3) Miami Heat

Another team mentioned in Durant's list of preferred landing spots was the Miami Heat. Miami found itself on the preferred list of landing spots from the forward a few years back when his time in Brooklyn came to an end. However, much like the past, Pat Riley was once again unable to get a deal done to land the star. With the Heat once again missing out on a top talent who listed South Beach as an ideal landing spot, it's fair to wonder if Riley, who's stuck in his ways of the past, will be able to build a contender any time soon.

Odds to Win the NBA Championship Prior to Durant Trade: +10000

Odds to Win the NBA Championship Following Durant Trade: +25000

4) Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns may arguably be the biggest losers of this deal. Not only did the Suns struggle to acquire any of their preferred young players in this deal from Houston, but by landing Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, Phoenix somehow managed to get further into the second round. In addition to their financial crisis, the team's current roster construction adds to their troubles with a surplus of shooting guards, a lack of frontcourt help, and no true point guard. In addition, Phoenix didn't manage to reacquire any of their future picks from the Rockets in the deal. Not only are the Suns inching closer to a rebuild than they are to contending, but their lack of assets to retool their roster makes their future look dim.

Odds to Win the NBA Championship Prior to Durant Trade: +20000

Odds to Win the NBA Championship Following Durant Trade: +30000

5) Washington Wizards

You're probably wondering what the Washington Wizards have to do with the Durant deal. Well, not only does this blockbuster directly impact them, but they may be the biggest winner of this entire situation. Heading into next season, the Wizards currently own the rights to swap first-round picks with the Suns in the 2026 NBA Draft. Assuming Washington earns a top-eight pick in next year's draft lottery, they could be in a position to have two chances at the No. 1 overall pick if Phoenix finds itself in the lottery when it's all said and done at the end of next season. If the Suns do indeed have a down year and accompany the Wizards in next year's NBA Draft lottery, Washington's odds to earn the top pick and AJ Dybantsa, who many expect to be the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 draft class, increase.

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