For a minute, it really seemed like the Warriors had a shot at bringing Kevin Durant back. Sam Amick of The Athletic (via FanDuel’s Run it Back) even said on Wednesday that the reunion was a real possibility. But just as quickly as the hype built up, it came crashing down. Shams Charania of ESPN shut it all down, reporting that KD has no interest in going back to Golden State. So yeah, if you were hoping for a KD-Warriors sequel, that dream is already over.

Kevin Durant’s last season with the Warriors wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, thanks to his infamous clash with Draymond Green. A lot of people still believe that tension pushed him to the door. And that might still be the #1 reason he doesn’t want to go back to Golden State. All those years ago, Green had reportedly called KD a b—h multiple times, in not the friendliest of ways.

In fact, things got so bad one day, compelling the Bay floor general to blurt: “We don’t need you. We won without you. Leave.” That was it. The Slim Reaper packed his bags, and off he went. Coming back to the present day, though, while Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause, Golden State “does not want to bring in a disgruntled superstar” anyway, per Chris Haynes.

But here’s where things get interesting—a blockbuster trade idea is making the rounds. This scenario would send KD to Miami, land Jimmy Butler and first-round picks in Phoenix, and move Josh Richardson, along with draft assets, to a 3rd team as reported by Jake Weinbach.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst weighed in on the Kevin Durant trade buzz on NBA Today. “A trade ‘KD for Jimmy Butler’ functionally works. The Suns are in a straitjacket in terms of making deals. They can make that deal,” he said. But hold on.

“Pat Riley and the Heat have wanted Kevin Durant at several times in the past,” he noted.

But despite the speculation, he reminded everyone that Phoenix’s goal was to build around Durant, not move him. “The concept for the Suns was to put them together, right? So I can’t say for sure what’s gonna happen there.”

He even hinted that another team could suddenly enter the mix. As for his own prediction? “If I had to guess right now, admitting that things are changing, I would say he either stays in Phoenix or is a Miami Heat by tomorrow afternoon.” The Heat should pounce at any chance of landing the Slim Reaper, shouldn’t they? Because he is better than Jimmy Buckets.

There, I said it.

How do Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler compare?

If the Heat can trade Jimmy Butler for KD, they should jump on it. Durant is the better player, and moving Butler would end the drama surrounding his indefinite suspension.

For the Suns, though, this deal makes little sense. As Brian Windhorst noted, Phoenix initially wanted Butler with Durant and Devin Booker, not as a replacement. Trading KD straight up for Butler doesn’t necessarily improve them too much.

If Phoenix wanted a shake-up, Bradley Beal would be the obvious choice to move. But his no-trade clause gives him full control, and teams aren’t eager to take on his $50+ million salary. That leaves just two options: Durant or Booker. And let’s be real—Booker isn’t going anywhere.

That makes Durant the only realistic trade piece, but swapping him for the 6x All-Star? That’s a tough sell. Durant is averaging 26.9 points on 39.8% from three, while Butler is putting up 17 points on 36.1%. That’s a major gap.

Yes, Butler thrives in the playoffs—he averaged 27.4 PPG in 2022 and 26.9 in 2023. But the 14x All-Star is even better, posting 29.3 PPG in the postseason with two rings to his name.

Unless Miami sweetens the deal or Phoenix is desperate for change, it’s hard to see why the Suns would go through with this.