Warriors Consider Trade for Kevin Durant Over Anthony Davis Rumors

Anthony Davis' potential return to the Golden State Warriors has generated one blockbuster trade scenario after another, but a recent proposal suggests another former NBA MVP would make more sense beside Stephen Curry.

What happened?

On July 16, CBS Sports writer Sam Quinn advocated for the Warriors to consider a trade for Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant, arguing that the team should prioritize another high-level scorer after retaining Kristaps Porziņģis and working toward a new deal with Draymond Green.

Why it matters for Anthony Davis

Quinn's proposal was a response to the Warriors' current roster construction and their widely reported interest in acquiring Davis. The team has explored a plan involving signing LeBron James and trading for Davis, which would likely require Golden State to send out Jimmy Butler's $56.8 million expiring salary and potentially meaningful draft compensation.

What comes next?

Durant would address a different weakness for the Warriors, providing another player capable of carrying an offense when Curry sits or encounters aggressive double-teams. Even at 37, Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists for Houston during the 2025-26 season.

The Warriors would need to offer both matching salary and draft capital significant enough to persuade Houston to change direction. However, this proposal faces major obstacles, including Houston's motivation to trade Durant and his history with the Warriors.

Durant signed a reported two-year, $90 million extension with the Rockets in October 2025, including a player option. He has never seemed interested in returning to Golden State, making this more of a roster argument than an inevitable reunion.

The Warriors' decision to prioritize another high-level scorer over Davis will be a crucial factor in determining their roster construction for the upcoming season. With Durant's ability to create efficient shots without dominating the ball, he would make a natural offensive partner for Curry.

A Curry-Durant pairing would also come with considerably less basketball uncertainty than most aging-star combinations. During Durant's first Golden State tenure, the Warriors reached three consecutive NBA Finals and won championships in 2017 and 2018.

Golden State would be betting that the same basic formula-Curry's movement, Durant's isolation scoring, and Green's playmaking-could still overwhelm defenses in shorter postseason stretches. Davis offers more defensive value, but adding him alongside Porziņģis and Green could leave the Warriors overly dependent on Curry for perimeter shot creation.

The Warriors' decision to pursue Durant over Davis will be a significant factor in determining their roster construction for the upcoming season. With Durant's ability to create efficient shots without dominating the ball, he would make a natural offensive partner for Curry.

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