Warriors Consider Trade for Kevin Durant, a More Logical Fit Than Anthony Davis

Kevin Durant Would Be a More Logical Fit for the Warriors Than Anthony Davis

The Golden State Warriors' reported interest in Anthony Davis has generated numerous blockbuster scenarios, but CBS Sports writer Sam Quinn believes another former NBA MVP would make more sense beside Stephen Curry. Quinn advocated for Golden State to consider a trade for Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant, arguing that the Warriors should prioritize another high-level scorer after retaining Kristaps Porziņģis and working toward a new deal with Draymond Green.

What Makes Durant a More Logical Fit?

Quinn's proposal was a response to Golden State's current roster construction and its widely reported interest in acquiring Davis. The Warriors have explored a plan involving signing LeBron James and trading for Davis, according to a June 29 report. However, Davis would immediately improve Golden State's defense, rebounding, and interior scoring. The complication is that the Warriors already committed to Porziņģis, who reportedly signed a two-year, $40 million extension, and hope to retain Green after he declined his player option.

Durant would address a different weakness. Even at 37, Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists for Houston during the 2025-26 season. His ability to create efficient shots without dominating the ball would make him 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.

What Comes Next for Durant and the Warriors?

The first issue is Houston's motivation to trade him. Durant signed a reported two-year, $90 million extension with the Rockets in October 2025, including a player option. Houston would not be dealing an expiring player or operating under immediate pressure to move him. Golden State would likely need to offer both matching salary and draft capital significant enough to persuade Houston to change direction.

The other obstacle comes directly from Durant's history with the Warriors. Durant resisted a potential return to Golden State around the 2025 trade deadline and later confirmed that he helped prevent the proposed reunion. Quinn acknowledged that problem in his post, writing that Durant has "never seemed interested in returning to Golden State." That makes this more of a roster argument than an individual desire.

The Warriors' Decision

The Warriors 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. Durant would provide another player capable of carrying an offense when Curry sits or encounters aggressive double-teams. The Warriors would need to weigh the benefits of adding Durant against the challenges of trading for him, including the potential cost and the uncertain return on investment.

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