Why it makes sense for the Warriors to pursue a deal for Kevin Durant

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, how the financially cornered Suns – who have three great players (Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal) but not much else – salvage their future is a "mystery." Beal has a no-trade clause, so moving either Booker or Durant might be necessary.  

Here's why a Warriors deal for Durant makes sense: 

Assets

The Warriors have the assets to trade for Durant in promising young players (Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody), veterans (Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul) and first-round picks. 

Although a first-round draft pick or a good, young player such as 21-year-old Kuminga (16.1 PPG) might feel premature to part ways with, the likelihood of either becoming a perennial All-Star talent or coming close to Durant's impact seems slim. 

Age

Although Curry will turn 36 on March 14, he is still a world-class talent (26.4 PPG this season) capable of leading a team with better players on a long postseason run.

Golden State has already burned some of Curry's prime with inexperienced, poorly constructed rosters the past two seasons. The Warriors' lack size and a great second option while rostering an abundance of 20-something players whom head coach Steve Kerr doesn't seem to trust with extensive playing time.

The Warriors owe it to their fans, themselves and their once-in-a-generation superstar to push all their chips in the middle to maximize Curry's prime. 

Fit

The Warriors and Durant (27.1 PPG and 6.6 RPG this season) have already proved to be a seamless fit. 

A Durant return to Golden State would allow him to play his natural position of small forward again, as the Warriors still have their defensive anchor in 34-year-old Draymond Green (8.6 PPG and 7.2 RPG) to lean on.

Durant, a two-time NBA Finals MVP with the Warriors, would have the opportunity to preserve his body, leaving the banging and bumping with power forwards to Green. 

Though Green had a tumultuous 2023-24 season due to his on-court behavior and suspensions, he was still extremely impactful. Per StatMuse, the Warriors had a defensive rating of 113.5 when Green played compared to 121.1 when he didn't. 

Most importantly, though, Curry seems open to a reunion.

"We know our games gel, we know how to play basketball, so if it ended up being that, of course I'd love to play with him," Curry said of Durant during a 2023 appearance on The Ringer's "Real Ones" podcast (hat tip: NBC Sports Bay Area). 

Golden State has expressed interest in reuniting with Durant dating to 2022, so it's time for majority owner Joe Lacob and team brass to make a deal. The clock on Curry's prime is winding down.