Kevin Durant’s time with the Golden State Warriors is one of the most remarkable and polarizing chapters in modern NBA history. His move to the Warriors in 2016, following their devastating loss to Cleveland in the Finals, was widely seen as a move to enhance his chances of securing a championship. Durant played a critical role in the Warriors’ back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018, cementing his place among the game’s elite. However, after three seasons and two Finals MVPs, Durant left for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019, causing a mix of surprise, speculation, and intrigue.
Over the years, Durant has openly discussed his relationship with the Warriors, his decision to leave, and the aftermath. One particular topic that always seemed to linger was the possibility of a trade during his time in Golden State, especially during moments when tensions appeared to rise between him and the Warriors’ front office or other players. The rumors surrounding these potential trades were fuelled by his brief moments of frustration with the team, his public comments, and the NBA’s relentless speculation machine.
Durant’s comments on why the Warriors never traded him during his time there are enlightening, revealing not only the complexity of his relationship with the franchise but also the broader NBA culture that continues to dominate narratives. To fully understand why a Durant trade never came to fruition, we need to look at multiple factors: Durant’s importance to the Warriors’ dominance, the intricacies of NBA trade dynamics, and Durant’s own perspective on his career and relationships with his teammates.
The Golden State Warriors’ Dynasty and Durant’s Role
Kevin Durant’s arrival in Golden State was a moment of seismic impact in the NBA. The Warriors had already won an NBA championship in 2015 and set an NBA record for regular-season wins with 73 the following year. Their roster, featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, was already among the most potent in NBA history. Durant joining this powerhouse made them the prohibitive favorites for the next few seasons, and they would go on to dominate the league for the next three years, making it to three consecutive NBA Finals.
Durant’s individual success during his time with the Warriors was undeniable. He won two Finals MVPs and averaged 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists over three seasons. His skills meshed beautifully with the Warriors’ system, elevating their offense to a level that had never been seen before. His ability to stretch the floor, defend multiple positions, and create offense for others made him an integral part of the Warriors’ success.
However, despite all the on-court success, Durant’s time in Golden State was also fraught with tension, especially towards the end of his tenure. While the Warriors won two championships with Durant, rumors swirled about his future with the team. Some believed that Durant wasn’t fully happy, and the often-discussed rift between him and Draymond Green only added fuel to the fire. In November 2018, a heated argument between Durant and Green during a regular-season game against the Clippers made headlines, further fueling speculation about Durant’s future in Golden State.
The Trade Rumors: Why It Didn’t Happen
Despite Durant’s clear dissatisfaction at times and the growing chatter about his potential departure, there was never a real serious discussion about trading him while he was still a Warrior. In the 2018-19 season, particularly, the rumors began to circulate that Durant might be on his way out, with Brooklyn or the New York Knicks emerging as his likely destinations. However, the reality is that there was little interest in trading Durant from Golden State’s side. The Warriors were a championship-contending team with one of the most talented rosters in NBA history. Trading Durant would have been an unimaginable move for a team with such lofty goals.
Durant himself has addressed this issue, pointing out that the Warriors never seriously considered trading him. The primary reason for this, as Durant has explained, is the immense value he brought to the team. In his own words, “I was too valuable to be traded.” Durant knew that his presence was integral to the Warriors’ success. He was the centerpiece of their offense, and his ability to elevate his game in the postseason was unmatched. The Warriors understood that trading Durant would have been a move that could undermine their championship aspirations, especially considering how dominant the Warriors had been with him in the lineup.
Furthermore, the timing was never right. The Warriors were in the midst of a championship window, and trading Durant would have been seen as a setback that could jeopardize their place at the top of the NBA. General Manager Bob Myers and the front office recognized Durant’s value and knew that moving him would require a return of equal caliber—a near-impossible task given Durant’s status as one of the best players in the world.
Durant also pointed to another critical factor: the Warriors’ internal culture. While the team wasn’t perfect and there were clear moments of discord, Durant acknowledged that the team was committed to winning. He recognized the level of respect the Warriors had for his talent and how much they relied on him during critical moments. Even though Durant was rumored to be unhappy, the Warriors’ priority was always centered around winning another championship, and trading him would have put that goal in jeopardy.
The Relationship with Draymond Green and the Front Office
A major part of the narrative around Durant’s potential trade talks is his relationship with Draymond Green. The infamous on-court altercation in November 2018 during a regular-season game against the Clippers is often seen as the tipping point in Durant’s relationship with the Warriors. Green and Durant exchanged heated words on the court, and Green’s comments about Durant potentially leaving the team fueled speculation about Durant’s future in Golden State.
Despite the tension between Green and Durant, both players have since publicly stated that they put the incident behind them. Durant acknowledged that the confrontation, while heated, was ultimately a reflection of the passion both players had for winning. Green, in turn, admitted that his words to Durant were motivated by frustration over the team’s performance and the upcoming uncertainty about Durant’s free agency.
However, the front office, led by Bob Myers, was also an important factor in Durant’s decision not to leave or push for a trade. Myers was known for maintaining a calm and professional demeanor during Durant’s tenure in Golden State, and he worked hard to keep the peace. The Warriors had a championship-first mentality, and Myers, along with the coaching staff, emphasized that their collective goal was to stay focused on basketball, not personal drama. Durant, despite his frustrations, also understood this and respected the organization’s commitment to winning.
Durant’s Free Agency and Departure
Despite the Warriors’ unwavering commitment to him and their efforts to keep the team intact, Durant ultimately left for the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2019. This decision was largely influenced by Durant’s desire for a new challenge and his interest in carving out his legacy outside of the shadow of Golden State. He wanted to build something of his own, and the idea of leading a team to a championship without the built-in support of the Warriors’ superstar roster was appealing to him.
From Durant’s perspective, the decision to leave was also a reflection of his personal growth. His time in Golden State had been invaluable in terms of winning championships and solidifying his place among the league’s elite players. But it was also clear to him that he needed to step away from the comfort of the Warriors to define himself more clearly as an individual. Durant wanted to write his own story, away from the superteam narrative that had defined his first few years in the Bay Area.
The Warriors’ front office, despite knowing they would lose Durant, understood his decision. They knew that Durant was always going to be a player who valued his independence and his desire for a larger role in shaping a team. And, despite the occasional friction during their time together, the Warriors never seemed to consider trading Durant because of how essential he was to their championship ambitions.
In the end, the reason why Kevin Durant was never traded by the Golden State Warriors comes down to a combination of factors: his immense value to the team, the Warriors’ championship window, and the organizational commitment to winning. Durant was simply too important to be moved, and the Warriors were willing to make the necessary adjustments to keep him happy while remaining focused on their ultimate goal of winning titles. Though there were tensions and rumors about his future, the Warriors prioritized their on-court success and understood the importance of keeping their championship core intact.
Durant’s eventual departure to the Brooklyn Nets was the result of his personal desire for a new challenge and a legacy that was his own. And while his time in Golden State was short-lived, it was undeniably successful, and Durant’s two Finals MVPs will forever be a testament to his greatness. The trade rumors, while an intriguing side story, were ultimately just that—rumors. The Warriors understood the value of Durant too well to let him go, and Durant himself knew that his journey in Golden State was more about growth and championships than anything else.
Leave a Reply