NBA Trade Rumors: Buy or Sell Latest Buzz Around Kevin Durant, Trae Young, More

The NBA postseason is just getting started, although trade season isn't far away, either.

We're already hearing whispers (and sometimes on-the-record quotes) regarding the futures of stars like Zion Williamson, Kevin Durant, Lauri Markkanen, Trae Young and others heading into a busy summer.

Could a new head coach actually keep Durant happy in Phoenix? What will a revamped front office in New Orleans do with Zion Williamson? Should we believe Lauri Markkanen saying he wants to stay with a 17-65 Utah Jazz team?

It's time to buy or sell the latest NBA trade buzz.

Jonathan Kuminga Linked to Brooklyn Nets

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The divorce between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors has been brewing for years now ever since the young forward "lost faith" in head coach Steve Kerr last season.

Now currently outside of the Warriors' rotation despite being the team's third-leading scorer, there's no reason Kuminga should want to re-sign in Golden State this summer.

Any rebuilding team should be linked to the 22-year-old athletic forward given his All-Star potential.

According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Brooklyn Nets have "long loomed as a potential suitor" for Kuminga, who was also B/R's top trade target for the franchise at the deadline. 

This makes a lot of sense for both sides, as the 26-56 Nets are undergoing a complete rebuild and possess $60.7 million in cap space this summer. No other team could make Kuminga a better offer in free agency, one that the Warriors have the right to match but may be forced not to with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler set to earn $113 million by themselves.

Brooklyn owns four first-round picks in the 2025 draft and should be going hard after Kuminga in free agency. Outside of Cam Thomas (also a restricted free agent) there's not a lot of young talent to build around.

The Nets make the most sense for Kuminga from a developmental and financial aspect.

Buy or Sell: Buy Kuminga to the Nets as a very realistic fit.

Lauri Markkanen, Jazz Want to Stay Together

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Lauri Markkanen is officially eligible to be traded for the first time since last August when he agreed to a massive renegotiation and extension of his contract that will now pay the 2023 All-Star $196 million over the next four years.

The 27-year-old seems like an ideal trade candidate given that the Utah Jazz had the worst record in the NBA this season (17-65) and seem destined to miss the playoffs at least one more year.

For now, both Markkanen and the Jazz are saying that a trade isn't what anyone wants.

“I feel like what I did last summer with signing here, that kind of tells you the confidence I have in the organization and the guys we have. I love being in Utah. We’ll see what happens in summer, there’s things that you can’t control, but I love being here and working out with the guys that we have and building this thing," Markkanen told Sarah Todd of the Deseret News.

Utah's front office has hedged slightly as well, but put out a similar message.

“We’ll see when opportunities come up to add to the roster, but I see Lauri as a central part of what we’re doing, that’s why we signed him,” Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said via Todd. “We think he can be a huge piece for us as we join the competitive rings.”

Unfortunately, Utah plays in the Western Conference so these "competitive rings" that Zanik talks about could be years away. 

In the 47 games that Markkanen played this season, the Jazz only went 9-38 overall and have a roster full of young, mostly unproven players. Utah has the draft picks to trade for some veteran talent, although that would go against what the franchise has been building.

Coming off a down season by his standards (19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 34.6 percent from three), Markkanen probably should stay with the Jazz unless a big summer offer comes around. Selling low now wouldn't make sense for Utah if Markkanen is indeed content.

Buy or Sell: Sell Markkanen making it past the trade deadline in Utah, buy him staying put this summer unless the Jazz get a huge offer.

New Suns Head Coach Could Keep Kevin Durant in Phoenix

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A Kevin Durant trade off the sinking ship known as the USS Phoenix Suns seems inevitable this summer, especially with the veteran heading into the final year of his contract.

Could a new head coach (his fourth in four years) really make Durant want to stay?

"However, if the Suns can find a coach… that is largely respected by the players in the league, there can be a possibility in which (Kevin) Durant is still a member of the Suns," NBA Inside Chris Haynes reported.

Haynes also said that it is still "very likely" that Durant will be moved.

It's unclear who this new head coaching savior would be. Unless said coach can also play point guard, defend all five positions and find a team to take Bradley Beal's contract off the books, he's not going to solve any of the real issues in Phoenix.

A Durant trade is going to happen.

The Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves could all use Durant's scoring and veteran presence. The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks could be sneaky landing spots as well.

With one year and $54.7 million remaining on his contract, Durant will want a new home where he can compete for a championship and get paid at least one more time on a multi-year deal.

The Suns no longer check these boxes.

Buy or Sell: Sell a coaching change preventing a Durant trade. He's gone.

'Organizational Exasperation' May Cause Pelicans to Shop Zion Williamson

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Joe Dumars, the new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, has a lot of talent to work with on his current roster, even if some of it isn't exactly available most of the time.

The biggest decision Dumars will make this offseason is the future of Zion Williamson, who's only played an average of 36 games in his six years in New Orleans.

NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that there is some "organizational exasperation" surrounding Williamson given his lack of availability, which is completely understandable even given his immense talent.

"...there is skepticism in some corners of the league that the Pelicans will actually persist with Williamson as their franchise centerpiece... especially if they are fortunate enough to come away with the No. 1 pick in the May draft lottery and the right to select Duke's Cooper Flagg," Stein and Fischer wrote.

Now seems like a perfect time to trade Williamson given the front office change and a new high draft pick en route to build around.

Low offers may force the Pelicans to change this plan, although there should still be enough potential surrounding the 24-year-old for both rebuilding and contending teams to have interest.

Buy or Sell: Buy the Pelicans wanting a fresh start and shopping Williamson.

Trae Young Has 'Bought in' to Atlanta Hawks' Young Core

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Play-in losses to the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat meant no playoffs for the Atlanta Hawks for the second-straight year. In the four seasons since the Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals, Atlanta has amassed just three total playoff wins and failed to make it past the first round.

No one would blame Trae Young for requesting a trade at this point.

The Hawks have employed four different head coaches over the past five seasons, just fired general manager Landry Fields and are now searching for a President of Basketball Operations. The franchise is stuck in mediocrity and Young has just one guaranteed year remaining on his contract before potentially becoming a free agent in 2026.

Despite all of this, Young is reportedly happy in Atlanta.

"So he’s somebody who, again, just told me a week, a week and a half ago, that he’s down with the process. He wants to see this Atlanta Hawks squad turn the corner and he wants to be a pivotal part in that," NBA Insider Chris Haynes shared on The Dan Patrick Show.

Young is eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million max extension with Atlanta this summer, so he could always look to get paid now and ask out later.

The Hawks do have some interesting young pieces with No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, Defensive Player of the Year finalist Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson, who made an All-Star-caliber leap this past season.

Young would also be the perfect fit on a team like the Orlando Magic, an elite defensive squad in need of playmaking that could make a leap towards the top of the East with the addition of the four-time All-Star.

Buy or Sell: Sell Young truly being happy in Atlanta despite saying all the right things. The two sides should explore trade opportunities this summer.