Kevin Durant Reportedly Prefers Heat, Spurs, Rockets as Landing Spots amid NBA Rumors

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant reportedly sees the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs as "appealing" landing spots as trade rumors continue to swirl.

Jake Fischer reported the latest news via the Stein Line newsletter.

"It is widely presumed, furthermore, that landing with the Spurs or Rockets in Texas is highly appealing to the player himself," Fischer wrote.

Fischer noted that the Sputs and Rockets (and the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors, to a "lesser extent") "have also been frequently mentioned by executives throughout the league as teams with varying degrees of interest in trading for Durant."

The Athletic's Sam Amick, Jon Krawczysnki and Kelly Iko later reported that Durant "prefers to play for the San Antonio Spurs or the Houston Rockets."

ESPN's Shams Charania also confirmed Durant reportedly prefers the Spurs and Rockets, while adding that the Suns star also prefers the Miami Heat.

He added the Suns "have made clear to six-to-eight seriously interested teams that they will make the best deal for the franchise – even outside of his preferred list of Miami, San Antonio and Houston."

Durant is all but out of Phoenix at this point. Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic reported Friday, via league sources, that KD will be traded in "the coming days."

Shams Charania of ESPN reported on the Pat McAfee Show Friday that the Rockets, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves appeared to be the top three teams in the running right now.

Although the Spurs and Rockets are reportedly coveted by Durant, the Suns may not end up dealing him to a "preffered" landing spot, per Fischer.

"League sources say that the Suns have also signaled to potential suitors that they very well could opt in the end for a trade that doesn't dispatch Durant to one of his preferred landing spots."

Per Spotrac, Durant has one year left on his contract worth $54.7 million. And per Yahoo Sports' Andy Backstrom, Durant would be eligible to sign a two-year extension worth up to $122 million on July 6 after he's dealt.

Durant, who turns 37 in September, averaged 26.6 points on 52.7 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season. He's played 17 NBA seasons but obviously still has plenty left in the tank based on his production last year.

So it's no surprise there's solid interest in the 15-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA player. Ultimately, he'll be heading somewhere soon. The only question is where and for whom and what.