Giannis, Beal, Zion, DeRozan's Top Landing Spots After Kevin Durant Traded to Rockets
One of the biggest names on the trade market is now off the board, as the Phoenix Suns sent star forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
There are still multiple star players expected to be available this summer, including Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Phoenix Suns veteran Bradley Beal, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan.
Let's take a look at some of the top landing spots remaining for these players following Sunday's blockbuster trade between the Suns and Rockets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
1 of 4
- San Antonio Spurs
- New York Knicks
- Golden State Warriors
Antetokounmpo's priority with his next destination undoubtedly will be to compete for an NBA championship. While he won't be able to control his future with a no-trade clause, teams hoping to contend for a title should be lining up to acquire him.
The San Antonio Spurs have arguably the brightest future in the NBA. The team acquired star guard De'Aaron Fox this season and boasts the last two Rookie of the Year winners, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. San Antonio owns the No. 2 pick in this year's draft and will add another young player with superstar potential. Adding Antetokounmpo to the mix would speed up the timeline for the Spurs to emerge as title contenders.
The New York Knicks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals this year but disappointingly lost to the rival Indiana Pacers in six games. The Knicks made the drastic move to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau and could be motivated to make an even bigger splash by acquiring a star player. Antetokounmpo said last month that New York is his favorite road market to play in, so he could be the key to leading the franchise back to the mountaintop.
The Golden State Warriors have a veteran-laden group led by Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, but they would certainly welcome the opportunity to have Antetokounmpo join the band. Curry, in particular, has historically had a great relationship with Antetokounmpo, as the two of them have been complimentary of one another and showed incredible chemistry while competing together during All-Star Games.
The Warriors could go down as the last dynasty in the NBA amid the current era of parity within the league. Acquiring Antetokounmpo could help Curry and Green achieve their fifth NBA championship in Golden State before they end their respective legendary careers.
Bradley Beal
2 of 4
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Denver Nuggets
Finding a trade destination for Beal won't be easy for the Suns thanks to his expensive contract and his no-trade clause. The 31-year-old has also been on a bit of decline, playing in less than 55 games in each of the last four seasons.
In 2024-25, Beal appeared in 53 games with just 38 starts and averaged 17.0 points, his lowest scoring mark since his fourth year in the NBA in 2015-16. Still, he could be a reliable contributor in the right situation.
The Miami Heat have been linked to Beal dating back to his days with the Washington Wizards, and he could be an upgrade in the backcourt next to rising star guard Tyler Herro. The Heat will also need more shooting on the floor as they deploy a two-big lineup with star forward Bam Adebayo and All-Rookie second-team center Kel'el Ware.
The Orlando Magic would also be a welcome trade destination for the former Florida Gator. The Magic already made a splash by acquiring sharpshooting guard Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies, and bringing in Beal could provide a much-needed veteran presence alongside young stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
The Denver Nuggets are just two years removed from winning the NBA championship, but they've suffered from a lack of depth over the last couple of years. Acquiring Beal and potentially moving him to a bench role could be enough to help the Nuggets return to title contention.
Zion Williamson
3 of 4
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
After yet another disappointing year for Williamson, a fresh start could be necessary both for him and the Pelicans.
The 2019 No. 1 pick was limited to 30 games this season due to hamstring and back injuries, his third time playing less than 35 games in a season. He also missed the entire 2021-22 season while recovering from foot surgery.
When healthy, Williamson has shown signs of dominance. He averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals this season, though his inconsistent availability hindered New Orleans as the team finished with a 21-61 record.
As he tries to prove he's not a draft bust, Williamson needs a low-pressure situation where he won't draw too much attention. The Detroit Pistons are a team on the rise that could use an influx of talent, and pairing him with 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham could create a productive duo as they try to build off their run to the playoffs this year.
The Charlotte Hornets also present an intriguing destination for Williamson, as he would be closer to his home state of South Carolina. Adding him to a young core led by point guard LaMelo Ball and swingman Brandon Miller would give the Hornets an impressive trio to build around going forward.
The Portland Trail Blazers are still in the midst of a rebuild, but they showed signs of positivity as they went 36-46 this season. Still, they need some more star power if they hope to return to playoff contention. Williamson would be the big fish in a small pond in Portland, and he could help restore his reputation if he's able to turn the franchise around.
DeMar DeRozan
4 of 4
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Atlanta Hawks
DeRozan has been one of the most consistent players in the league, but an NBA championship has continued to elude him. He would surely be hoping to land with a team that could get him closer to earning his first career ring.
A native of Compton, California, DeRozan undoubtedly would welcome the opportunity to play for one of the Los Angeles teams, but the Lakers could be more of a fit for him than the Clippers. As Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka tries to add more talent around LeBron James and Luka Doncic, DeRozan could be the steady source of production they need to compete for an NBA title next year. His mid-range game would add a different dimension to the Lakers and open things up for their star duo.
The Eastern Conference is expected to be wide open next year, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are projected as one of the top contenders after going 64-18 this season. Pairing DeRozan with star guard Donovan Mitchell would give the Cavs one of the best offensive tandems in the league.
Similarly, the Atlanta Hawks are in need of a veteran presence next to star guard Trae Young. While the Hawks will need more improvements to emerge as title contenders next season, adding DeRozan would give them a better chance of making some noise in the East next year.
