NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Small Market Teams Who Could Land Kevin Durant

With the Phoenix Suns set to trade Kevin Durant this summer, all the usual suspects are lined up in pursuit... The Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks have all been mentioned as having interest. But are there any smaller-market teams that will be in the race?

According to Brad Botkin of CBS Sports, these five under-the-radar teams could also be in the running to land KD in an offseason trade:

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are not so 'under the radar' anymore, with Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox as a star one-two punch. But they still qualify as a small market team, and we've already heard that there is mutual interest between the Spurs and Durant for a potential pairing. We've looked at one proposed trade that could make this Wemby-KD dream come true.

Minnesota Timberwolves

A pairing of Durant & Ant would be 'must-see TV' and make a potential true contender. It could allow Anthony Edwards to really flourish (as if he hasn't already) as defenses must pay serious attention to KD as well. Julius Randle has a huge contract that could be used as part of the salary-matching needed to make a deal like this work.

Detroit Pistons

Doesn't sound like a dream scenario for Durant, but this is a serious young team on the rise. With a 30-game improvement this season, soaring to 44 wins, the Pistons grabbed the 6-seed in the East. Adding a lethal scorer like KD could push Detroit into true contender status. They have some promising young players they could send Phoenix back in return.

Orlando Magic

This is another young team on the way up in the East, though they stumbled a bit this season, to drop from 47 wins down into the Play-In at 41 wins. But ascension to the top isn't always linear, and adding Durant to pair with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner would make the Magic a legit contender.

OKC Thunder

Hey, they just might go all the way and win a championship this year without Durant, but if they don't, a reunion for KD in the place where it all started for him in the NBA and helping them to their first title would be pure poetry.