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Rumors are quiet, with only three weeks left until the 2023 trading deadline. Sure, there were occasional tidbits about Bojan Bogdanovic or Jakob Poeltl, but the star is unavailable at this time.

For teams looking to acquire franchise-changing talent, the best opportunity to complete a deal may already be past.

Last summer, Kevin Durant surprised the NBA community when he asked for a Brooklyn tradeout. After some dramatic twists and turns, Durant and the Nets finally decided: “Let’s move their partnership forward.”

That agreement has worked out well for both sides so far. Before suffering a knee injury in early January, Durant was playing at the MVP level, averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. , appeared to be a candidate in perfect health.

As for the teams that didn’t get Durant during that period, well, the results are mixed. Which general manager regretted seeing Durant wearing a Nets jersey?

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Kevin Durant trade regret ranking

6. Celtics

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported in late July that the Celtics had conversations with the Nets, and The Athletic’s Shams Charania revealed that Boston offered a package centered around Jaylen Brown. The inclusion of Brown and multiple first-round picks could have easily pushed the Celtics to the front.

However, they did not appear to have passed the preliminary stages. Boston has the best record in the league and is widely considered a favorite to win.

Celtics are doing well. No regrets here.

5. warrior

Golden State had pieces to jump into Durant’s sweepstakes, and the team’s stars reportedly entertained the idea of a reunion. “I mean, Kevin’s driving Durant crazy,” he said when asked about it.

The Warriors are just ahead of the Celtics as they struggle to find consistency, but are still the reigning champions. In fact, it’s unclear if the front office ever seriously entertained the idea of adding Durant.

4. Pelican

New Orleans has emerged as an interesting destination for Durant due to its massive trading assets and potential title contention in the years to come.

But according to NOLA.com’s Christian Clark, the Pelicans never intended to give up on Brandon Ingram and have closed the deal with Durant. Ingram is at the center of their turnaround, and the 25-year-old has a bright future ahead of him.

The combination of Durant and Zion Williamson was attractive to watch, but you can’t blame the Pelicans for wanting sustained success with their current core.

3. heat

Miami was one of two teams on Durant’s original wish list. by Wojnarowski(Don’t worry, we’ll cover the other.)

The problem was that the Heat had no eyeballs. Tyler Herro is the Sixth Man of the Year, but he’s not the type of guy to push the Durant trade to the finish line.

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo will tough out Miami in the postseason, but the Heat aren’t on the same level as the Celtics or Bucks. I’m sure you feel some regret.

2. Raptor

Though not considered the most likely stop for Durant, Toronto stayed behind after his trade request. Those conversations didn’t go very well, as multiple reports indicated the Raptors were unwilling to include Scotty Barnes in the trade package.

Toronto is now under .500 in five games and in contention for a play-in tournament spot. With no clear path to start rebuilding or becoming a real threat in the East, it’s unclear if the team will be a buyer or a seller at the deadline.

If nothing else, Durant would have kept the Raptors’ timeline clear. They could have focused on winning with Durant under at least a four-season contract.

A Durant trade wouldn’t have been as easy as pulling the trigger for a deal with Kawhi Leonard, but was Toronto aggressive enough in its pursuit?

1. Suns

And here is another wishlist team. Phoenix made sense as a landing spot for Durant, but after the Suns re-signed DeAndre Ayton, according to Charania, they essentially eliminated the possibility of hooking Durant.

Oh, what about the injury-ridden Suns team? Phoenix has lost 12 of its last 14 games. Devin Booker is stuck on the sidelines. Chris Paul no longer performs like “Point God”. After bizarre contract negotiations, Ayton took a step back. Jae Crowder is still… hanging out?

It’s fair to wonder if the Suns’ championship window is about to close with the rise of other Western Conference contenders. Durant could help them keep it a little more open.

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