Durant s countdown to the Holy City! Spurs trade with 3 to 1, Wenban welcomes historic partner

At the late night at the AT&T Center Training Hall, Durant and Popovich stood side by side by side by side by security guards - this secret meeting scene is opening the prelude to the most shocking trade in the NBA offseason‌

The Spurs’ "lightning raid": the 3-for-1 trading framework surfaced‌

According to Suns reporter John Gambadoro, core people around Durant clearly revealed that “KD has locked in the Spurs as their first choice”‌. San Antonio management quickly formulates a trading plan:

Spurs out: Devin Vassell (average 19.4 points per game) + Harrison Barnes (experienced front line) + 2029 first round pick (unprotected) ‌

Suns win: Young is fighting power + future rebuild assets‌

This plan hits the Suns pain points - Vassell's growth potential (25 years old) can relieve Booker's pressure, Barnes' expiration contract (2026) releases salary space, and the first round pick compensates the Suns for sending Durant away. More importantly, after the transaction, the total salary of the Sun was reduced to the luxury tax line, completely getting rid of the heavy pressure of the luxury tax of RMB 100 million‌.

Durant's strategic choice: Why give up the Knicks and choose the Holy City? ‌

Although the Knicks continue to offer olive branches, Durant's team tends to be based on triple considerations Spurs:

Tactical adaptability: Wenban Yama attracts double-teaming ability, the league's first place (5.7 times per game), which can create 41.2% of the big open three-pointers for Durant, perfectly replicating the "Curry's gravity" effect;

Champion gene inheritance: Popovich promises to "build an offensive system with you as the core", and Durant can fill the terminator vacancy after Leonard leaves the team;

Family factors: Texas tax-free policy and the low-exposure environment of the Holy City meet KD's needs to stay away from the whirlpool of public opinion.

Ironically, Knicks President Dolan once publicly mocked "Durant needs a nanny-level coach", and this statement completely ruined the possibility of cooperation.

Raptors' "Spare Tire Dilemma": Antetokounmpo decides his destiny‌

Although the Raptors are regarded as the potential next player of KD by reporters such as Jake Fischer, their pursuit has fatal restrictions - it depends entirely on whether Antetokounmpo enters the trading market‌‌. If the Bucks refuse to let Antetokounmpo go, the Raptors will chase Durant with all their might; otherwise, they will turn to Greek superstars. Toronto's disadvantages are obvious:

Cold climate and high state taxes (13.16%) persuade Durant to withdraw;

requires Barnes + Barrett + 4 first round sky-high chips, far exceeding the Spurs' quotation.

Knicks' big bet: Antetokounmpo's battle starts ‌

In order to compete with the Spurs trade, the Knicks urgently launched Plan B: Chase Giannis Antetokounmpo with all their might. Bucks reporter Gery Woelfel confirmed that New York plans to offer a quotation of ‌Randall + Divincenzo + 3 first round + 2 first round swap rights. The core temptation is:

Randle can supplement the Bucks' forward firepower (compared to the aging of the Greater Lopez);

&2029 unprotected first round picks are of extremely high value.

But Antetokounmpo's team exposed the news that "don't leave the team unless the Bucks are rebuilt", casting a shadow on the Knicks' plan.

Spurs' championship puzzle: Durant + Wenban's destruction ‌

If the deal is reached, the Spurs will build a historical duo:

Offensive end:

- Wenban Yama pick-and-roll three-pointer (38.1% shooting percentage) → Clear the penalty area

- Durant's waist singles (1.18 points per round and more than 96% of the players) → Punishment and replacement

Defensive end:

- Wenban Yama protects the rim (3.9 caps per game) + Durant assists in defense (10% of the steal rate in the front line) → Cover the entire half

Senior scout Tommy Beer pointed out: "When KD and Wenban are on the court at the same time, the opponent's defensive efficiency will plummet to the fifth-last level of the league - which is more desperate than the Duku combination back then." ‌

Sunset Gambling in Holy City‌

Seven years ago, Popovich said to Durant on the phone: "Come to the Spurs, I will make you a Duncan-like legend"; seven years later, when KD took the initiative to choose San Antonio, the gray-haired Popo pointed to Wenban Yama and told him: "This time, I want you to help him become the next you."

The fate of this deal is that Durant may not pursue the fifth championship, but the redemption journey that ends the infamous "mercenary". The newly added slogan on the whiteboard of the Spurs locker room has revealed the secret - "Greatness is not climbing the peak alone, but turning around and pulling up the next dream chaser." ‌ ‌