The NBA’s Free Agency period has begun but it’s not one of the top free agents that is causing a lot of noise in the NBA rumor mill right now. It’s Kevin Durant.
The Brooklyn Nets star has reportedly asked to be traded and he has allegedly told the team a list of his preferred landing spots. Brooklyn has been walking on shaky ground ever since the offseason began. The Nets opened as the odds on favorite to win it all last season but the Nets were swept in the first round of the 2023 Playoffs by the eventual East champions Boston Celtics. Then Kyrie Irving was rumored to be angling for a trade but ended up picking up his player option to “honor’ his commitment to the Nets next season. But with no guarantees, it appears that KD wants to be the first to jump ship.
KDs Preferred Trade Destinations: Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat
Kevin Durant’s wish list for preferred trade destination from Nets:
Phoenix Suns
Miami Heat(via @wojespn) pic.twitter.com/uuS2GbNAJm
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 30, 2022
According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, Durant has told the Nets that his preferred destinations are the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat. Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes says that KD’s preferred landing spot is the Suns. Over at the desert, Phoenix sports radio host John John Gambadoro says that the Suns have shifted into an internal discussion on a KD acquisition after Durant requested for a trade.
The Suns opened as +500 favorites to land KD when it was first rumored that he could be asking for a trade. But with the smoke pointing to Phoenix, the Suns have moved as the favorites to land KD. At PointsBet, the Suns are now listed at +100 at PointsBet USA and have even moved to as short as -225 at the DK Sportsbook, with the odds continuing to shorten as we speak.
Meanwhile, the Heat opened as the betting favorites to land KD and were a +250 at BetOnline five days ago. BetOnline has taken down its KD market but at PointsBet, the Heat are now a close second behind the Suns at +125. Meanwhile, Miami is currently listed at +275 via the DK Sportsbook. Again, the odds continue to move as of this writing.
Ripple Effect in 2023 NBA Championship Odds
The news of a Kevin Durant trade request has sent ripple effects across the sports betting world. Most notably, 2023 NBA Finals odds.https://t.co/Uu4uZDD3M0
— NESN (@NESN) June 30, 2022
It remains to be seen where the domino falls. But Kevin Durant’s trade request has already sent ripple effects across the sports betting world, particularly in the 2023 NBA championship odds where the Suns have now emerged as the new odds on favorite to win the NBA title.
Phoenix opened at +900 odds to win the 2023 NBA championship. Those odds went down to +1000 as the Clippers moved up following the John Wall buyout. After they were linked to Durant by Woj and Haynes, the Suns are now the +500 odds on favorite to win it all next season, with the Golden State Warriors dropping to second favorites at +550.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets who opened as one of the four co-favorites at +600, dropped to +850 since the odds went live. But after Durant requested a trade, Brooklyn’s odds have tumbled to +2500 at BetMGM and PointsBet USA. The Nets have also fallen to +3000 at Caesars Sportsbook.
