Durant and Morant start to sound like short-term trades

Kevin Durant and Ja Morant have surprisingly emerged early as potential trade candidates in the NBA. Neither is currently in a situation that would suggest an imminent departure, but various reports indicate that their respective teams could face significant decisions during the season. In Durant's case, interest from other franchises seems to have cooled despite his extraordinary performance in Houston. Regarding Morant, the situation is even more peculiar: he has just arrived in Portland, but the fit with Damian Lillard is already raising questions even before the regular season has begun.

The common point is that both are players of immense talent, but they also represent bets with some uncertainty. Durant is 38 years old and has a significant contract, while Morant needs to regain value after a complicated season. Therefore, rather than discussing two imminent trades, the information points to two names that could gain prominence in the market as the season progresses.

Kevin Durant remains a star, but the market is starting to cool

It is paradoxical that Kevin Durant can appear in trade rumors after a season in which he was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

The player led Houston in scoring with 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, shooting 52% from the field and a remarkable 41.3% from three. Additionally, he played 78 games, a particularly relevant figure considering his age. NBA.com

In terms of basketball, he remains indisputable.

The problem lies in everything surrounding Durant's figure. According to Sean Deveney from Heavy, teams' interest in acquiring him has diminished, even though he continues to appear among potential trade candidates.

"Kevin Durant of the Rockets has been mentioned as a trade candidate, but Houston will want to see how things evolve with point guard Fred VanVleet before making such a decision," Deveney explained.

And this part is crucial.

Houston still needs to check what they can do with VanVleet

The Rockets faced nearly the entire last season without Fred VanVleet, after the point guard suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

His return could considerably change the offensive context of the team. VanVleet brings direction, ball control, and the ability to organize possessions, precisely some of the elements Houston missed during the last campaign. The team had issues with turnovers and needed to distribute creation among several players. Houston Chronicle

That's why it would make little sense for the Rockets to make a drastic decision on Durant before seeing how their team performs with VanVleet back.

And here arises an interesting question: if Houston starts well and Durant performs even better with a point guard capable of easing his playmaking responsibilities, his sporting value could increase during the season.

In other words, the same factors that currently slow the market could partially disappear over the months.

Age and recent history weigh more than his numbers

The article from Fadeaway World points out another issue: the perception surrounding Durant and the chemistry difficulties that have plagued some of his recent teams.

Deveney notes that some franchises are cautious because Durant has been part of projects that ended up having chemistry problems in Golden State, Brooklyn, Phoenix, and Houston.

It’s a market interpretation, not a judgement on the player. And, in fact, his statistics from 2025-26 contradict any notion that Durant has ceased to be a star. He was one of five NBA players to average at least 25 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game, maintaining extraordinary efficiency. NBA.com

The question is another: how much is a team willing to pay for a 38-year-old player?

There lies the real problem for Houston.

The Rockets would have no reason to give Durant away. If they decide to listen to offers, they would need to receive a package that justifies parting with one of the best scorers in history. At the same time, potential buyers know they are acquiring a veteran player with a recent injury history and fewer years left in his career.

That's why the market can wait.

Ja Morant, a completely different case

Ja Morant's situation is even more striking because the point guard has just landed in Portland after his trade from Memphis.

On paper, the Trail Blazers have an extraordinary amount of perimeter talent: Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson, plus Shaedon Sharpe, although the latter faces an extended absence. Portland itself has rejected inquiries about some of its point guards and does not seem to be looking to dismantle the roster immediately. Blazer's Edge

But there is a question that cannot be overlooked: how will Lillard and Morant play together?

Coach Micah Nori has already acknowledged that the decision to place them together in the starting lineup is not finalized.

"It’s not decided, but probably yes, because I want to see how it looks. And I don’t want to fan the flames before it’s necessary," Nori explained. Hoops Wire

Lillard, for his part, had already expressed his intention to share the backcourt with Morant.

And Morant has shown a much more open attitude:

"I think winning is the most important thing for me, so any role I have to play to achieve that, I think no one will be upset afterwards. Whether I start or not, it’s the same."

This detail is important because there is still no real conflict. There is a tactical doubt that Portland needs to resolve.

Why could Morant become a trade candidate?

Here is the most interesting interpretation of the article.

Portland did not acquire Morant to trade him immediately. The player has just arrived, and the team needs to see what he can offer in a project that also includes Lillard, Holiday, and young players like Henderson.

But if the experiment doesn’t work, Morant could become one of the most interesting pieces in the summer 2027 market.

Deveney considers it challenging for Morant to dispel all the doubts surrounding him before February, but he does envision a scenario where a trade next summer makes sense.

And that involves his numbers from last season: 19.5 points and 8.1 assists, with 41% shooting from the field and just 23.5% from three.

These statistics are far from the version of Morant who became an All-Star and one of the NBA's prominent young faces.

That’s why Portland might have a quite logical strategy: give him the whole season to regain prominence, see how he works alongside Lillard, and if the fit is not convincing, use the season to rebuild his market value.

Two stars, two completely different problems

The comparison between Durant and Morant is interesting because both appear in rumors, but for completely different reasons.

In Durant's case, the issue is primarily the market: he continues to play at an All-NBA level, but he is 38 years old, has a significant contract, and teams may be hesitant to pay a high price for a star in the latter stage of his career.

In Morant's case, the problem is uncertainty. He is 27 years old and has much more ahead of him, but he needs to prove he can regain his level and, above all, that he can fit in Portland alongside Lillard.

That’s why it also doesn’t seem right to talk about two imminent trades right now.

Houston wants to see what happens when VanVleet returns. Portland wants to see what happens when Lillard and Morant play together for several months.

And both situations could evolve radically.

If the Rockets perform well with Durant and VanVleet, the player could disappear from trade rumors. If Houston doesn’t find the formula and a significant offer arises, the situation will change.

The same goes for Morant: if Portland finds a way to maximize their two great point guards, the rumor will lose strength; if the experiment fails, next summer could make him one of the most significant names on the market.

For now, therefore, there are more questions than certainties. But the fact that two players of the caliber of Kevin Durant and Ja Morant are already appearing in market discussions shows that the NBA 2026-27 could have several significant moves waiting for the season to determine who truly needs to change course.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Durant y Morant empiezan a sonar como traspasos a corto plazo