Kevin Durant should return to Oklahoma City in trade for key player, says former NBA All-Star

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the best teams in the NBA during the 2024-25 season, dominating the Western Conference with an impressive 53-12 record, holding an 11-game lead over their closest rival. However, one former All-Star believes the Thunder must let go of one of their key players to bring Kevin Durant back to Oklahoma City.

“Kevin Durant’s going to go back to Oklahoma City, bro,” Kenyon Martin predicted during a recent debate on Gil’s Arena. He didn’t stop there, immediately explaining what the Thunder would need to sacrifice to make the deal happen. “Listen, I’m moving Chet (Holmgren) for Kevin Durant,” he stated.

On how this revamped version of Oklahoma City would work without Holmgren and with Durant in his place, Martin drew on KD’s previous successes. “Be a hit man like he did with the Golden State Warriors,” explained Martin, who was an All-Star with the New Jersey Nets in 2004. “He’s too efficient, man. If you put him in that situation with Shai, the way Shai gets to the line, that (expletive) is scary.”

Durant would certainly be an intriguing addition for the Thunder, who, with him on the court, would see an influx of both talent and experience. However, trading away a promising young player like Holmgren could prove to be a decision the team regrets in the future. At just 22 years old, Chet is already a versatile player capable of playing both center and power forward, and he’s widely regarded as a future star of the league.

Kenyon Martin playing with the New Jersey Nets during the 2000-01 NBA season.

The comparison between Holmgren and Durant

This season, Kevin Durant has enjoyed a far more consistent role than Chet Holmgren. The Phoenix Suns forward is currently posting the sixth-highest scoring average in the league, with 26.9 points across 52 games played. He has also contributed 6.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game.

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In contrast, Holmgren has appeared in just 20 games this season due to various injuries, most notably a hip injury in November that kept him sidelined for a long time. Now fully recovered, he is averaging 26.4 minutes per game, with 14.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 1.9 assists.

Another possible destination for Durant

In the same conversation, Gilbert Arenas shared his thoughts on Kevin Durant’s potential destination in the near future. “There was only one team that raised ticket prices just randomly for no (expletive) reason, and it didn’t make sense. I think that’s where he might be going,” Arenas speculated. He then clarified his statement to Kenyon Martin: “Your hometown,” referring to Dallas.

Arenas expanded on his theory, imagining a possible pairing of Durant with Kyrie Irving on the Mavericks. “I think there was a conversation in the play, because remember, Kyrie and KD were fine,” Gilbert said, referencing the time the two stars spent together with the Brooklyn Nets.