The Philadelphia 76ers do not appear to have any interest in trying to trade for Kevin Durant this offseason. According to a report from HoopsHype and NBA journalist Marc Stein, Daryl Morey and Sixers management seem to be steering clear of the Phoenix Suns star. All in all, this should be considered very good news for Sixers fans.
Stein writes: I know there was the chatter this week about Philly and having possible interest. When I’ve checked out that scenario, it’s been strongly debunked to me. I do not think Philly is in the market for trying to pursue Kevin Durant. So yeah, I don’t foresee the Sixers emerging as a candidate there.
Overall, this is the right choice for Philadelphia to make. Now, you may question why I say that, given the caliber player Durant is, even at this stage in his career. But it's less about this specific scenario, and more about a reversal of a common trend we've seen from Morey over the years.
The 76ers' General Manager has often been the type to go out and chase star players, hence why he pursued Paul George last summer. Obviously, that move in particular ended up being a big flop, at least for now.
Morey reportedly doesn't want to trade for Kevin Durant
And far too often, we can think about these star signings through the lens of one particular phrase that I believe defines the situation well: If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
Thoughts of adding a Paul George or a Kevin Durant seem like fantastic moves in a vacuum. But the problem is, the games aren't played in a vacuum. There's a lot more nuance to NBA basketball, especially in 2025, than just which guys have the best individual skill sets.
The number one thing the 76ers need going into next season is to get healthy. Achieving that is going to do far more for them than attempting to make some big splash by signing a popular name. Yes, even if that name is Kevin Durant.
The fact that Morey is steering clear of KD should be a reason for fans in Philadelphia to feel good. It's very tempting to just go chasing the individual star talents that may be available, but the more mature strategy is what the Sixers' GM appears to be doing right now: Watching and waiting for the right move to come along.