BREAKING: Insider reveals Warriors’ $170M plan to bring back Kevin Durant
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors were closer than anyone imagined to reuniting with former Finals MVP Kevin Durant, according to new revelations from Draymond Green himself.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Green recounted a moment earlier this year when Warriors owner Joe Lacob personally told him that Durant was “right there at the finish line.”
“Joe goes, ‘Draymond, I think we’re gonna get Kevin Durant,’” Green recalled. “It’s happening. We’re getting Kevin Durant back.”
The exchange took place during the Warriors’ charity poker tournament—just moments before the league was rocked by the news that Luka Dončić had been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Green initially believed that the Warriors were the ones pulling off the blockbuster deal. But when Stephen Curry asked him if he had seen the trade, the realization set in: the Lakers, not the Warriors, had made the move.
The twist? Durant did have an opportunity to return to Golden State.
Durant Declines Return Despite Three-Team Trade Framework
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, a three-team deal involving the Warriors, Phoenix Suns, and Miami Heat had been discussed. The framework would have sent Durant back to the Bay Area, potentially alongside Curry and Green for one final championship push.
But Durant declined.
In an interview with Malika Andrews, Durant clarified his stance:
“That’s not the reason why I didn’t come back. I just didn’t want to get traded midway through the season... I wanted to see it through with my team in Phoenix.”
Despite past tension with Green, Durant emphasized that his decision was not personal. Still, for Warriors fans and the front office, it marked a missed opportunity to bring back a franchise-altering talent.
Warriors Pivot to Butler, Finish Strong
Instead of Durant, Golden State made another major move—acquiring Jimmy Butler from Miami. The deal proved to be a turning point: the Warriors surged from a 25–26 record to finish 48–34 and made a strong playoff run.
Their campaign ultimately ended in the Western Conference Semifinals, with Stephen Curry sidelined by a hamstring injury. Yet they advanced further than both the Lakers, who lost in Round 1, and the Suns, who failed to reach the postseason entirely.
What Comes Next for the Warriors?
The near-miss with Durant highlights just how aggressive the Warriors remain in pursuit of another title. With Curry’s prime years waning and Draymond still hungry for a fifth ring, Golden State may not be done swinging for the fences this offseason.
Whether Durant’s chapter in the Bay is truly over remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the Warriors were this close to pulling off one of the most stunning reunions in recent NBA history.
