Kevin Durant to Mavericks trade is feeling like pure destiny after latest rumors

The last four weeks for Dallas Mavericks fans has felt like a fever dream.

Dallas traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis on February 1, and followed up this move by trading Quentin Grimes for Caleb Martin a few days later. The Mavs didn't end up making another move before the trade deadline arrived, but that doesn't mean that they didn't try.

Dallas reportedly had serious interest in trading for Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns to form a gnarly big three alongside Davis and Irving. The Mavericks weren't able to pull this move off, and Durant didn't want to be traded at the deadline, but that is going to change this summer.

The stage is set for Durant to Dallas rumors to take over the offseason

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Durant is likely to get moved in the offseason, and both sides are on the same page about this.

"They're gonna trade him and he knows that," Windhorst said. "I think everybody's intentions are crystal clear here."

If Dallas shows interest in Durant again in the offseason, which seems likely due to their interest in him earlier this month and their slim window to win a title, making a trade for him makes too much sense. It would reunite Durant and Irving after a few seasons apart, and they would definitely have some unfinished business to handle as Mavericks.

Durant's connection to Mavs GM Nico Harrison is also undeniable considering Durant is a Nike athlete, and it wouldn't shock anyone if he had interest in making Durant a Maverick.

By trading for Durant, Harrison's vision of winning a title over the next few years would have even more pressure added to it, but the cost of this deal is what could cause the Mavs to pump the brakes. Dallas would likely have to give up multiple first-round picks to get this deal to happen, and the haul of players they would have to cough up to make the salaries work would be massive.

Dallas would likely have to give up a combination of P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and or Naji Marshall just to get the money to work (they would probably need another team to get involved to make the salaries match up, and they tried to do that at the trade deadline), and they would fall into the trap of having three superstars but no depth to go along with them. This tactic has not worked in the past for teams, and while Davis, Irving, and Durant would form one of the best big threes this league has ever seen, the risk seems much more likely than the reward.

The risk would be losing multiple young role players and future draft capital to land a 36-year-old superstar who only has one more year on his contract, but the reward would be the chance to compete for an NBA title. The addition of Durant would undoubtedly thrust Dallas into championship conversations right away, as he remains one of the best scorers this game has ever seen, and Harrison's ultimate win-now mindset would be put to the test.

This season for the Suns, Durant is averaging 26.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 53 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from downtown, and he would give the Mavs another shot creator, which they desperately need. It has been clear ever since the Doncic trade that the team needs more offense, and after trading away Grimes, that became even more obvious. Durant would obliterate that need, and if the Mavs could guarantee that Durant would sign an extension, this could be a move they consider.

Harrison himself has made it clear that he isn't too worried about the long-term future of the team, and he seems to be trying to do whatever it takes to put the Mavs in the position to win a title right now. A trade for Durant would do just that, but at what cost?