Kevin Durant's desire for the Philadelphia 76ers persists

Following LeBron James' signing with the Sixers, another of the NBA's most talked-about stars has now turned his eyes towards Philadelphia. According to Shams Charania, Kevin Durant expressed interest in joining the 76ers; league sources say Philadelphia has no interest in pursuing a deal at this time.

The timing of this development is also notable. This interest emerged immediately after LeBron James signed with the Sixers, fuelling speculation over the possibility of Philadelphia further strengthening its roster.

Durant's name had already been frequently linked to various trade scenarios throughout the summer. Currently with the Houston Rockets, whose future remains uncertain, the player is reported to continue drawing interest from the Detroit Pistons, with Durant said to be intrigued by the idea of playing alongside Cade Cunningham.

An earlier three-team scenario is also recalled. Under a framework floated between the Rockets, Boston Celtics and Pistons, Durant would have landed in Detroit, Alperen Sengun would have gone to Boston, and Jaylen Brown would have moved to Houston — though those discussions never progressed, and Brown ultimately joined Philadelphia instead.

Other names in the competition are also noted. The Washington Wizards are recalled to have shown interest in trade talks for Durant as early as April, though no formal discussions have been confirmed.

Philadelphia's current stance also has an explanation. The club having already assembled a star-studded roster with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid is cited as the reason Durant is not currently a target.

Source: Shams Charania
Image: TheScore