NBA Trade Rumors: $80,000,000 ex-NBA champ taunts LeBron James with bold Kevin Durant trade suggestion

Paul Pierce poked at LeBron James when talking about potential trades that could go down before the Feb. 6 deadline. Pierce proposed the idea of the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder trading for Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a package built around third-year big man Chet Holmgren. Pierce explained that Durant could use a change of scenery to re-motivate himself.

Paul Pierce, who boasts a net worth of $80 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, is an NBA legend turned media personality, appearing on "Speak", one of the sports talk shows airing on FS1. He also co-hosts the "Certified" podcast alongside former teammate Kevin Garnett. During his 19-year career, Pierce was a 10-time All-Star and the Finals MVP in 2008, leading the Boston Celtics to the title.

Pierce and Garnett were musing about potential transactions that the NBA could see before the trade deadline on yesterday's episode of "Certified."

"KD showed me that he can play with anybody," Pierce said. "He can fit on any team. He ain't Bron to where you gotta change your whole s**t for Bron. KD can just - he plug and play,"

While a Durant—for—Chet Holmgren trade would be difficult to pull off since Holmgren's contract is only worth $10,880,640, it may not be the biggest takeaway from Pierce's quote. Pierce battled LeBron James throughout his career, especially in the postseason against the Miami Heat. He respects James but has been critical of how he forces a team to change around him.

If Kevin Durant wants out of Phoenix, where could he go?

Most of the teams in the Western Conference, from LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, are looking to improve their rosters as they prepare to fight for playoff positioning down the stretch of the season. Kevin Durant and the Suns have struggled so far this season, finding themselves struggling to stay in the play-in picture.

If Durant were to be moved, suitors would line up with offers to the Suns. Looking around the NBA landscape, two teams come to mind as potential destinations: the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets. Both teams have a combination of young, proven talent as well as draft capital that could entice the Suns to trade Durant.

To answer Paul Pierce's question, the Thunder would have a much harder time putting together an attractive package because of their contract situation. Unless they involve a third or fourth team in the trade, Oklahoma City would have to give up a significant part of their bench to obtain Durant.