Los Angeles Lakers icon Magic Johnson ignited a fresh wave of speculation this week after posting a heartfelt congratulations to Kevin Durant for winning the Magic Johnson Award for a second time—before playfully admitting he wishes the Phoenix Suns star wore purple and gold.
“Congratulations to the 2-time Magic Johnson Award winner Kevin Durant,” Johnson wrote in a viral post on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m so excited Kevin Durant won this award because he is always so gracious to the media and fans… I wish he was a Laker! lol.”
Durant, who previously won the award in 2016, was honored again this year by the Pro Basketball Writers Association for his excellence on the court and his professionalism with media and fans. Johnson praised not only Durant’s game but also his community work, entrepreneurship, and character. “Kevin is an outstanding entrepreneur and a big Commanders fan,” he added. “I love his game, who he is as a man, and all the great community work that he’s doing in the DMV area with the youth.”
While the Suns battle playoff elimination, Johnson’s post gave Lakers fans a glimmer of hope and a license to dream. The two-time Finals MVP has moved frequently in pursuit of contention, and Kevin Durant trade rumors about his future destination continue to swirl.
Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant Trade Rumors
Enter Fadeaway World, which proposed a blockbuster scenario to make Johnson’s wish a reality. In the trade:
Phoenix Suns Receive: Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2026 first-round pick swap, and a 2031 first-round pick.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kevin Durant
The trade would deliver the Lakers a fantasy trio of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Kevin Durant—but not without serious cost. With minimal depth remaining, especially on the wing and in the frontcourt, such a move could leave the Lakers scrambling to fill key roles through free agency and short-term deals.
For the Suns, the proposed deal would jumpstart a retooling effort, combining promising youth with experienced role players while recouping valuable draft assets.
Though still a longshot, the prospect of Durant in a Lakers jersey—endorsed publicly by Magic himself—adds another layer of intrigue to what promises to be a chaotic offseason.
And with Johnson’s track record of turning dreams into reality for the franchise he built, fans may be right to wonder: is this just admiration, or the start of something more?