Kevin Durant to be traded this offseason by Suns per Brian Windhorst

KD with Kyrie would be sick

 

The Suns made a bad choice by not trading him in the recent deadline. If we could have trade him for Fred, Tate and 2 FRPs that could be great, considering Fred’s current injury that puts our offense game in a real struggle.
I’m sure other teams might had similar or even better offerings. But that didn’t happen, and I really don’t think that’s what we should seek for this summer.
Feels like the Suns missed the train for trading Durant for a decent return. I mean, the Suns may don’t end up in the play-in, which will decrease Durant’s value IMO.

 

That is where he previously played, with Brooklyn.

 

I’m wondering if there is a possible opening to trade for Maxey with that sht show in PHI. Would cost a ton but Dillon, Fred, picks galore and a few of the “core” (Cam/Reed) - does Maurie bite lol

 

let's see if he is even walking by the end of the season... 40mpg for a 36 year old is crazy work.

 

It's all about the cost in terms of assets and future contract. He is still very productive and would fit a need.

 

Contract is actually 1 more year, meaning it expires next season '26. Making Durant a 1 year rental.

When I mentioned contract, its I'd actually prefer 2 more seasons, instead of possibly overpaying for 1 year. If 1 year makes the trade price go down, that works. I'm not too concerned with the yearly amount. Cuz a max amount is the cost of business for Durant.

The Suns problem is defense. Their offense is top 10'ish, defense is near the bottom. Durant has to be part of that problem. So his stock has gone down as an "impact player". But the Rockets is the opposite, they have the defensive legs. Durant wouldnt be dependent to be a full on "2 way player", just the 3 level scorer he is with adequate D to help balance the attack.

The more I think on it, the more I can get talked into Durant. I dont think Durant will be a Kobe / D Wade type of 37 falling off a cliff. He can be a 30-32 MPG load managed sniper. Just no to using Rockets picks & core young players

 

Durant is one of the Suns' best defenders actually. That's the whole problem. He should be your 3rd or 4th best defender in the starting lineup if you are serious about winning. But he's like the 3rd best defender on the whole roster.

The problem is they don't have a rim protector (Richards/Plumlee??), a POA defender or even elite wing defenders. There are no players who can play good team defense there. What is the point of Allen and O'Neale guarding wings when we can go straight to the rim or isolate Beal/Jones?

Durant is a good but not great defender at the 4. He's elite in blocks among PF's too. He would provide similar defensive coverage as Jabari and with a much larger wingspan but less switchable.

Skinny players age well. Shooters age well. Modern players age well. Players who age well tend to show they're outlasting their peers all along the way - everyone Durant's age except Lebron has declined much worse and much faster than them.

I think people are confusing two things: is he declining? Absolutely.

Can he win a Finals MVP in the next 2 years if his team can make it there? Also absolutely yes.

I'm in a very similar place as you. I feel like we'd be taking a risk, but it's so hard to close the door on it because the fit is just magical. You immediately solve ALL of Jalen, Amen and Sengun's problems in one single acquisition without needing to take up lots of roster spots or lose critical assets. The experience, the historic and dynamic shooting, the self-discipline, the playoff iso points, holding his own on defense.

They really screwed up not acquiring him at the deadline and using this second half to build chemistry and test roles around him. Summer you make your tweaks and next season it's 100% title shot.

Now that we're here though, we have to do the stupid reverse. Try to guesstimate who's good even though we know this spacing is not a regular situation and it's warping shot attempts, types and efficiency. Once we see them in the playoffs, we should have another think about it. Especially keeping an eye on Jabari - if he goes back to shooting 40% as he was in the 20+ games before the injury, then I wouldn't want to go in. If Bari flames out, then I'd consider it again.

 

Durant can probably play close to this level until 40. I wouldn't want to be that invested in him but his abilities are based on skill and not simply athleticism. Durant is actually a good defender. We only have to remember our team from a couple of years ago with the same players. If the team sucks at defense you are going to regress to the team no matter how good you are. LeBron sucked at D his final year in Cleveland. He just didn't care. If you put Durant on this team with Ime I think he matches up well in our system because of the shared effort. By default, it would make him a better defender even without the effort. I think the effort would be there knowing he has the depth here.

It all goes back to what the package is whether this works. I think the trade deadline was a huge mistake for both parties. Durant's value is lower now. Suns should be bent over in any deal or just sit back with the UV goggles on and watch the fallout from a safe distance and calmly steal their future.

 

It's a shame watching Durant toil for a broken Suns team and watching the Rockets go through vast stretches of offensive ineptitude due to lack of a consistent individual scorer.

This was the year to get Durant due to the Suns draft pick - the 9th or 10th pick isn't that useful to Houston. It just gets harder as extensions kick in and the asset pool gets smaller.

Missed opportunity for both sides

 

Durant is coasting, big time. I don’t know if he is just not interested or old, he rarely moves on offense or defense.

DD

 

Except that Durant already told Rockets players that they are good and better without him.

He doesn't see it as missed anything because I believe winning is not his 1st priority right now. Not right now.

He still seeks a place with a star that can help him carry the load, he still does not want to carry the load for a young team.

Booker cannot carry anything right now......I have vastly overrated this guy, just another guy who is good when the team is really good.

 

Is this crap ever going to end?

 

KD is perfect for this roster

 

There's a price where he makes sense as a rental, I just don't think that price is what the Suns will actually accept, and I also expect other teams to outbid us because other teams will want him more. He makes a lot of sense for OKC, Dallas, both LA teams (not that those two have the assets), etc--teams whose window is right now, immediately. That's not us. I think at best he makes us a WCF team, and I'm not giving up much for that at all.

 

Would rather have Booker but that ain't happening so the price is right, sure why not?

 

Of course Durant could help this Rockets team. And the Rockets would be fools for not exploring a trade. But it seems that Phoenix wants a kings ransom, just as they paid for acquiring him a few years back.

Jalen Green is looking much better. Amén is teetering on Superstardom and national spotlight.

I could see the Rockets trying to build a trade around Sengun, since it seems the Rockets might better off with a defensive minded center. Though I am a huge fan of Sengun, however you need to give something to get something.

I could see the Rockets including some of the picks or swaps, but i do not see the Rockets letting the Suns call the shots in any trade scenario. The Rockets are quite disciplined, and unless Stone is overriden by ownership, he’s not in the business of doing favors.

However I can see the Mavericks or teams running out of options (dealing with a fan bases breathing down their necks), feeling the pressure to swing a deal in a massive overpay.

I would suppose the Rockets in on a Duran deal is to acquire their own picks; especially if the Rockets end up with a top 5 pick in this draft.

 

It didn't work so well years ago when Kyrie flaked out on the Nets, but maybe he's in a better head space now.

 

You're right. I think they would have asked for more and they could have gotten it. Like Cam or Tari but yeah they screwed this up.

 

**** that. Trade him back to Brooklyn or somewhere else.

Booker for that pick.....we can talk.