There's a bunch of Derrick Whites out there, you just have to be able to pinpoint them. Most teams aren't in a position to trade a draft pick for those players because they either aren't contending or they don't have picks. We have the assets, we're a playoff team and we need to consolidate for talent. I'll be severely disappointed if we use this draft pick because as soon as we draft this player, he loses value and loses even more value as a Rocket because he won't play. See: Reed Sheppard.
P.S. To clarify one angle, the Rockets are definitely involved and genuinely believe they can contend for a championship next season, if they pull it off. They truly do want him. The simply have a price point with Durant's age that they aren't willing to go beyond, and the Suns are asking what most teams in the bidding consider to be an unreasonable amount. It's not leverage or a "we tried" thing, they are genuinely interested here. They just aren't willing to trade anything and everything, which I think is a reasonable distinction given the age factors.
0.5% is a gross exaggeration. What if the chances are raised to 10%? Would you still have the same take? Or is your valuation of Jalen much higher than that?
It's that or he has to wait until July 1st to do the deal as offered. In that case, it behooves Phoenix to try to drum up some interest in the meantime.
I fear this is gonna be a back and forth pestering all the way up until the day of the draft. Next week can’t come soon enough.
Respectfully, I understand the sourcing and the pitch, and I do believe there is a strong interest in the possibility of opportunistically "fleecing" Phoenix, given the leverage disparity. But my personal opinion is that I don't believe this FO - as analytically inclined, patient, and strategic as they have been - looks at acquiring the age 37, 38, and 39 years of a post-prime supermax player as a plan they are particularly motivated to pursue at market value. Even if that market is 3 teams. In their heart of hearts, that they don't share externally, would I personally guess that this FO wants to win the bidding / start the clock on everyone's job / become the league's foremost aging curve denialists / shepherd the KD farewell tour? No. I could be totally wrong of course; and it's an unfalsifiable claim anyway. Whether we actually do end up acquiring KD will be the best evidence we'll get either way, but even that won't be dispositive.
I don't think we're that far apart but those comparisons sell Jalen short a bit. Here are their numbers through their age 22 season: Unless Jalen just stops his improvement at age 23, he will be a starting caliber player most of his career. That said, all-NBA is prob out the window at this point given what we saw in the playoffs. I think it'll be more like 16 FGA for KD at this point in his career and on this team. I still see Sengun as the workhorse. And Jalen gets us another guy who can be a perimeter creator - not that he's that good at it but no one was better at it on our team last year. If we trade him (which I'm very okay with doing), then we should find someone to be a secondary creator or I guess hope that Cam/Reed/Amen can develop into that role. But having 37yo KD be our primary perimeter creator/initiator offensively is a recipe for disaster.
That's why if I'm Stone I give PHX a deadline. Accept in next 48 hours or we're moving on. They need some pressure and let's see how they deal with that. Maybe MIA hangs around and gets him for Wiggins and change, which should be good for our future PHX assets.
The likelihood of Jalen becoming a star is lower than it is for Jabari. Jabari probably won't but he's still figuring stuff out. And his process is sound. Doesn't force stuff hes not comfortable with. Jalen is so broken fundamentally and mentally that the likelihood of it happening going into his 5th year is pretty much 0.
So Jalen is 23 and those guys, who aren't good players, were better at 22 than Jalen was at 23. Brutal.
Last season was Jalen's age 22 season per bball reference, since he was that age most of the season. I'm not sure when the other two players' bdays were. Your interpretation of those metrics as both of those being better players than Jalen is interesting.
Outside of GSW, Durant led teams have either never gotten out of the second round, first round, sweep or missed the playoffs in the past six years. We can debate about roster etc. but he's going to be 37 and the chances of him winning a championship at 38 and 39 getting $60 million are likely much less at this point in his career than the past even with a very good team. He's not worth it. AI: Absolutely—here’s Kevin Durant’s team records over the past 7 NBA seasons (2018–19 to 2024–25), covering his time with the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns: 2018–19: Golden State Warriors Team Record: 57–25 Durant Played: 78 games Playoffs: Reached NBA Finals (lost to Raptors) Note: Suffered Achilles tear in Finals 2019–20: Brooklyn Nets Team Record: 35–37 (Durant did not play) Durant Played: 0 games (rehabbing Achilles) Playoffs: Lost in 1st Round (Swept by Raptors) 2020–21: Brooklyn Nets Team Record: 48–24 Durant Played: 35 games Playoffs: Lost in 2nd Round (to Bucks in 7) Note: Durant nearly carried Brooklyn past eventual champs 2021–22: Brooklyn Nets Team Record: 44–38 Durant Played: 55 games Playoffs: Swept in 1st Round (by Celtics) 2022–23: Nets & Suns (Traded midseason) Nets Record (with KD): 29–17 Suns Record (with KD): 8–0 regular season Combined Record (with KD): 37–17 Playoffs: Suns lost in 2nd Round (to Nuggets) 2023–24: Phoenix Suns Team Record: 49–33 Durant Played: 75 games Playoffs: Eliminated in 1st Round (by Timberwolves, Swept 0-4) 2024–25: Phoenix Suns Team Record (with KD playing): 33-29, 36-46 full record Durant Played: 62 games Playoffs: Missed playoffs Across these 7 seasons, Durant’s teams consistently made the playoffs but haven’t returned to the Finals since 2019. Want to see how his individual stats tracked alongside these team records or how his impact metrics (like net rating) evolved? I can chart that out too.
Jalen turned 23 during that season, neither of the other players turned 23 during the season you selected. So Jalen was older, with more NBA experience and opportunity AND still somehow not better than 2 bad players.
Jalen has had multiple month-long stretches where he has been one of the best players in the league. Jabari is going into his fourth year and still can’t dribble the basketball without turning it over. Jabari may end up being a more valuable player in the long run as a high level 3&D role player, but there isn’t any scenario in which he has a higher likelihood of becoming a star than Jalen.
I don’t understand why such a detailed offer would be released to the public. That’s a phenomenal offer and Suns should jump on it if real. Bad for Rockets if true because Suns become a lot better with Gobert and DDV
keep saying over and over - Suns want a PG because Booker is tired of playing Point … that’s why FVV or Reed if DB is the trade has to be included … I’m fine with letting Reed go if we can keep #10 this year but I really would rather send FVV
