My tweet above links to the source. The quote is from Tim MacMahon in Friday’s episode of ESPN’s The Hoop Collective podcast, according to @The Cat in his latest RocketsWire article https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/st...them&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter
None of what MacMahon said doesn't really mean anything. Them not offering KD max money doesn't mean they don't want to pay up. At KD's age, years is also a factor in addition to per-year salary. A 2yr max deal can easily be changed to a 3yr less-than-max deal where the last year's partially guaranteed to make up the difference, for instance. It makes sense that there isn't an extension just yet if they are also trying to get Tari an extension at the same time. Tari's extension, or lack thereof, would affect how KD's contract would be structured to minimize Fertitta's tax bills. If the Rockets are truly playing hardball with KD, first of all the trade wouldn't have even happened in the first place. And even it did you'd see a lot more reports of dissatisfaction from KD's camp.
I am speaking of how these deals are done practically, not the way they're done by letter of the rule. But even if we do assume there isn't some handshake deal, KD can simply ask for a Player Option year 2 of the extension, and then renegotiate a lower salary to help reduce the tax bill, but get some amount of money in year 3 to make up for his own salary.
Practically, the Rockets just want to pay Durant for 2 more years of an extension at a salary that along with Tari's and minimums doesn't exceed the 2nd apron. It is unlikely the Rockets agree to a deal above or below board that has Durant getting money after 3 seasons (current plus two years extension) without seeing Durant play 2 seasons as a Rocket. Maybe he gets a player option in year 2, but just don’t see need to try to get tricky and add defered salary as Amen is entering his prime. I think going over 2nd apron for one season would be preferable to trying to get Durant money after the current season and 2 year extension unless it is purely based on him still being good at that time.
The fact that Russell Westbrook is very welcome in OKC in the stands and not in a Thunder shirt than Kevin Durant.... makes this a very bizarre moment, couple that with the ring ceremony......cannot fathom a truly unprecedented situation.
If MacMahon is correct, it’s the best possible scenario for the Rockets. They want to reach agreement with Tari first and KD has no problem with that. What more could we ask for?
It's the other way around. If the Rockets are as good as we think, KD will be sitting out (or playing minimally) in a lot of 4th quarters.
https://www.si.com/nba/kevin-durant-loved-denzel-washington-rant-sports-media-talking-heads Denzel is 100% right. If you never played organized basketball in your life how can you properly or accurately assess a player’s level of play or performance? If the technical knowledge isn’t there what is your basis for assessing? KD will have some fun on Clutchfans get ready lol
Does Junior high count? How about High School? Daryl Morey didn’t play in college does that mean he can’t assess a player’s level of play? I do think having played at a high level may give a person an advantage in assessment, but it’s not quite as black and white as stated.
No I am not saying playing at a high level. I said organized ball. This means enough to be able to understand the basics of the game. The knowledge has to come from a fundamental understanding of the game. If a fan says a player sucks well what’s the basis? Many fans on here can’t tell you one thing a player is doing wrong and only cite stats or metrics. If you don’t know if a player should cut baseline from the short corner if his man leaves to cover a driving teammate in the paint how can you assess that the player wasn’t doing his job? Or if you don’t know a player rotating the ball back to the screener or other guard on the perimeter off a screen blitz when he can’t beat the blitzing defender is the right read then how can you evaluate? I don’t know if Morey evaluated players. Many GM’s who didn’t have prior playing experience rely heavily on scouting team and assistant GM’s with more technical knowledge. Decisions aren’t made in a bubble. It’s been reported Morey relied on assistants including Stone and Witus for every decision. Even Stone who played in college relies on Witus and assistants who were ex scouts.
I actually do agree with the general point, and I actually think it stands for any sport. As a fan I'm way more informed on basketball, rugby, cricket, athletics and lacrosse than the other sports I've watched because I played them all competitively throughout all of my childhood. There's definitely a difference between casual organised play and actually playing sports for a team. My brother loves basketball too but he never played so he misses a lot of the nuances that he'd have caught if he'd had to do all those reps and drills and performed those actions in a game himself, even at a significantly lower level.
If you’ve never hosted a nationally syndicated sports talk show, how do you have the technically knowledge to criticize someone who has? What is Denzel’s basis for assessing?
