No reason to throw in Jabari. You don't want to trade 2 of your best defenders for more offense. I'm not sure the rumors of Phoenix shopping him are true, but we should definitely be in on it if possible. I think FVV, Cam and 2 of the Phoenix picks or 1 and the Nets swap would be fair for 1 1/2 years of Durant. We could even go an extra year without killing our ability to sign our core, if he is staying healthy and making us contenders. Both Jabari and Dillon are important to our defense and depth. Amen, Jalen, Durant, Jabari, Sengun with Dillon, Tari and a couple of journeyman shooters from the wider market off the bench would make us a top 2 favorite in the West. I think Durant gives us the closer we are lacking this year and next. After that Amen will fit the bill. If we fall short this year, we will still have plenty of trade chips for the off-season.
Last team that won a championship with internal growth? its pretty clear that we need to find a superstar and maybe im wrong but there isn’t one on this team. Our best bet is that we’re good enough to entice one in free agency or through trade.
What are you even talking about? The last four championship teams, Boston, Denver, Golden State, and Milwaukee, were anchored by home-grown cores. Sure they added to their cores but they were all "internal growth" championships to a large degree. The thing is, internal growth to the point of being a championship contender takes time, usually at least until your best players are in their mid-20s when their production starts to peak and they have a good amount of playoff experience under their belts.
I think their own picks will have the greatest value to the Suns so I believe the players you included plus their own picks/swap would be enough. I don't know how it would work though in a 4 for 1 deal. They can't aggregate players and I don't know if the roster rules would permit a 4 for 1. We might be able to send Adams to Detroit and Tate to the Wizards for some low-level draft compensation. The Suns would still get the picks as well as some serious cap savings. If pressed, I'd consider including Jabari in the deal but then I'd want to retain one of the Phoenix first-rounders. I wouldn't include Cam. The upside on Whitmore is greater than the upside on Jabari. I think this would be a good deal for Houston. As you say, Durant solves all our offensive problems and can still make an impact defensively. I think his game should mature well and he'll still be a good player in 3 years. His on-court fit with Sengun and Amen would be perfect.
Honestly the only organization that seems to regularly win championships without the majority of their starting lineup & their best player(s) being home-grown is the Lakers--other than that stupid organization regularly getting handed superstars on a platter, it only happens once in a blue moon. Almost every other championship team is anchored by a core they drafted themselves.
I think the new CBT and the 2nd Apron rules have changed the game. You won't have to have a true superstar to win going forward, although I do think we have one in Amen and possibly 2 if Sengun develops a 3 pt shot.
Maybe we should hang onto some cap space for the offseason after next, dude seemed to really like living in Texas.
Continuing on a discussion with @jch1911 , @MrButtocks , and @Hemingway in the other thread. I'm presenting this as a four-team trade, but it would actually have to be two separate trades because Phoenix cannot aggregate players in a trade due to being over the second apron. An example of how they might see trading Booker as being worth it to upgrade their roster overall even in a win-now mindset. Rockets in: Devin Booker Suns in: Jimmy Butler, Myles Turner, their 2025 pick rights back Heat in: Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard, Jeff Green, Jock Landale, three second-round picks (you could also remove Sheppard and sub in other filler contracts if you think this is too much to pay) Pacers in: Jusuf Nurkic, 2027 Phoenix first-round pick from HOU Phoenix gets a major upgrade at center and, if they believe Butler can return to his best form, a sidegrade from Booker--plus rights to their own pick this year back for good measure. I'm sure they'd rather keep Booker, but something like this might be the best they can do if Beal won't waive his NTC.
Especially after getting snubbed for the All-Star team. He's had a hell of a season, that team just sucks too bad and it doesn't help that he's on a small market team either.
It's crazy. He was #1 in fan votes for guards, #3 by player votes but still not in. No wonder ratings went down
Vet min can be aggregated for roster spots so we could trade FVV, Holiday, Tate for KD, Tyus Jones, Bol Bol.
