Jalen’s “potential” still got these dudes in a chokehold…I’d give up Jalen before giving up Jabari for sure even if Jabari has a role player destiny Jalen with significantly reduced touches and shot attempts while making 35 mil is supposed to do what for this team?
Stone still has hope for him and half the fanbase does too. Sad that a 300 game sample size isn't enough for them. If they dont trade him now itll be exactly the same conversation next offseason unfortunately. Our own personal Groundhogs Day
Ben is basically saying that I'd rather hold on to the .5% chance Jalen becomes a star over the 95% chance Jabari becomes an invaluable role player.
So Phoenix getting back the players they stupidly traded for Durant. Somehow the Suns win this 4-way going away.
Tim Connelly just can never ever get KD interested. He tried several times in Denver to lure the DMV native and could never get traction. Minnesota makes the most sense for both teams. League sources have said the Nets were brought in as a potential third-team in a deal construct, which would have helped move money and contracts to help both teams reshape their rosters. (No idea what they were getting or sending, but I would speculatively bet Nic Claxton to Phoenix was part of those talks.) But then KD did what it is his right, and sent out word that he doesn’t want to play there. Maybe the Wolves pull the trigger anyway with a “you’ll love us when you get here” concept. After all, just swapping out components to clear cap space next year would be valuable for the Wolves long-term. … Here’s how I’d rate the remainders. For this exercise I’m not trying to get back the best deal for Phoenix, the best deal for the team trading for KD, or the best situation for KD. I’m trying to find a situation where everyone’s a little unhappy, the true meaning of compromise. BEST OPTION: The Houston Rockets’ Middle Ground It is not a secret, it’s been hinted at/reported vaguely but there’s a divide in Houston. Coaches want to win games. Executives want to build sustainable growth and success over many seasons. Which side do you think wants KD and which side do you think wants to pass? But there’s a middle ground here. Houston is the rare team that can send assets to let the Suns save face and not give up a lot. If they give Phoenix back some of their draft capital, especially the 2029 most-favorable of Dallas or Phoenix, along with Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., both sides can live with that. The Rockets keep Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, their two best players. They move off Jalen Green’s contract. They keep the short-term Suns assets to use to better themselves as they reach contention, and they get Durant for at least a season to mentor and carry the offense. KD is still elite at the exact thing Houston needs: floor-setting offense. The man will set an untracked record for “most years able to be a bucket in lifetime.” He will still be knocking down pull-up j’s in his 70’s. The Suns get Jabari Smith Jr. as a smallball five combo to put with Booker. Jabari was very close to going No.1 in his draft and has suffered from the absence of guards willing to pass to him. He’s known as a great locker room guy and is going to be in the league forever. Maybe Jalen Green and Booker compliment each other. No, I don’t know how. No, I don’t know why we would think that. The mystery is a universe. But either way, Green’s value will get better over the next few years as he improves and his contract length shortens. Maybe you can sell low on Green to get the center you’re looking for, since centers are still less valuable — if harder to get— than scoring machines. Sure, getting Sengun would be terrific and that’s probably a move that Ime Udoka would be OK with given their history. It is also perfectly understandable for Stone to hold the line at their best overall player.
[Moore] The Timberwolves tried to construct a three-team deal for Kevin Durant involving the Suns and Nets, but Durant shot it down
Deals under the table are done all the time. The QO is more than Jalen is getting... It also gives him more time to qualify for supermax. They could give him 45 early and they would still have a lot of space.
Agreed. I’d argue Jabari is already too much. The 2029 pick for anyone not name Booker (and I believe he’s overrated) is grounds to block Phoenix’s number lol
if he weren’t extended he wouldn’t even be on the table for trades. He’d be a RFA probably begging teams for a poison pill
Amen is so much better at almost every skill on the court than Jalen Green, the most important being understanding where to shoot the ball.
