I think every player is different but the overall key is load management. I remember Charles Barkley saying the difference between him in his 20s and him in his 30s is that when he was young he could get you 20 & 20 every night, but when he was older he could only do that one night a week. In the same vein, with our depth I think you could limit KD to under 30 minutes a night and keep him out of back-to-backs. It's not like he would care about qualifying for awards and such.
First, I'm low on Jalen vs our core now so this is separate from him, not defending his playoff series at all. But If we traded for Jimmy we would not have the same team. He has a 48 million dollar contract so players matching him would go. So Miami isn't just taking Jalen in a one for one swap, they might or might not have taken him at all. More would have to go and assets. Also who on our team is Steph Curry? We're not GSW and they themselves didn't go to the WCF. They have years of championship experience as well. Curry got injured so we don't know if they would have advanced, but Jimmy Butler played and they never won another game that series. We would have a short term bump sure, but after two years he may or may not fall off a cliff, with a $100 million dollar extension he wanted and now has. A two year window vs a ten year window of contention. In the meantime we have a bad contract we have to move and have to make other moves to build back to the level we were. Folks can imagine us being in the WCF, but can't imagine younger players improving as they factually have the past two seasons and historically.
That's my thinking. Htown has brought in a lot of his buddies (Ivey, Uncle Jeff, DJ, etc.) so KD wants to be here. That reduces PHX's bargaining power even more. I hope Stone stands firm with an offer of FVV + Cam + future FRP (2027 PHX?) That being said, I think SA is going to include Vassel + Barnes + #14 + future FRP and KD will be ok returning to central TX + playing with Wemby + Spyda
Having KD on this team with JG would open the floor for Jalen, Reed, Alpi, and AMen...... WIth that being said, I'm ok trading away Jabari Smith Jr/FVV and #10 for KD. We had no plans of drafting Jabari at all we wanted Paulo. We drafted Jabari because he was there.
What would the Knicks or Wolves even offer? in for the life of me I still don’t understand San Antonio. I have a lot of respect for the talented they have accumulated, but I still think that they are going to need to make the playoffs for a year before they make this giant jump. like I find it more likely for the Rockets to make the finals next year compared to the Spurs. And Durant only has a limited amount of time.
People always forget 2nd apron. I know Wolves are but I believe Knicks are or are close so trades with them are next to impossible if not 1 for 1. I believe it is between us and loosely the Spurs and the Spurs are being used to drive up our price. If Stone has the stones I think FVV+10 and some change gets it done. Need to already have a plan for a FVV replacement. Giddy unlikely, Harden? Laugh but its hard to pick out a target out there and Green or Brooks is likely going in that trade. We want to resign Adams, Unc but have to look at what is going to happen with Bari and Tari.
If Durant is willing to sign the 2 year 112 extension, I’m down for that. FVV/Cam/Landale/Unprotected 2027 first. I believe that is better than Vassell/Barnes/#14/Future FRP. If the organization wants to sub in green and keep VanVleet then that is OK with me. a reminder that there’s swap next year is owned by the wizards. Phoenix might be bad, but not likely bad enough to wear the wizards end up wanting to swap. Cam can play SF for them. Landale either goes back to his old stomping grounds to play or they can release him for cap relief. There are spots on the floor where green has been an effective spot up shooter and this gives us an additional player that can attack the rim. we still have the extremely valuable pick in 2027 from Brooklyn and #10 this year. Sengun/Adams Smith/Tari Durant/Brooks Green/Holiday Amen/Reed
Ty Jerome is a FA. He should be first on the list as the primary pg off the bench with his shooting You get me KD for FVV + 10 and sign Jerome.... You'll get a WCF
One reason (among many) that the Rockets are not going to trade for KD: almost all the rumored scenarios result in us paying the tax this year, and every scenario results in us paying a heavy tax bill next year. Separate from the long-term teambuilding constraints of that -- does anyone really believe Tilman is signing up for a big tax bill? Maaaybe I could see it in a scenario like OKC or Indiana, where he would be tipping into the tax a little bit to keep together a team that has already made it to the Finals and with their stars in their prime. For a speculative team of 22yo's and a 37yo's?. It just isn't going to happen. Let's be clear-eyed. We are not a "trade for supermax stars, pay whatever it takes to go for it" organization. Not our operating model.
Sources stress that the situation remains fluid less than two weeks before the NBA Draft, but as of June 12, doubt is increasing that Durant will land in San Antonio and there appears to be no clear traction. While the Spurs have continued to be one of the teams linked to Durant, league observers question whether there is enough potential alignment between the Spurs and Suns on a possible trade. Many around the league also believe the Spurs have valued Giannis Antetokounmpo higher than Durant on their trade board, but there has been a lack of momentum surrounding Antetokounmpo’s potential availability. Given Durant’s age not aligning with Wembanyama’s timeline, league observers expect the Spurs to remain cautious about potential trade compensation. https://rg.org/news/basketball/sources-spurs-unlikely-to-land-kevin-durant-pick-harper-no-2
“Spurs, Rockets, Heat, Wolves, Raptors, Clippers ... could be another wildcard or two. I've said that, others have said it, Shams said it. There's no shortage of suitors for Kevin Durant. I do believe his preferred destinations are the Texas teams.”
