Bump thread for Kevin Durant

[Michael Jackson]

Read on Twitter

If true, yeah we're not beating that kind of package

I mentioned this exact deal 2 days ago in this very thread.

This THE best deal period. If I’m the nets I pull the trigger.

It doesn’t get better than Ayton Bridges Cam and picks.. the next best deal being Wiggins Kuminga Poole and Moody and picks

Pat Williams injury continues to hurt us. His value is basically nothing because he’s proven nothing in his first two seasons.. he’s not even a young valueable asset when it boils down too it, still a young throw in player. Ayton Bridges and Cam are all more valubele than PWill individually which lets you know the Bulls have no shot via trade at getting a star.

The reason that Rudy Gobert had a press conference in Minnesota instead of Chicago is because the Bulls weren't willing to include Pat in a deal for Rudy. Minnesota came with their deal and that was that.

Brookyln wants to remain competitive; they don't control their next 5 draft picks, so tanking is out of the question. If I'm the Bulls, I would have made my offer and then add if things progress.

The reason why Gobert is in Minesota is because Danny Ainge wants draft picks which we didn't have to offer. Ainge LOVES draft capital and he surely got it again. He honestly could care less about P Will unless he felt he could turn him into draft capital. Legendary haul again by Ainge who well just never doesn't decimate a team in trades. Reports are anyway the Bulls did include Williams but at no point were the Bulls anything but Ainge's leverage to fleece a team like Minny who had picks to trade.

[sco]

Haynes: "I'll say this about Kevin Durant, since he requested a trade, there's been numerous stars that I've spoken to. Numerous stars that have been trying to get in touch with him to pick his brain, to see if he would consider other avenues, just want to get a sense of what he's thinking. KD's gone dark. He's not talking to anybody, not answering anybodies phone calls, not responding to texts, KD has gone dark."

https://www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbreak/news/shocking-report-about-kevin-durant-amid-trade-rumors-brooklyn-nets

[ImSlower]

Deluded, arrogant superstars is increasingly the trend de riguer in this league. I have little but contempt for Durant's pettiness. That said, he is among esteemed company in terms of outstanding talent who've wasted their teams' championship chances due to their own hubris. The Nets could have been an absolute powerhouse.

I generally love the NBA off-season intrigue. This Durant saga has cast a cloud over it all. I know there are a ton of you guys who want him on the Bulls, but I cannot help but look at the Nets fanbase. What a perfect situation for him, only to become one of the biggest train wrecks I've ever seen occur to an aspirational franchise.

[sco]

Deluded, arrogant superstars is increasingly the trend de riguer in this league. I have little but contempt for Durant's pettiness. That said, he is among esteemed company in terms of outstanding talent who've wasted their teams' championship chances due to their own hubris. The Nets could have been an absolute powerhouse.

I generally love the NBA off-season intrigue. This Durant saga has cast a cloud over it all. I know there are a ton of you guys who want him on the Bulls, but I cannot help but look at the Nets fanbase. What a perfect situation for him, only to become one of the biggest train wrecks I've ever seen occur to an aspirational franchise.

Not a huge KG fan, but given the sh*t show that the Nets turned into with Harden coming in way out of shape, Kyrie going all Kanye, and Simmons being a fragile mess...I totally forgive him in the forcing the trade saga.

I think NBA should require teams with multiple stars to use an extra roster spot for each guy's ego.

[ImSlower]

Deluded, arrogant superstars is increasingly the trend de riguer in this league. I have little but contempt for Durant's pettiness. That said, he is among esteemed company in terms of outstanding talent who've wasted their teams' championship chances due to their own hubris. The Nets could have been an absolute powerhouse.

I generally love the NBA off-season intrigue. This Durant saga has cast a cloud over it all. I know there are a ton of you guys who want him on the Bulls, but I cannot help but look at the Nets fanbase. What a perfect situation for him, only to become one of the biggest train wrecks I've ever seen occur to an aspirational franchise.

Not a huge KG fan, but given the sh*t show that the Nets turned into with Harden coming in way out of shape, Kyrie going all Kanye, and Simmons being a fragile mess...I totally forgive him in the forcing the trade saga.

I think NBA should require teams with multiple stars to use an extra roster spot for each guy's ego.

You're absolutely right that Harden and Irving are plenty to blame, as is Marks for signing those three pricks, and on down the chain. If any of those guys weren't so arrogant and self-serving, perhaps the circus could have gone on in Brooklyn. Durant's got his Biggie crown on, though. As much as he has vocally said he doesn't want to be a leader, it was his name on the circus tent to start everything. Harden has never given a crap, Irving sounds like a contemptible human being more and more every ridiculous tweet, and Simmons suffers from a chronic lack of a spine. But Durant's the one people crown as an arguable top 15 player ever, and here he is wrecking an entire franchise, holding up the whole league, and further empowering this miserable collection of stars being crappy role models. I feel like Obi-Wan yelling at a melting Anakin in the lava when I see LeBron wrecking his team and expecting things to work out on one coast, and Durant doing the same over on the other. These two guys (and Steph) should have been Bird and Magic, battling each other for years, and having posters on every kid's bedroom wall.

Apologies, someone peed in my Cheerios this morning and I'm not enjoying the state of the NBA. I just want this douche to get traded already so we can all move on to arguing about the Bulls' potential vs current limitations.

[d boy gentleman]

The reason why Gobert is in Minesota is because Danny Ainge wants draft picks which we didn't have to offer. Ainge LOVES draft capital and he surely got it again. He honestly could care less about P Will unless he felt he could turn him into draft capital. Legendary haul again by Ainge who well just never doesn't decimate a team in trades. Reports are anyway the Bulls did include Williams but at no point were the Bulls anything but Ainge's leverage to fleece a team like Minny who had picks to trade.

The Athletic’s Zach Harper addressed all of this in a recent interview on 670 The Score’s Bernstein & Holmes Show, and it sure sounds like the Bulls remained in the mix for a while:

“Everything that I had heard – and, granted, this is all third and fourth hand, but it’s people that I really trust, they haven’t steered me wrong – I heard before the draft that the Bulls were the frontrunners for Rudy Gobert because of Patrick Williams,” Harper said. “If they were willing to include Patrick Williams in the deal, it was going to get done. Also, there was an amount of picks that had to be agreed to. But that Patrick Williams put it over the top, and that league sources thought that eventually the Bulls would include him, it was just a game of chicken.

Then, when the Wolves got in the mix … once it got to that, it just became too high priced for anyone else to get involved.”

https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2022/07/06/so-just-how-involved-were-the-bulls-in-the-rudy-gobert-trade-talks/

[October28]

Doublepost

[October28]

Irving sounds like a contemptible human being more and more every ridiculous tweet,

Will you please defend this opinion? I am genuinely interested in why you think so.

[bulls_4_life]

Redundant posts for 500 Alex

[step]

Deluded, arrogant superstars is increasingly the trend de riguer in this league. I have little but contempt for Durant's pettiness. That said, he is among esteemed company in terms of outstanding talent who've wasted their teams' championship chances due to their own hubris. The Nets could have been an absolute powerhouse.

I generally love the NBA off-season intrigue. This Durant saga has cast a cloud over it all. I know there are a ton of you guys who want him on the Bulls, but I cannot help but look at the Nets fanbase. What a perfect situation for him, only to become one of the biggest train wrecks I've ever seen occur to an aspirational franchise.

Not a huge KG fan, but given the sh*t show that the Nets turned into with Harden coming in way out of shape, Kyrie going all Kanye, and Simmons being a fragile mess...I totally forgive him in the forcing the trade saga.

Have to agree with you... I don't view KD's request that poorly.

I think NBA should require teams with multiple stars to use an extra roster spot for each guy's ego.

Chuckle.

[step]

Read on Twitter

yeah no lol

I get trying to get the most out of the situation... but that's unrealistic.

One skewed Gobert trade and now everyone has that as the baseline. Yeah, no.

[Michael Jackson]

The reason why Gobert is in Minesota is because Danny Ainge wants draft picks which we didn't have to offer. Ainge LOVES draft capital and he surely got it again. He honestly could care less about P Will unless he felt he could turn him into draft capital. Legendary haul again by Ainge who well just never doesn't decimate a team in trades. Reports are anyway the Bulls did include Williams but at no point were the Bulls anything but Ainge's leverage to fleece a team like Minny who had picks to trade.

The Athletic’s Zach Harper addressed all of this in a recent interview on 670 The Score’s Bernstein & Holmes Show, and it sure sounds like the Bulls remained in the mix for a while:

“Everything that I had heard – and, granted, this is all third and fourth hand, but it’s people that I really trust, they haven’t steered me wrong – I heard before the draft that the Bulls were the frontrunners for Rudy Gobert because of Patrick Williams,” Harper said. “If they were willing to include Patrick Williams in the deal, it was going to get done. Also, there was an amount of picks that had to be agreed to. But that Patrick Williams put it over the top, and that league sources thought that eventually the Bulls would include him, it was just a game of chicken.

Then, when the Wolves got in the mix … once it got to that, it just became too high priced for anyone else to get involved.”

https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2022/07/06/so-just-how-involved-were-the-bulls-in-the-rudy-gobert-trade-talks/

“Everything that I had heard – and, granted, this is all third and fourth hand, but it’s people that I really trust, they haven’t steered me wrong – I heard before the draft that the Bulls were the frontrunners for Rudy Gobert because of Patrick Williams,” Harper said. “If they were willing to include Patrick Williams in the deal, it was going to get done. Also, there was an amount of picks that had to be agreed to. But that Patrick Williams put it over the top, and that league sources thought that eventually the Bulls would include him, it was just a game of chicken.

Then, when the Wolves got in the mix … once it got to that, it just became too high priced for anyone else to get involved.”

I think that is what you are referring to. What is the number of the picks? a number the Bulls could never add, which Minnesota did. Now if they could have gotten the picks from the Bulls (which they already traded) and added Williams for sure it would have gotten done. Ainge wasn't looking for what 27 and 29 pick... I think that is the earliest we can move it after the San Antonio trade last year. No he played the hell out of both the Bulls and Minnesota and pantsed Minny in the deal. That is Danny Ainge. That is why he is a legend. Literally notorious for it and he himself with his huge stock of picks would never trade them for talent. The man loves his picks and he knows what great equity they are. Now with some other GM... yeah I can see the Bulls being able to make the trade. If we didn't owe the 23 and 25 picks and could offer those two plus the 27 and 29 plus Pat, I am sure he would have taken that deal. He and some others like Presti use this model. That being said Danny's picks even though he was laughed at pretty much got the Celtics (plus the fleecing of Philly too boot) to the finals this year. Ainge has never been one to have a quick trigger finger, so I have a hard time believing because of his well documented history that if PWill was thrown in he just would have suddenly ignored all other offers and been so happy clicking his heels because Patrick Williams was included. I don't know maybe it was the case but sure seems like a stretch... like someone got the information 3rd or 4th hand. This is Danny "Holy Garments" Ainge he takes no prisoners.

[d boy gentleman]

I think that is what you are referring to. What is the number of the picks? a number the Bulls could never add, which Minnesota did. Now if they could have gotten the picks from the Bulls (which they already traded) and added Williams for sure it would have gotten done. Ainge wasn't looking for what 27 and 29 pick... I think that is the earliest we can move it after the San Antonio trade last year. No he played the hell out of both the Bulls and Minnesota and pantsed Minny in the deal. That is Danny Ainge. That is why he is a legend. Literally notorious for it and he himself with his huge stock of picks would never trade them for talent. The man loves his picks and he knows what great equity they are. Now with some other GM... yeah I can see the Bulls being able to make the trade. If we didn't owe the 23 and 25 picks and could offer those two plus the 27 and 29 plus Pat, I am sure he would have taken that deal. He and some others like Presti use this model. That being said Danny's picks even though he was laughed at pretty much got the Celtics (plus the fleecing of Philly too boot) to the finals this year. Ainge has never been one to have a quick trigger finger, so I have a hard time believing because of his well documented history that if PWill was thrown in he just would have suddenly ignored all other offers and been so happy clicking his heels because Patrick Williams was included. I don't know maybe it was the case but sure seems like a stretch... like someone got the information 3rd or 4th hand. This is Danny "Holy Garments" Ainge he takes no prisoners.

i think the Bulls called the Jazz and made an offer that at least kept dialogue. I think Minnesota also made an offer and kept dialogue with them at the same time. I think dialogue was ongoing leading up to the draft and it would be safe to say, that the Bulls would have been picking for Utah at that point and the deal would have probably been the rights to 18, Portland 1st, Pick swap in 24 and 26, 27 and 29 1st and probably some 2nds with Vooch, Pat and Coby. Minnesota then upped their offer and went all in on Rudy and that--to quote the late great Paul Harvey-- is the rest of the story.

I agree on Danny Ainge though; he always tries to win any deal he does. And he sure did with Minnesota.

[Michael Jackson]

I think that is what you are referring to. What is the number of the picks? a number the Bulls could never add, which Minnesota did. Now if they could have gotten the picks from the Bulls (which they already traded) and added Williams for sure it would have gotten done. Ainge wasn't looking for what 27 and 29 pick... I think that is the earliest we can move it after the San Antonio trade last year. No he played the hell out of both the Bulls and Minnesota and pantsed Minny in the deal. That is Danny Ainge. That is why he is a legend. Literally notorious for it and he himself with his huge stock of picks would never trade them for talent. The man loves his picks and he knows what great equity they are. Now with some other GM... yeah I can see the Bulls being able to make the trade. If we didn't owe the 23 and 25 picks and could offer those two plus the 27 and 29 plus Pat, I am sure he would have taken that deal. He and some others like Presti use this model. That being said Danny's picks even though he was laughed at pretty much got the Celtics (plus the fleecing of Philly too boot) to the finals this year. Ainge has never been one to have a quick trigger finger, so I have a hard time believing because of his well documented history that if PWill was thrown in he just would have suddenly ignored all other offers and been so happy clicking his heels because Patrick Williams was included. I don't know maybe it was the case but sure seems like a stretch... like someone got the information 3rd or 4th hand. This is Danny "Holy Garments" Ainge he takes no prisoners.

I can agree with that scenario but I don’t think Artie was willing to pull his pants down that far for Gobert and his contract. I am 100% positive that Ainge told the Wolves that’s what he offered though. You don’t deal with the devil!!! I don’ t value Gobert (or most any center not named Joel or Jokic) enough to be anywhere close to that offer. I would do Vuc, Pat and Portland and maybe this years pick and whatever filler (Coby DJJ etc..) but even then you are still mikes away from the haul the man wanted. Quite honestly I have no idea how Ainge does it.

i think the Bulls called the Jazz and made an offer that at least kept dialogue. I think Minnesota also made an offer and kept dialogue with them at the same time. I think dialogue was ongoing leading up to the draft and it would be safe to say, that the Bulls would have been picking for Utah at that point and the deal would have probably been the rights to 18, Portland 1st, Pick swap in 24 and 26, 27 and 29 1st and probably some 2nds with Vooch, Pat and Coby. Minnesota then upped their offer and went all in on Rudy and that--to quote the late great Paul Harvey-- is the rest of the story.

I agree on Danny Ainge though; he always tries to win any deal he does. And he sure did with Minnesota.

[WindyCityBorn]

I mentioned this exact deal 2 days ago in this very thread.

This THE best deal period. If I’m the nets I pull the trigger.

It doesn’t get better than Ayton Bridges Cam and picks.. the next best deal being Wiggins Kuminga Poole and Moody and picks

Pat Williams injury continues to hurt us. His value is basically nothing because he’s proven nothing in his first two seasons.. he’s not even a young valueable asset when it boils down too it, still a young throw in player. Ayton Bridges and Cam are all more valubele than PWill individually which lets you know the Bulls have no shot via trade at getting a star.

The reason that Rudy Gobert had a press conference in Minnesota instead of Chicago is because the Bulls weren't willing to include Pat in a deal for Rudy. Minnesota came with their deal and that was that.

Brookyln wants to remain competitive; they don't control their next 5 draft picks, so tanking is out of the question. If I'm the Bulls, I would have made my offer and then add if things progress.

The reason why Gobert is in Minesota is because Danny Ainge wants draft picks which we didn't have to offer. Ainge LOVES draft capital and he surely got it again. He honestly could care less about P Will unless he felt he could turn him into draft capital. Legendary haul again by Ainge who well just never doesn't decimate a team in trades. Reports are anyway the Bulls did include Williams but at no point were the Bulls anything but Ainge's leverage to fleece a team like Minny who had picks to trade.

Link of someone credible saying Patrick Williams was actually put on the table by AK. I never saw that. KC Johnson who has been ultra on point this Summer said the talk of Gobert to Chicago was overblown before Minnesota traded for him. So I don’t think Williams was ever put on the table.

[WindyCityBorn]

Read on Twitter

yeah no lol

I get trying to get the most out of the situation... but that's unrealistic.

One skewed Gobert trade and now everyone has that as the baseline. Yeah, no.

I think it is obvious that Brooklyn doesn’t want to trade Durant. Asking for ridiculous packages like this is a way to to draw it out while they try to get him back on board. KD isn’t worth Edwards by himself if I’m Minnesota.

[Michael Jackson]

The reason that Rudy Gobert had a press conference in Minnesota instead of Chicago is because the Bulls weren't willing to include Pat in a deal for Rudy. Minnesota came with their deal and that was that.

Brookyln wants to remain competitive; they don't control their next 5 draft picks, so tanking is out of the question. If I'm the Bulls, I would have made my offer and then add if things progress.

The reason why Gobert is in Minesota is because Danny Ainge wants draft picks which we didn't have to offer. Ainge LOVES draft capital and he surely got it again. He honestly could care less about P Will unless he felt he could turn him into draft capital. Legendary haul again by Ainge who well just never doesn't decimate a team in trades. Reports are anyway the Bulls did include Williams but at no point were the Bulls anything but Ainge's leverage to fleece a team like Minny who had picks to trade.

Link of someone credible saying Patrick Williams was actually put on the table by AK. I never saw that. KC Johnson who has been ultra on point this Summer said the talk of Gobert to Chicago was overblown before Minnesota traded for him. So I don’t think Williams was ever put on the table.

I am sure Danny Ainge told Minnesota they did he also said a lot of other things that likely weren’t true.

[WestsideResider]

Read on Twitter

yeah no lol

This is hilarious. Like what lmao. I hope that’s fake

[Lunartic]

Deluded, arrogant superstars is increasingly the trend de riguer in this league. I have little but contempt for Durant's pettiness. That said, he is among esteemed company in terms of outstanding talent who've wasted their teams' championship chances due to their own hubris. The Nets could have been an absolute powerhouse.

I generally love the NBA off-season intrigue. This Durant saga has cast a cloud over it all. I know there are a ton of you guys who want him on the Bulls, but I cannot help but look at the Nets fanbase. What a perfect situation for him, only to become one of the biggest train wrecks I've ever seen occur to an aspirational franchise.

Not a huge KG fan, but given the sh*t show that the Nets turned into with Harden coming in way out of shape, Kyrie going all Kanye, and Simmons being a fragile mess...I totally forgive him in the forcing the trade saga.

I think NBA should require teams with multiple stars to use an extra roster spot for each guy's ego.

So KD has a single year of difficulty and he needs to bounce asap? He played like absolute trash in the playoffs and he's not the same player he once was. Kyrie missed a lot of games, so what? He was available for the postseason, Harden was recruited by KD to join them and then left before the postseason.

KD is upset he only gets to play with a top-tier PG in Irving and a solid supporting cast? It's superteam or bust for him? This past season there were zero superteams, the Bucks were injured, the Celtics had injuries, the Suns looked bad, the Bulls flamed out, the Sixers were just lmao-tier - absolutely zero reason he couldn't have made the finals at least with his cast.

If KD played even just 70% of his normal level, they beat the Celtics. He decided to put up 12 point games with 9 turnovers on 31% FG while doing nothing defensively. He is primarily to blame for how their season ended.

Zero sympathy for that front running clown.

How about he stays with the team he signed with, continues to improve the roster and build chemistry and perform better in the playoffs?

[Wingy]

Deluded, arrogant superstars is increasingly the trend de riguer in this league. I have little but contempt for Durant's pettiness. That said, he is among esteemed company in terms of outstanding talent who've wasted their teams' championship chances due to their own hubris. The Nets could have been an absolute powerhouse.

I generally love the NBA off-season intrigue. This Durant saga has cast a cloud over it all. I know there are a ton of you guys who want him on the Bulls, but I cannot help but look at the Nets fanbase. What a perfect situation for him, only to become one of the biggest train wrecks I've ever seen occur to an aspirational franchise.

Not a huge KG fan, but given the sh*t show that the Nets turned into with Harden coming in way out of shape, Kyrie going all Kanye, and Simmons being a fragile mess...I totally forgive him in the forcing the trade saga.

Have to agree with you... I don't view KD's request that poorly.

Huh. I'm genuinely perplexed why anyone would give sympathy to KD in this situation.

1. Kyrie is his bro "beyond basketball" - some silly headline I saw on the little wiretap box at the top of my screen one day that I didn't read. He tied his ship to Kyrie, no one forced him to.

2. Yeah, Harden came in out of shape I suppose, but from the few drama articles I read, Harden seemed fed up with...none other than...you guessed it. Kyrie. Kyrie and his absence, and unwillingness to go for an NBA title w/their group. So again...KD tied himself to that anchor.

3. He forced himself out of OKC when they had GSW on the ropes, and his own play couldn't put them away. You really think they wouldn't have traded Russ back when he was worth a ton if KD quietly asked?

He left a great winning situation in Golden State too. Now he's bailing again, and you actually feel ok about him??