ATL - CP3 to Clippers

[soxperry]

So the Magic get considerably better, not just through the Bane trade but having a fully healthy crew for next season. If health holds, they will definitely be in the running for a very high seed. I would lock them in at a top 4 seed if you tell me they will have good health all season.

Now the Rockets solve their biggest problem. It doesn't make them perfect by any means, they still lack a 2nd option unless Amen Thompson really is that guy. But for next season they are definitely a true contender now.

i will say though, it's crazy that the Suns couldn't pry away their unprotected 27 1st from Houston while trading them KEVIN DURANT. There's absolutely no way they didn't want it. There's no way their plan was to just grab assets and rebuild around Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. So they really wanted that pick and they could not get it. Perhaps part of that is due to what was reported, that KD had diminished his own trade value by naming preferred destinations (with the subtext that he wouldn't stay long term anywhere else). So now they still get a Suns 1st back, but the lottery has already been decided and it's pick 10, and they still can't tank until....2031. They are going to have to trade Booker for as many assets as they can get and hope that they can swing deals with two different teams to get their 26 and 27 picks back. Otherwise, the future looks incredibly rough.

[worthlessBucks]

Don’t like Green, but how is Durant worth that much?

Silly, shortsighted trade. Aim for non geezers if you’re trading that much

Phoenix got rid of a 37 year old, got a young player (whom I don’t really like) and a lotto pick.

They traded all their prior assets for their failed glory attempt and now have recouped a little bit back. A+ deal Phoenix

[MickeyDavis]

Bottom line, there wasn't much of a market for KD

[soxperry]

Don’t like Green, but how is Durant worth that much?

Silly, shortsighted trade. Aim for non geezers if you’re trading that much

Easy. At 36, he put up 26.6/6/4 shooting 52% overall and 43% from 3 on 6 attempts per game. He's going to have the late late stage career that many thought Khris Middleton would have right now. He's always going to be able to just use footwork and length and get his shots up and his stroke will always be pure. His underrated defense probably falls off a little, but he's still long and potentially willing now that he's a real contender again.

For that price, i wish we could have gotten him. But sadly we dont even have that to offer really.

[ReasonablySober]

Read on Twitter

He's gonna be a monster in Houston.

[Ayt]

Rockets got fleeced

They gave up nothing.

What ? A 23-year-old rising star. A top 10 pick. A decent defender. And extra second round pics for a washed up veteran who’s almost 40 years old on the tail end of his career and is injured a lot. You’re crazy

Jalen Green is a "rising star" and 36-year-old Durant is almost 40 years old and washed up?

[soxperry]

I think we actually have Durant to thank for Giannis being willing to stick around in Milwaukee. Look at how many times it seemed like a great situation for KD only for it to just completely fall apart with nothing to show for and his legacy watered down as a result. I do think that this is a different situation than the others, primarily because Houston has a great coach and elite defense. But it took a LONG time for him to get it right...assuming it goes well.

[Ayt]

Houston’s gonna be insanely tough next year barring KD falling off a cliff. 5th in SRS this past season and now replacing Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks with Kevin Durant lol. And that’s before considering the internal development potential for guys like Thompson, Sengun, Eason, Smith Jr, Sheppard, Whitmore

Green and Brooks are both easily replaceable. That team could challenge for a Finals run if healthy come playoff time next year.

[Ayt]

Don’t like Green, but how is Durant worth that much?

Silly, shortsighted trade. Aim for non geezers if you’re trading that much

Phoenix got rid of a 37 year old, got a young player (whom I don’t really like) and a lotto pick.

They traded all their prior assets for their failed glory attempt and now have recouped a little bit back. A+ deal Phoenix

I'm not sure what Houston gave up that is all the valuable. I don't think Green or Brooks had much trade value individually. The 10th pick is a nice lotto shot but is whatever for a guy as good as Durant. If Green doesn't develop (and I don't think he will), all they really got back for their future is the 10 pick and a handful of 2nds.

Durant was 6th in scoring last year and 12th in TS%. Amongst the top scorers in the NBA, only Jokic had a higher TS%. Durant can still generate offense at an elite level while playing versatile defense.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

They gave up nothing.

What ? A 23-year-old rising star. A top 10 pick. A decent defender. And extra second round pics for a washed up veteran who’s almost 40 years old on the tail end of his career and is injured a lot. You’re crazy

Jalen Green is a "rising star" and 36-year-old Durant is almost 40 years old and washed up?

“A top 10 pick” is a generous way of saying the 10th pick.

[Dick Tate]

Brooks better start pumping up to play those PF minutes.

[drew881]

This is the second biggest NBA news highlight of the day posted on ESPN. lol. Play related but not play related. lol NBA

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45560877/scott-foster-not-chosen-capers-tiven-wright-ref-game-7

[Frank Nova]

I don’t really have a problem with the trade overall. I think the value was decent enough. Green and #10 is something you can sell your fan base. My 1 and only question would be why Jalen Green and not Jabari Smith Jr.? That, I truly don’t understand.

[paulpressey25]

Perfect trade for Houston. Big time playoffs buckets getter and they still have a good roster and bucketload of future picks.

[paulpressey25]

I don’t really have a problem with the trade overall. I think the value was decent enough. Green and #10 is something you can sell your fan base. My 1 and only question would be why Jalen Green and not Jabari Smith Jr.? That, I truly don’t understand.

Ishbia and his mentor Isiah Thomas are PPGZ guys. If Monta were still around he’d be a Sun.

[BUCKnation]

Think its a pretty fair trade, maybe a down the round first light, but fine enough. I think houston will actually miss Brooks, but he wasnt a deal stopper. Much needed type of player for them.

FVV and inshallah in crunch time was tough to watch.

[blazza18]

To put it kindly, there’s been something weird about Durant teams for awhile now. I think this was a no brainer move for Houston but KD can get sulky pretty fast.

[paulpressey25]

Think its a pretty fair trade, maybe a down the round first light, but fine enough. I think houston will actually miss Brooks, but he wasnt a deal stopper. Much needed type of player for them.

FVV and inshallah in crunch time was tough to watch.

The question is though what was PHX strategy here?

[Ayt]

Perfect trade for Houston. Big time playoffs buckets getter and they still have a good roster and bucketload of future picks.

I think Sengun will be a great fit playing off of Durant with his sky high basketball IQ as a big. The Rockets also have the entire regular season to mold Amen Thompson into more of a scoring and playmaking role in preparation for a deep playoff run. I'm extremely high on Thompson, so I'm guessing they'll be able to develop him by putting him out there when Durant isn't on the floor and having him be a primary playmaker.

[drew881]

Think its a pretty fair trade, maybe a down the round first light, but fine enough. I think houston will actually miss Brooks, but he wasnt a deal stopper. Much needed type of player for them.

FVV and inshallah in crunch time was tough to watch.

The question is though what was PHX strategy here?

Damage control from the original Durant trade.