Kevin Durant

[BlacJacMac]

Find familiar faces

37, expiring, eligible for a 60 million dollar deal in 26/27. You cannot bring him in without losing at least 4 players (show me the alternate math,) and it forces small ball. KD might be great somewhere else, or he might hit the age wall, or get hurt and be slow to heal. You don’t gamble on KD in our situation. Very high risk, very low reward unless you believe you are gonna win the chip in 25/26.

Wolves at $188M next year without NAW's contract. Randle+JMcD= KD =55M, Second apron like at 195M next year. So, if ownership willing, it can be done with most of core intact, could resign Naz. Otherwise would be Randle+NAZ+Conley. I like to keep DDV but not sure if Naz or JMcD to go forward, they both didn't have good season. We love Cinderella but its almost midnight for Naz and JMcD.

I keep McDaniels 100 out of 100 times over Naz.

[minimus]

We love Cinderella but its almost midnight for Naz and JMcD.

You can't trade our only full sized wing

[winforlose]

Find familiar faces

37, expiring, eligible for a 60 million dollar deal in 26/27. You cannot bring him in without losing at least 4 players (show me the alternate math,) and it forces small ball. KD might be great somewhere else, or he might hit the age wall, or get hurt and be slow to heal. You don’t gamble on KD in our situation. Very high risk, very low reward unless you believe you are gonna win the chip in 25/26.

Wolves at $188M next year without NAW's contract. Randle+JMcD= KD =55M, Second apron like at 195M next year. So, if ownership willing, it can be done with most of core intact, could resign Naz. Otherwise would be Randle+NAZ+Conley. I like to keep DDV but not sure if Naz or JMcD to go forward, they both didn't have good season. We love Cinderella but its almost midnight for Naz and JMcD.

Key words “without NAW’s contract” and “Randle+” The plus means hard cap. You would sacrifice Jaden and NAW for KD. That team has no defense and Jaden will be a 20pg player for Phoenix. Also thanks to the money jam of it all we probably also don’t sing a tax payer MLE player. So it costs us our two best on ball defenders, Randle’s value, and the MLE PG or backup C. Not viable.

Oh, and moving Mike violates a promise TC made an makes it very hard to acquire free agents in the years to come. Bad sacrifice in my opinion. Regarding the Randle + Naz, how does that work? Can they both opt out and be traded or do they both have to opt in, because Naz won’t.

[Klomp]

Oh, and moving Mike violates a promise TC made....

You really need to get over this. He's been traded before, he's mature enough to understand the nature of the business.

[TimberKat]

37, expiring, eligible for a 60 million dollar deal in 26/27. You cannot bring him in without losing at least 4 players (show me the alternate math,) and it forces small ball. KD might be great somewhere else, or he might hit the age wall, or get hurt and be slow to heal. You don’t gamble on KD in our situation. Very high risk, very low reward unless you believe you are gonna win the chip in 25/26.

Wolves at $188M next year without NAW's contract. Randle+JMcD= KD =55M, Second apron like at 195M next year. So, if ownership willing, it can be done with most of core intact, could resign Naz. Otherwise would be Randle+NAZ+Conley. I like to keep DDV but not sure if Naz or JMcD to go forward, they both didn't have good season. We love Cinderella but its almost midnight for Naz and JMcD.

Key words “without NAW’s contract” and “Randle+” The plus means hard cap. You would sacrifice Jaden and NAW for KD. That team has no defense and Jaden will be a 20pg player for Phoenix. Also thanks to the money jam of it all we probably also don’t sing a tax payer MLE player. So it costs us our two best on ball defenders, Randle’s value, and the MLE PG or backup C. Not viable.

Oh, and moving Mike violates a promise TC made an makes it very hard to acquire free agents in the years to come. Bad sacrifice in my opinion. Regarding the Randle + Naz, how does that work? Can they both opt out and be traded or do they both have to opt in, because Naz won’t.

I totally understand if someone doesn't want KD due to age discrimination The logistics is complicated but in general if we aren't taking in more salary, it can work. We will have Clark take over NAW minutes. KD is going to play PF. We will need to sign someone to backfill either Naz or JMcD. With Naz being easier to fill because we have KD. Worst case STJ will play SF. KD is the perfect outlet when Ant can't get a good shot and I think KD can throw the lob pass to Gobert. We make a run 26, and 27 then Tank 28 and/or 29. Conley is going to retire and comeback as a coach if trade him.

The core are: Ant, KD, Gobert, (Naz or JMcD), DDV, Clark, STJ, and Dilly.

Edit: thinking about it more, we may not need to tank but use KD's salary slot to get a max free agent.

[winforlose]

Wolves at $188M next year without NAW's contract. Randle+JMcD= KD =55M, Second apron like at 195M next year. So, if ownership willing, it can be done with most of core intact, could resign Naz. Otherwise would be Randle+NAZ+Conley. I like to keep DDV but not sure if Naz or JMcD to go forward, they both didn't have good season. We love Cinderella but its almost midnight for Naz and JMcD.

Key words “without NAW’s contract” and “Randle+” The plus means hard cap. You would sacrifice Jaden and NAW for KD. That team has no defense and Jaden will be a 20pg player for Phoenix. Also thanks to the money jam of it all we probably also don’t sing a tax payer MLE player. So it costs us our two best on ball defenders, Randle’s value, and the MLE PG or backup C. Not viable.

Oh, and moving Mike violates a promise TC made an makes it very hard to acquire free agents in the years to come. Bad sacrifice in my opinion. Regarding the Randle + Naz, how does that work? Can they both opt out and be traded or do they both have to opt in, because Naz won’t.

I totally understand if someone doesn't want KD due to age discrimination The logistics is complicated but in general if we aren't taking in more salary, it can work. We will have Clark take over NAW minutes. KD is going to play PF. We will need to sign someone to backfill either Naz or JMcD. With Naz being easier to fill because we have KD. Worst case STJ will play SF. KD is the perfect outlet when Ant can't get a good shot and I think KD can throw the lob pass to Gobert. We make a run 26, and 27 then Tank 28 and/or 29. Conley is going to retire and comeback as a coach if trade him.

The core are: Ant, KD, Gobert, (Naz or JMcD), DDV, Clark, STJ, and Dilly.

Age discrimination LOL. Your general approach is to dump multiple long term players who are still pre prime for a 1-3 year rental (probably 1-2,) of a post prime player. However I look at this I see us getting smaller, less talented, and more top heavy (one injury and more of our payroll is on the bench. In the case of any Jaden trade we also give up our 2nd best trade asset, (Naz being 3rd,) in the process. Do you think a stating 5 of DDV/Ant/KD/Naz/Rudy with a bench group of Clark/TSJ/Dilly and some vet minimum big is gonna win anything next year? I don’t even believe that team is better than the one we have now.

P.S. think of it like this. Take what Randle gives you at the PF, upgrade that to what KD gives you. Then remove all of Jaden’s and NAW’s stats as well, not to mention the depth and roster imbalance issues and try to determine if we are better.

[TimberKat]

Key words “without NAW’s contract” and “Randle+” The plus means hard cap. You would sacrifice Jaden and NAW for KD. That team has no defense and Jaden will be a 20pg player for Phoenix. Also thanks to the money jam of it all we probably also don’t sing a tax payer MLE player. So it costs us our two best on ball defenders, Randle’s value, and the MLE PG or backup C. Not viable.

Oh, and moving Mike violates a promise TC made an makes it very hard to acquire free agents in the years to come. Bad sacrifice in my opinion. Regarding the Randle + Naz, how does that work? Can they both opt out and be traded or do they both have to opt in, because Naz won’t.

I totally understand if someone doesn't want KD due to age discrimination The logistics is complicated but in general if we aren't taking in more salary, it can work. We will have Clark take over NAW minutes. KD is going to play PF. We will need to sign someone to backfill either Naz or JMcD. With Naz being easier to fill because we have KD. Worst case STJ will play SF. KD is the perfect outlet when Ant can't get a good shot and I think KD can throw the lob pass to Gobert. We make a run 26, and 27 then Tank 28 and/or 29. Conley is going to retire and comeback as a coach if trade him.

The core are: Ant, KD, Gobert, (Naz or JMcD), DDV, Clark, STJ, and Dilly.

Age discrimination LOL. Your general approach is to dump multiple long term players who are still pre prime for a 1-3 year rental (probably 1-2,) of a post prime player. However I look at this I see us getting smaller, less talented, and more top heavy (one injury and more of our payroll is on the bench. In the case of any Jaden trade we also give up our 2nd best trade asset, (Naz being 3rd,) in the process. Do you think a stating 5 of DDV/Ant/KD/Naz/Rudy with a bench group of Clark/TSJ/Dilly and some vet minimum big is gonna win anything next year? I don’t even believe that team is better than the one we have now.

P.S. think of it like this. Take what Randle gives you at the PF, upgrade that to what KD gives you. Then remove all of Jaden’s and NAW’s stats as well, not to mention the depth and roster imbalance issues and try to determine if we are better.

I think you lose one of : Randle, NAW, or Naz this off season anyway, so, should take one of them out of the equation but can use as trade instrument.

Conley is heading into another year of decline (rightly so) but you can use his salary slot so also take him out of the equation.

In effect, you are giving up two rotation players for one. KD is an all star. He is still a top 10 scorer and accurate 3pt shooter. Randle was an all star, I don't see JMcD or Naz get there (but don't tell PHX). I am just looking for an All Star to pair with Ant. Just listen to all those how DEN wasted Jokic or MIN wasn't KG's prime talks (even though it's only half truth).

[shrink]

With Durant having a Hall of Fame prime, a post-prime Durant can still be better than any player we’d send out.

[Klomp]

I think you lose one of : Randle, NAW, or Naz this off season anyway, so, should take one of them out of the equation but can use as trade instrument.

Conley is heading into another year of decline (rightly so) but you can use his salary slot so also take him out of the equation.

In effect, you are giving up two rotation players for one. KD is an all star. He is still a top 10 scorer and accurate 3pt shooter. Randle was an all star, I don't see JMcD or Naz get there (but don't tell PHX). I am just looking for an All Star to pair with Ant. Just listen to all those how DEN wasted Jokic or MIN wasn't KG's prime talks (even though it's only half truth).

I think this is an important way to think of any potential Durant trade discussion.

[winforlose]

With Durant having a Hall of Fame prime, a post-prime Durant can still be better than any player we’d send out.

Short term maybe. But again, expiring, turning 37, and could cost 60 million plus per year to keep. Jaden is 4 more years under contract, Naz is likely to be 4 or 5 on a new deal. You also hard cap the team and if any of Naz, Randle, Rudy go out you get smaller (when we already have a roster construction problem.) Again you might say KD makes us 25% next year, but if that isn’t championship level what about in 3 years when prime Ant wants to win a chip and we have no help for him?

[Klomp]

With Durant having a Hall of Fame prime, a post-prime Durant can still be better than any player we’d send out.

Short term maybe. But again, expiring, turning 37, and could cost 60 million plus per year to keep. Jaden is 4 more years under contract, Naz is likely to be 4 or 5 on a new deal. You also hard cap the team and if any of Naz, Randle, Rudy go out you get smaller (when we already have a roster construction problem.) Again you might say KD makes us 25% next year, but if that isn’t championship level what about in 3 years when prime Ant wants to win a chip and we have no help for him?

In some ways, this is like trying to argue we should have kept D'Angelo Russell over trading for Mike Conley.

You're right, we have a bit of a roster construction issue. So many people have whined about how guys like Clark, Dillingham, Shannon, Minott, Miller, etc cannot get on the court because we have too many guys in front of them. Yet here you are saying that losing two rotation players would ruin the team longterm.

[winforlose]

With Durant having a Hall of Fame prime, a post-prime Durant can still be better than any player we’d send out.

Short term maybe. But again, expiring, turning 37, and could cost 60 million plus per year to keep. Jaden is 4 more years under contract, Naz is likely to be 4 or 5 on a new deal. You also hard cap the team and if any of Naz, Randle, Rudy go out you get smaller (when we already have a roster construction problem.) Again you might say KD makes us 25% next year, but if that isn’t championship level what about in 3 years when prime Ant wants to win a chip and we have no help for him?

In some ways, this is like trying to argue we should have kept D'Angelo Russell over trading for Mike Conley.

You're right, we have a bit of a roster construction issue. So many people have whined about how guys like Clark, Dillingham, Shannon, Minott, Miller, etc cannot get on the court because we have too many guys in front of them. Yet here you are saying that losing two rotation players would ruin the team longterm.

Yeah because Jaden and NAW are just to random roster guys. Also remember Dilly sucked this year. I have been saying from day 1 send him to Iowa or play him. We did neither. TSJ and Clark have talent, but they didn’t play enough to properly develop. You so badly want KD that you would drive Ant out of Minnesota and squander the teams future, go for it. But KD will be gone in 2 years and if Naz and DDV are all the talent Ant has around he is gonna say bye, bye. Dumping our two best defenders, plus Randle and picks. Hard capping us without enough bigs, and not having proper PG balance is the dumbest move possible.

[Klomp]

You so badly want KD that you would drive Ant out of Minnesota

Are we talking about the same Anthony Edwards? The same Kevin Durant?

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[TimberKat]

Short term maybe. But again, expiring, turning 37, and could cost 60 million plus per year to keep. Jaden is 4 more years under contract, Naz is likely to be 4 or 5 on a new deal. You also hard cap the team and if any of Naz, Randle, Rudy go out you get smaller (when we already have a roster construction problem.) Again you might say KD makes us 25% next year, but if that isn’t championship level what about in 3 years when prime Ant wants to win a chip and we have no help for him?

In some ways, this is like trying to argue we should have kept D'Angelo Russell over trading for Mike Conley.

You're right, we have a bit of a roster construction issue. So many people have whined about how guys like Clark, Dillingham, Shannon, Minott, Miller, etc cannot get on the court because we have too many guys in front of them. Yet here you are saying that losing two rotation players would ruin the team longterm.

Yeah because Jaden and NAW are just to random roster guys. Also remember Dilly sucked this year. I have been saying from day 1 send him to Iowa or play him. We did neither. TSJ and Clark have talent, but they didn’t play enough to properly develop. You so badly want KD that you would drive Ant out of Minnesota and squander the teams future, go for it. But KD will be gone in 2 years and if Naz and DDV are all the talent Ant has around he is gonna say bye, bye. Dumping our two best defenders, plus Randle and picks. Hard capping us without enough bigs, and not having proper PG balance is the dumbest move possible.

So having JMcD and NAW is enough talent to make Ant feel better? NAW or Naz is gone after this year anyway. Is JMcD going to be an All Star? Why can't we sign another FA using KD's salary slot in two years? Does at least one of Clark, TSJ, or Dilly turn into a rotation player? What about use Gobert's salary slot for a player in two years? I just don't see using Randle + ( Naz or JMcD) for KD is any future issue. There are many who doesn't like KD.

[winforlose]

You so badly want KD that you would drive Ant out of Minnesota

Are we talking about the same Anthony Edwards? The same Kevin Durant?

Read on Twitter

Ant loves, KD, but I am talking about post KD. You are emptying the talent pool while raising the price. Good luck back filling. You are dumping our two best on ball defenders. Clark isn’t even half as good as NAW right now. I am not even convinced he is as good as Okogie at this point. For all his really good games, he has as many or more bad ones. Jaden is a guy I think develops into a 20/10 SF by his prime (and with a coach willing to feature him.) Randle can get you a decent big or backup PG. DDV is not PG. There is a reason we are so GD inconsistent and it is roster construction. So yeah, dumping Jaden, NAW, picks and probably more to bring in KD to be a 1st round and done team is a bad idea.

[TimberKat]

I usually aren't high on draft picks and rookies as 80% of the time they won't make it but I can tell that Clark is going to be better than Okogie. Clark is a much better shooter, better BBIQ, and better cutter. Clark right now is playing too close and aggressive on D, once he relex a little more, he will be even better. Let's see if he could guard Luka and Reaves.

[cmoss84]

Best case scenario: we trade Julius, Rudy, and picks for KD, then resign Naz and NAW

[Guest84]

No...that's my stance. After GSW, it's like a curse has followed KD to the teams after that. Wolves have had enough poor luck over the years and I'd rather they not fall back into that trend for awhile.

Is there some sort of leadership quality KD can instill in Ant or others that can't be measured? Eh, don't want him at this stage of his career.

[TimberKat]

Best case scenario: we trade Julius, Rudy, and picks for KD, then resign Naz and NAW

I think you will end up with the new Suns team if you trade Gobert and use Naz as center?

[Klomp]

Is there some sort of leadership quality KD can instill in Ant or others that can't be measured? Eh, don't want him at this stage of his career.

Everyone talks about Ant's struggles in clutch situations, how he is so confident in his own game that he doesn't want to give up the ball. Well Durant is a player who Ant will willingly defer to.

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