Kevin Durant

[TimberKat]

Um thats pretty much every single cheap young asset we will have for the next 7 years for a 37 year old.
Or what you call a TIm Connelly special.

I'd be mad if we traded for Durant and one or both of Randle/Gobert DIDNT go out the door for him.
Getting rid of them is a key PERK of the trade for me.

Why do we want cheap young assets when we are going from conference finals to NBA finals? You can also trade Ant for 6#1s and rebuild.

What if KD leaves next year. We lose whatever we sent out, we still have enough salary on the books to make it hard to add more, and we are not a contender anymore. This is how good teams like the Suns turn into disasters, like the Suns. TC already made one very bad trade sending Karl out, (a trade which turned the Rudy trade from valuable to terrible instantly,) and now you want him to make another that almost certainly loses Ant in 2 or 3 years.

You know why Dlo for Mike at that price was offered to us? It was because Mike’s salary slot was a dead end and we would struggle to add a starting PG. We are at the same spot now with KD, and that dead end is fatal to the Ant contention window.

So, we don't make the KD trade, we have all those young players to develop. We make the play-in for the next two years then what? You sure we have an all star besides Ant on the roster? What are we compare the KD scenario to?

[BlacJacMac]

If we have to include JMcD in KD trade, what other return would make it worth it? How about Suns throw in Ryan Dunn? Maybe add TyTy Washington . In this scenario, we would do a sign and trade of Randle or Naz and keep one of them. Actually Keep both works too.

I really want to see Gobert, KD, Ant in the same lineup - this is what Gobert, Towns, and Ant meant to look like

McDaniels is a deal breaker.

[ILC]

Randle opts in plus extends with PHX. DDV, #17, Rob plus 2 of Minott/Miller/Garza to match salaries.

Leaves you with Mike, Ant, KD, Jaden, Rudy, TSJ, Clark. Re-sign Naz and NAW, draft a big with the UTA pick and then try to trade Mike and another pick/swap for someone like Lonzo etc.

That'd be my dream scenario.

[winforlose]

Why do we want cheap young assets when we are going from conference finals to NBA finals? You can also trade Ant for 6#1s and rebuild.

What if KD leaves next year. We lose whatever we sent out, we still have enough salary on the books to make it hard to add more, and we are not a contender anymore. This is how good teams like the Suns turn into disasters, like the Suns. TC already made one very bad trade sending Karl out, (a trade which turned the Rudy trade from valuable to terrible instantly,) and now you want him to make another that almost certainly loses Ant in 2 or 3 years.

You know why Dlo for Mike at that price was offered to us? It was because Mike’s salary slot was a dead end and we would struggle to add a starting PG. We are at the same spot now with KD, and that dead end is fatal to the Ant contention window.

So, we don't make the KD trade, we have all those young players to develop. We make the play-in for the next two years then what? You sure we have an all star besides Ant on the roster? What are we compare the KD scenario to?

Option 1, trade away Randle and Rudy to get younger. Look for a starting PG and C to pair with the Ant/Jaden/Naz core and try to build continuity for a year or two before truly contending. I don’t mean rookies either. I mean like 25-27 year olds with established games. DJM is on the outer edge of the age range and injured, otherwise he would have been a decent choice. I doubt the heat part with Ware, but if look around hard enough I am sure we could find players who fit the bill.

Option 2, keep everyone, make moves at the deadline at PG and C. This allows us to draft and see how those players develop and to wait for injuries to increase the market for NAW and Randle. Also we hold Rudy out of international competition and see if his game bounces back. The final upside is it gives Dilly a chance to play with Rudy and see if Dilly can lob to Rudy to begin the 2 man game.

Option 3. Trade Randle and NAW for a PG, keep Rudy and try and to again focus on a defensive approach.

P.S I wonder if there is a deal that might bring Ja Morant to the Wolves. Rudy would be a big deal for the Griz especially paired with JJJ. I don’t know if the rumors of them wanting to move on from Ja are true. But I wonder how JA and Ant combining their gravities would open things up for the other.

[Loaf_of_bread]

Randle opts in plus extends with PHX. DDV, #17, Rob plus 2 of Minott/Miller/Garza to match salaries.

Leaves you with Mike, Ant, KD, Jaden, Rudy, TSJ, Clark. Re-sign Naz and NAW, draft a big with the UTA pick and then try to trade Mike and another pick/swap for someone like Lonzo etc.

That'd be my dream scenario.

I think phx would accept that, but too rich for connelly to offer. Still selling extremely low on rob. Understand most don’t see much in him, but I would like to keep him.

Doubt naw is resigned.. we'll find out

Edit: don't mind taking a loss in value just to get rid of Randle. Wouldn't hate it, but maybe the 31 instead of the 17??

[Klomp]

Fun facts: Kevin Durant was measured at the 2007 NBA Draft Combine with a +7.75" wingspan, just shy of the +8.0" wingspan measured in 2014 by Rudy Gobert. Durant has posted 12 seasons with at least 1.0 blocks per game.

[ILC]

Randle opts in plus extends with PHX. DDV, #17, Rob plus 2 of Minott/Miller/Garza to match salaries.

Leaves you with Mike, Ant, KD, Jaden, Rudy, TSJ, Clark. Re-sign Naz and NAW, draft a big with the UTA pick and then try to trade Mike and another pick/swap for someone like Lonzo etc.

That'd be my dream scenario.

I think phx would accept that, but too rich for connelly to offer. Still selling extremely low on rob. Understand most don’t see much in him, but I would like to keep him.

Doubt naw is resigned.. we'll find out

I wouldn't be totally opposed to losing NAW, but in this scenario you're in the 2nd apron anyways so you might as well at least get a S&T out of it. Have to get some value and depth back. Or just keep him. Figure out the rest later.

[Klomp]

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[Neeva]

Connely needs to stop overpaying for players in trades period! Durant is old and his impact in winning is half what it used to be. Suns are the desperate team not the wolves!

[ILC]

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[TheZachAttack]

I want KD for a couple of reasons, but the most specific one is that I think that in order to take the next step Ant has to become better in the middle of the floor, making mid range jump shots, and getting to spots on the floor rather than the 3 or trying to get to the rim. KD is among the best in the league ever to do this. I think bringing in KD and giving Ant 2-3 years everyday with KD will give him the best chance at realizing this.

[BlacJacMac]

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[BlacJacMac]

P.S I wonder if there is a deal that might bring Ja Morant to the Wolves. Rudy would be a big deal for the Griz especially paired with JJJ. I don’t know if the rumors of them wanting to move on from Ja are true. But I wonder how JA and Ant combining their gravities would open things up for the other.

I hope not. Ja needs to dominate the ball to be useful and his game is almost completely reliant on his athleticism and explosion. He doesn't defend or stretch the floor and he can't stay out of trouble - or healthy.

[Loaf_of_bread]

I want KD for a couple of reasons, but the most specific one is that I think that in order to take the next step Ant has to become better in the middle of the floor, making mid range jump shots, and getting to spots on the floor rather than the 3 or trying to get to the rim. KD is among the best in the league ever to do this. I think bringing in KD and giving Ant 2-3 years everyday with KD will give him the best chance at realizing this.

There are THOUSANDS of nba caliber assistants capable of coaching ANT in any facet. Thinking we have to aquire a PLAYER to develop ANT may be the worst take I have ever heard.

KD hasn't been to the conference finals since his time in the bay area... further proof he doesn’t make those around him any better.. all of a sudden he is deemed a teacher/mentor? Not buying that

[TheZachAttack]

I want KD for a couple of reasons, but the most specific one is that I think that in order to take the next step Ant has to become better in the middle of the floor, making mid range jump shots, and getting to spots on the floor rather than the 3 or trying to get to the rim. KD is among the best in the league ever to do this. I think bringing in KD and giving Ant 2-3 years everyday with KD will give him the best chance at realizing this.

There are THOUSANDS of nba caliber assistants capable of coaching ANT in any facet. Thinking we have to aquire a PLAYER to develop ANT may be the worst take I have ever heard.

KD hasn't been to the conference finals since his time in the bay area... further proof he doesn’t make those around him any better.. all of a sudden he is deemed a teacher/mentor? Not buying that

lol there are plenty of basketball reasons and lol thinking an assistant is the same as KD

[Loaf_of_bread]

I want KD for a couple of reasons, but the most specific one is that I think that in order to take the next step Ant has to become better in the middle of the floor, making mid range jump shots, and getting to spots on the floor rather than the 3 or trying to get to the rim. KD is among the best in the league ever to do this. I think bringing in KD and giving Ant 2-3 years everyday with KD will give him the best chance at realizing this.

There are THOUSANDS of nba caliber assistants capable of coaching ANT in any facet. Thinking we have to aquire a PLAYER to develop ANT may be the worst take I have ever heard.

KD hasn't been to the conference finals since his time in the bay area... further proof he doesn’t make those around him any better.. all of a sudden he is deemed a teacher/mentor? Not buying that

lol there are plenty of basketball reasons and lol thinking an assistant is the same as KD

So your train of thought is that KD has secrets to his mid-game that ONLY he can teach ANT of?

Possible i guess, but disagree..

[TimberKat]

What if KD leaves next year. We lose whatever we sent out, we still have enough salary on the books to make it hard to add more, and we are not a contender anymore. This is how good teams like the Suns turn into disasters, like the Suns. TC already made one very bad trade sending Karl out, (a trade which turned the Rudy trade from valuable to terrible instantly,) and now you want him to make another that almost certainly loses Ant in 2 or 3 years.

You know why Dlo for Mike at that price was offered to us? It was because Mike’s salary slot was a dead end and we would struggle to add a starting PG. We are at the same spot now with KD, and that dead end is fatal to the Ant contention window.

So, we don't make the KD trade, we have all those young players to develop. We make the play-in for the next two years then what? You sure we have an all star besides Ant on the roster? What are we compare the KD scenario to?

Option 1, trade away Randle and Rudy to get younger. Look for a starting PG and C to pair with the Ant/Jaden/Naz core and try to build continuity for a year or two before truly contending. I don’t mean rookies either. I mean like 25-27 year olds with established games. DJM is on the outer edge of the age range and injured, otherwise he would have been a decent choice. I doubt the heat part with Ware, but if look around hard enough I am sure we could find players who fit the bill.

Option 2, keep everyone, make moves at the deadline at PG and C. This allows us to draft and see how those players develop and to wait for injuries to increase the market for NAW and Randle. Also we hold Rudy out of international competition and see if his game bounces back. The final upside is it gives Dilly a chance to play with Rudy and see if Dilly can lob to Rudy to begin the 2 man game.

Option 3. Trade Randle and NAW for a PG, keep Rudy and try and to again focus on a defensive approach.

P.S I wonder if there is a deal that might bring Ja Morant to the Wolves. Rudy would be a big deal for the Griz especially paired with JJJ. I don’t know if the rumors of them wanting to move on from Ja are true. But I wonder how JA and Ant combining their gravities would open things up for the other.

So I am not in the camp of we must get KD but need to do something to improve the team. Is there a realistic trade for DJM? If it's Naz or Randle for DJM, I am good with that. Is NOP even want to trade DJM?

Wait until mid season is a little difficult, we basically loss the leverage of the two picks. Picks are like new cars as soon as they hit the floor, 9 out 10 times their value drop 70%. You can't guarantee NAW and Randle's value will increase. It's very likely they decrease if you sign them to multi year contracts. If we can't make a "reasonable" trade, that is what we are going to do anyway. I just view a KD trade as "reasonable".

Option 3 is not tangible right now as both are free agents. It's basically option 2 without a real trade target. Don't want Ja on the team. It's too much baggage. I rather trade for LaMelo Ball and take my chances with injury, also assuming CHA willing to trade and rebuild.

[winforlose]

KD can be a wolf in 2026/27 if he wants to come over for a huge discount. If not, any move to acquire him not only weakens us, but breaks us.

[Loaf_of_bread]

Djm would be perfect. Just hard to come up with a deal.

[BlacJacMac]

Djm would be perfect. Just hard to come up with a deal.

He's also just 4.5 months removed from a torn Achilles tendon.