Suns Believe Kevin Durant Trade Can Happen Before Draft

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Phoenix Suns believe that they will be able to trade Kevin Durant before Wednesday's NBA Draft, sources told Marc Stein of the Stein Line and Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

It was reported earlier this week that trade talk for Durant aren't progressing as quickly as the team hoped. 

Rumored recent trade frameworks involve the Raptors' No. 9 pick, the Timberwolves' pick at No. 19, or the Heat's pick at No. 20.

With the Suns looking to add a big man, the Raptors are not willing to include Jakob Poeltl in any trade. 

The Heat are also not looking to include Kel'el Ware in a Durant deal. 

Via Marc Stein/The Stein Line & Jake Fischer/The People's Insider

[FeatheryTouch]

It's pretty hilarious that Toronto is saying a journeyman role player like Poeltl in untouchable in a deal for Durant.

Ware is a nice prospect but you wouldn't think he would be a deal killer for an all-star with KD's pedigree.

Poor Phoenix is going to get pennies on the dollar for a hall of fame 25 ppg scorer.

[TGM]

You clearly haven’t seen Jakob play to call him a journeyman. Jakob is the kind of guy that win you games but doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. The Raptors were bad this year cause of the poor composition of the roster, but when Jakob played they were significantly better. I dare say Raptors win more games with Jakob as to KD.

There is a reason why the Suns want him in the deal.

Jakob is a top 10 C in the league not because of offensive stats, but because of his stability composure and making key plays when they matter. He rarely makes a bad play especially when the game is on the line.

[FeatheryTouch]

You clearly haven’t seen Jakob play to call him a journeyman. Jakob is the kind of guy that win you games but doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. The Raptors were bad this year cause of the poor composition of the roster, but when Jakob played they were significantly better. I dare say Raptors win more games with Jakob as to KD.

There is a reason why the Suns want him in the deal.

Jakob is a top 10 C in the league not because of offensive stats, but because of his stability composure and making key plays when they matter. He rarely makes a bad play especially when the game is on the line.

Poeltl is a solid player no doubt but he's clearly not close to Durant's level of overall impact.

I get why Toronto would prefer to keep him, but if you are trading for a superstar like Durant then guys on Poeltl's level are almost always going to be in play if a deal is to be made. Making him untouchable is just kind of weird, he's good but he's not THAT good.

To be clear I'm even saying Toronto should necessarily be trading for Durant at all, but if they do want him then Poeltl shouldn't be the deal killer.

[BeatLA2023]

Raps problems:

Scottie Barnes is never going to be an All-Star.
Quickly doesn't get his teammates involved enough a #1 PG.

They are fairly talented and athletic already. I just don't see the ball moving enough with Barnes, Barrett, Quickly, and Ingram all wanting to get their shots up. Poeltl is solid enough. I don't see how getting rid of 2 of these guys for KD is going to put them over the top, and do you really want to resign KD for another 3 years?

[nguyen925]

Suns are asking for a kings ransom for an older hall of famer , who may have 2 good seasons left.