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Brian Scalabrine just said on NBA Radio that a team with Siakam, Barnes and Durant would not be a good team and that those 3 players could not play together because they are all redundant.


Does anyone agree with this?

Sounds pretty reasonable to me. Ideally you'd want Durant paired with a star guard or star big

No I don't agree (big respect for Scal's ball knowledge though).

It would be one thing if these 3 all had to play power forward, but all 3 of them can play 3+ positions. Nurse demonstrated late last year that he's not afraid of using Barnes and Siakam as primary ball handlers. Defensively there's no problem. Durant's shooting would pair beautifully with Barnes and Siakam's physicality and playmaking.

You could play them with a big or without a big. They're all over 6'8" with huge wingspans and elite versatility.

GiannisAnte34 wrote:Sounds pretty reasonable to me. Ideally you'd want Durant paired with a star guard or star big

So are you saying Durant and Tatum could not coexist because Tatum is not a star Guard or Big?

Durant is a swiss army knife and he can play on every team. This is just the offseason and people are trying to create content and stay relevant

It actually sounds like a pretty dynamic frontcourt to me. You've got scoring, playmaking, defensive length... what's not to like? Perhaps you'd prefer Siakam and Barnes to be better outside shooters but you expect Barnes to get better there and Siakam's shooting is sufficient for a big

bongmarley wrote:

GiannisAnte34 wrote:Sounds pretty reasonable to me. Ideally you'd want Durant paired with a star guard or star big

So are you saying Durant and Tatum could not coexist because Tatum is not a star Guard or Big?

Durant and Tatum could coexist but it isn't the ideal duo. Durant with Jokic is a far scarier combo IMO.

GiannisAnte34 wrote:

bongmarley wrote:

GiannisAnte34 wrote:Sounds pretty reasonable to me. Ideally you'd want Durant paired with a star guard or star big

So are you saying Durant and Tatum could not coexist because Tatum is not a star Guard or Big?

Durant and Tatum could coexist but it isn't the ideal duo. Durant with Jokic is a far scarier combo IMO.

Interesting, Yes Jokic and Durant would be good, but the way the league is going with having long versatile players, I would think most people would think Tatum and Durant would be much better combo

bongmarley wrote:

GiannisAnte34 wrote:

bongmarley wrote:
So are you saying Durant and Tatum could not coexist because Tatum is not a star Guard or Big?

Durant and Tatum could coexist but it isn't the ideal duo. Durant with Jokic is a far scarier combo IMO.

Interesting, Yes Jokic and Durant would be good, but the way the league is going with having long versatile players, I would think most people would think Tatum and Durant would be much better combo

What exactly makes Tatum a more versatile player than Jokic? Jokic is an elite passing big, Tatum is nowhere close to the playmaker Jokic is. Durant and Tatum want to get to the same spots and they can't run the PnR as effectively as Durant and Jokic would

GiannisAnte34 wrote:

bongmarley wrote:

GiannisAnte34 wrote:
Durant and Tatum could coexist but it isn't the ideal duo. Durant with Jokic is a far scarier combo IMO.

Interesting, Yes Jokic and Durant would be good, but the way the league is going with having long versatile players, I would think most people would think Tatum and Durant would be much better combo

What exactly makes Tatum a more versatile player than Jokic? Jokic is an elite passing big, Tatum is nowhere close to the playmaker Jokic is. Durant and Tatum want to get to the same spots and they can't run the PnR as effectively as Durant and Jokic would

Jokic is awesome so I can't really disagree it would be great fit. I think defensively especially with the original question of Siakam Barnes and Durant, the fact that those 3 could all switch 1 thru 5 and same with Durant and Tatum, the defensive versatility would give them the edge

Not true. Durant doesn't need the ball to produce. Barnes is a facilitator and finisher at this point in his career. Siakim is a #2 scorer that needs some touches but is willing to go without. They all mesh well because they don't approach the game the same and can RUN THE FLOOR!

Siakam thrived playing with Kawhi and Durant is better playing off the ball because of his shooting so I see 0 issues there. Defensively these guys would be a nightmare for opposing teams to score on.

Assuming the Raptors trade OG + GTJ + fillers

Vanvleet
KD
Barnes
Siakam
Achiuwa

I mean that's pretty solid. Barnes and Pascal pretty much can guard 2-4 depending on the matchup. I think Scottie was the second most versatile defender in the NBA last season. Raptors could give KD the weakest player on the other team and they wouldn't miss a beat.

Offensively Barnes + Siakam can both handle and distribute the ball very well, Pascal showed he could be a valuable second option on offense when he was with Kawhi and he's a much better player now than he was before.

I don't agree. Durant doesn't fill the same role in the offensive ecosystem as Barnes and Siakam, because he's an elite perimeter player. It would be different if you were trying to pair another mediocre-to-poor shooting big wing with playmaking and ability to score in the open floor or through cutting to the rim. A dude like Butler would fit badly with Barnes and Siakam, for instance.

Barnes is a point guard. He can co-exist with anyone. Siakam won a championship co-existing with Kawhi.

Great players figure out how to sacrifice to co-exist.


So Durant would have no problem.

I think Barnes is a total Alpha and just learning how to sacrifice.
He's got a taste of playoffs last year, but got hurt.

Siakam is above average but not great.

Would be a darn good team if TOR could make that trade.
Siakam and Barnes aren't wining the east but add Durant and they are a def threat.

Durant plus Lebron surrounded by 3 + D players, love to see it

bongmarley wrote:Brian Scalabrine just said on NBA Radio that a team with Siakam, Barnes and Durant would not be a good team and that those 3 players could not play together because they are all redundant.


Does anyone agree with this?

Scal works for the Celtics broadcasting. He is an Celtics employee. Off course he would try to poo poo the competition.

NoBias wrote:Assuming the Raptors trade OG + GTJ + fillers

Vanvleet
KD
Barnes
Siakam
Achiuwa

I mean that's pretty solid. Barnes and Pascal pretty much can guard 2-4 depending on the matchup. I think Scottie was the second most versatile defender in the NBA last season. Raptors could give KD the weakest player on the other team and they wouldn't miss a beat.

Offensively Barnes + Siakam can both handle and distribute the ball very well, Pascal showed he could be a valuable second option on offense when he was with Kawhi and he's a much better player now than he was before.

Nets would ultimately want one of Barnes Or Siakam. Preferably Barnes. The Celtics offer is better then that.

NoBias wrote:Assuming the Raptors trade OG + GTJ + fillers

Vanvleet
KD
Barnes
Siakam
Achiuwa

I mean that's pretty solid. Barnes and Pascal pretty much can guard 2-4 depending on the matchup. I think Scottie was the second most versatile defender in the NBA last season. Raptors could give KD the weakest player on the other team and they wouldn't miss a beat.

Offensively Barnes + Siakam can both handle and distribute the ball very well, Pascal showed he could be a valuable second option on offense when he was with Kawhi and he's a much better player now than he was before.

KD can play shooting guard at 34-37 years old?

Idk.

I think it's a natural fit though if the trade is Barnes and OG instead.

Vanvleet
GTJ
KD
Siakam
Ach

That's a fantastic fit and puts Siakam and Vanvleet back into offensive roles they're more suited to fill than last year. GTJ obvi is a great shooter. And everyone on that team could use KD's rim protection in the lineup.