Durant to MEM

[esvl]

Durant

for

Aldama
Smart
Clarke
Kennard
LaRavia
[ x ] picks

Memphis can afford another star due to a surprising rise of end-bench players

Phoenix can remain competitive and get some young/future assets (retool + rebuild) rather than just start rebuilding by trading KD. Aldama takes KD’s spot for many years ahead, Smart is what Booker and Beal dream about, Tyus + Grayson + Clarke is a proven elite bench gang.

[gswhoops]

Why would Phoenix do this? They're all in on the next couple seasons and nothing in this package is worth changing their plans over.

If they were going to trade KD to retool they would want at least one piece coming back that would (or at least could) be part of their core group going forward. They're not going to trade him for a big pile of meh.

[HornetJail]

that's a package you offer to a team that's going to tank for the next 3-5 years when they trade their core piece. The Suns are completely locked into trying to win for the next several years and there's simply no amount of bench depth and late picks that will change that.

[Scoot McGroot]

If you were trading Ja, would you consider an offer from someone that doesn't include any of their top 3-5 players, none of their top youth, nor any real immediate salary savings?

[esvl]

If you were trading Ja, would you consider an offer from someone that doesn't include any of their top 3-5 players, none of their top youth, nor any real immediate salary savings?

- Smart and Aldama are our #4 and 5.
- Aldama is our top youth player.
- Salary savings can be created by sending Kennard and LaRavia to third teams.
- Memphis should be happy to get this type of offer when Ja reaches KD’s age

[Scoot McGroot]

If you were trading Ja, would you consider an offer from someone that doesn't include any of their top 3-5 players, none of their top youth, nor any real immediate salary savings?

- Smart and Aldama are our #4 and 5.

Clearly nowhere near top 3, though, right? And in a week or two, this may change pretty easily, no?

- Aldama is our top youth player.

Is he really? Just because he's healthy right now?

- Salary savings can be created by sending Kennard and LaRavia to third teams.

Ok. So what are you sending those other teams to eat those salaries? Phoenix won't pay it, for sure.

- Memphis should be happy to get this type of offer when Ja reaches KD’s age

I HIGHLY doubt you will respond like this when the time comes.

Sure, KD is 36, but he's still one of the best players in the NBA. You think Phoenix should give him away for Santi and picks? Which picks? How good of picks?


I think if you made this call, Phoenix puts you on ignore. Heck, if someone else made this offer to you for any of your players, you'd be insulted, no?

[babyjax13]

This feels more like an offer for Jimmy Butler or Brandon Ingram than Kevin Durant. Aldama, filler, pick(s). Smart has declined, no one wants a 6-8 tweener center who can't shoot, Kennard is fine if you need shooting, LaRavia just had his option declined, etc. I think the filler beyond Aldama is clearly negative value, and with Aldama is *maybe* a bit above neutral (and I think I'm assigning more value here than most would) so most of the value is in the picks. 4 late firsts and some swaps isn't going to appeal to Phoenix, a team will offer a premium asset for Durant and they should take that, instead.

[esvl]

If you were trading Ja, would you consider an offer from someone that doesn't include any of their top 3-5 players, none of their top youth, nor any real immediate salary savings?

- Smart and Aldama are our #4 and 5.

Clearly nowhere near top 3, though, right? And in a week or two, this may change pretty easily, no?

- Aldama is our top youth player.

Is he really? Just because he's healthy right now?

- Salary savings can be created by sending Kennard and LaRavia to third teams.

Ok. So what are you sending those other teams to eat those salaries? Phoenix won't pay it, for sure.

- Memphis should be happy to get this type of offer when Ja reaches KD’s age

I HIGHLY doubt you will respond like this when the time comes.

Sure, KD is 36, but he's still one of the best players in the NBA. You think Phoenix should give him away for Santi and picks? Which picks? How good of picks?

I think if you made this call, Phoenix puts you on ignore. Heck, if someone else made this offer to you for any of your players, you'd be insulted, no?

Lowball - certainly, but insulting… Never meant…

[Scoot McGroot]

- Smart and Aldama are our #4 and 5.

Clearly nowhere near top 3, though, right? And in a week or two, this may change pretty easily, no?

- Aldama is our top youth player.

Is he really? Just because he's healthy right now?

- Salary savings can be created by sending Kennard and LaRavia to third teams.

Ok. So what are you sending those other teams to eat those salaries? Phoenix won't pay it, for sure.

- Memphis should be happy to get this type of offer when Ja reaches KD’s age

I HIGHLY doubt you will respond like this when the time comes.

Sure, KD is 36, but he's still one of the best players in the NBA. You think Phoenix should give him away for Santi and picks? Which picks? How good of picks?

I think if you made this call, Phoenix puts you on ignore. Heck, if someone else made this offer to you for any of your players, you'd be insulted, no?

Lowball - certainly, but insulting… Never meant…

Lowballs are pretty insulting by their nature.

Plus, it's terrible timing. Phoenix is 5-1 and their owner is clearly hoping to win a championship this year or next before he has to eventually rebuild.

[gswhoops]

- Smart and Aldama are our #4 and 5.

Clearly nowhere near top 3, though, right? And in a week or two, this may change pretty easily, no?

- Aldama is our top youth player.

Is he really? Just because he's healthy right now?

- Salary savings can be created by sending Kennard and LaRavia to third teams.

Ok. So what are you sending those other teams to eat those salaries? Phoenix won't pay it, for sure.

- Memphis should be happy to get this type of offer when Ja reaches KD’s age

I HIGHLY doubt you will respond like this when the time comes.

Sure, KD is 36, but he's still one of the best players in the NBA. You think Phoenix should give him away for Santi and picks? Which picks? How good of picks?

I think if you made this call, Phoenix puts you on ignore. Heck, if someone else made this offer to you for any of your players, you'd be insulted, no?

Lowball - certainly, but insulting… Never meant…

Ok, but like....why is Phoenix incentivized to take a lowball offer for KD right now?

It just feels like this offer was only thought through from one side. Of course Memphis would love to scrape together a bunch of expendable pieces for a superstar, but there's no attempt at coming up with a coherent explanation for why Phoenix would be willing to trade KD at all, or why no other team would make a better offer.

[QMemphis]

I would rather target BI if we going this route. Like I mentioned in a previous thread.

Grizz trade: Smart, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, and 25 1st.
Receive: BI and Theis

Raptors Trade: Poeltl
Receive: Clarke, Konchar and 25 1st

Pelicans Trade: Brandon Ingram and Daniel Theis
Receive: Smart and Poeltl

Raptors get a 1st
Pelicans get a starting center and Guard depth
Grizz get to create a Big 4, rewarding themselves after identifying SPJ, Vince, Wells, GG, Huff as a potential bench unit on cheap deals.

[babyjax13]

I would rather target BI if we going this route. Like I mentioned in a previous thread.

Grizz trade: Smart, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, and 25 1st.
Receive: BI and Theis

Raptors Trade: Poeltl
Receive: Clarke, Konchar and 25 1st

Pelicans Trade: Brandon Ingram and Daniel Theis
Receive: Smart and Poeltl

Raptors get a 1st
Pelicans get a starting center and Guard depth
Grizz get to create a Big 4, rewarding themselves after identifying SPJ, Vince, Wells, GG, Huff as a potential bench unit on cheap deals.

I don't see that for the Pelicans. Smart and Clarke are negative value, and I think Konchar is, too. I think Memphis could return a rotation player for this package, but not one as good as Ingram.

[QMemphis]

I would rather target BI if we going this route. Like I mentioned in a previous thread.

Grizz trade: Smart, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, and 25 1st.
Receive: BI and Theis

Raptors Trade: Poeltl
Receive: Clarke, Konchar and 25 1st

Pelicans Trade: Brandon Ingram and Daniel Theis
Receive: Smart and Poeltl

Raptors get a 1st
Pelicans get a starting center and Guard depth
Grizz get to create a Big 4, rewarding themselves after identifying SPJ, Vince, Wells, GG, Huff as a potential bench unit on cheap deals.

I don't see that for the Pelicans. Smart and Clarke are negative value, and I think Konchar is, too. I think Memphis could return a rotation player for this package, but not one as good as Ingram.

If you are speaking for the Pelicans would Smart not be better than your current rotation?
-Why are you focused on Clarke and Konchar when they are being routed to the Raptors?
-Do you not believe Poeltl is an upgrade over their current situation?

[babyjax13]

I would rather target BI if we going this route. Like I mentioned in a previous thread.

Grizz trade: Smart, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, and 25 1st.
Receive: BI and Theis

Raptors Trade: Poeltl
Receive: Clarke, Konchar and 25 1st

Pelicans Trade: Brandon Ingram and Daniel Theis
Receive: Smart and Poeltl

Raptors get a 1st
Pelicans get a starting center and Guard depth
Grizz get to create a Big 4, rewarding themselves after identifying SPJ, Vince, Wells, GG, Huff as a potential bench unit on cheap deals.

I don't see that for the Pelicans. Smart and Clarke are negative value, and I think Konchar is, too. I think Memphis could return a rotation player for this package, but not one as good as Ingram.

If you are speaking for the Pelicans would Smart not be better than your current rotation?
-Why are you focused on Clarke and Konchar when they are being routed to the Raptors?
-Do you not believe Poeltl is an upgrade over their current situation?

I'm focusing on the outgoing because it isn't enough value to return Ingram, but focusing on the incoming, I don't think Smart would be in the Pelicans rotation. They have CJ/Murray/Alverado/Murphy for him to compete with, and he might be able to take Alvarado's 8 minutes a game, but that's about it. I don't think Poeltl alone makes New Orleans better, and financially the trade doesn't make the team cheaper in the medium term. I think Memphis is sucking a ton of value out of this deal.

[QMemphis]

I don't see that for the Pelicans. Smart and Clarke are negative value, and I think Konchar is, too. I think Memphis could return a rotation player for this package, but not one as good as Ingram.

If you are speaking for the Pelicans would Smart not be better than your current rotation?
-Why are you focused on Clarke and Konchar when they are being routed to the Raptors?
-Do you not believe Poeltl is an upgrade over their current situation?

I'm focusing on the outgoing because it isn't enough value to return Ingram, but focusing on the incoming, I don't think Smart would be in the Pelicans rotation. They have CJ/Murray/Alverado/Murphy for him to compete with, and he might be able to take Alvarado's 8 minutes a game, but that's about it. I don't think Poeltl alone makes New Orleans better, and financially the trade doesn't make the team cheaper in the medium term. I think Memphis is sucking a ton of value out of this deal.

I disagree about the Smart portion, he is better than Jose but even then Smart can defend 1-3 so he can play either position. Is also an expiring deal next year as well.

Murray/Herb/Trey/Zion/Poeltl
Jose/Smart/Hawkins/Missi

I think that’s a solid unit that may be the best defense in the West. But what would you be looking for in a return for BI?

[babyjax13]

If you are speaking for the Pelicans would Smart not be better than your current rotation?
-Why are you focused on Clarke and Konchar when they are being routed to the Raptors?
-Do you not believe Poeltl is an upgrade over their current situation?

I'm focusing on the outgoing because it isn't enough value to return Ingram, but focusing on the incoming, I don't think Smart would be in the Pelicans rotation. They have CJ/Murray/Alverado/Murphy for him to compete with, and he might be able to take Alvarado's 8 minutes a game, but that's about it. I don't think Poeltl alone makes New Orleans better, and financially the trade doesn't make the team cheaper in the medium term. I think Memphis is sucking a ton of value out of this deal.

I disagree about the Smart portion, he is better than Jose but even then Smart can defend 1-3 so he can play either position. Is also an expiring deal next year as well.

Murray/Herb/Trey/Zion/Poeltl
Jose/Smart/Hawkins/Missi

I think that’s a solid unit that may be the best defense in the West. But what would you be looking for in a return for BI?

FWIW I'm not a Pelicans fan, but if it were Poeltl based I'd want an expiring contract and either a late first or several seconds. I would have zero interest in playing Smart $20 million for 10-15 minutes of playing time at most (forgot to also mention Hawkins). Truly, I don't know how he has value when their back-court rotation would be something like:

Murray 30/CJ 18/Alvarado
CJ 12/Hawkins 24/Smart 12
Murphy 30/Jones 18

That just feels like a complete waste of money.

[wemby]

I would consider an offer for Durant, but not for this pile of dog manure. Only player worth anything here is Aldama, and not much. Suns could do much better than this.

[esvl]

I would consider an offer for Durant, but not for this pile of dog manure. Only player worth anything here is Aldama, and not much. Suns could do much better than this.

For example?

[wemby]

I would consider an offer for Durant, but not for this pile of dog manure. Only player worth anything here is Aldama, and not much. Suns could do much better than this.

For example?

Any team that is happy with a 3 year window of top basketball would top Aldama + filler (Smart has taken a significant step back, LaRavia just had his 4th year option declined, the rest are bench players and not key ones). Not that the Suns take that, but I'm sure one of Cavs, TWolves, Thunder, Pacers, Warriors, Rockets or Pelicans can field a much better offer than this.

[uraverage]

Durant

for

Aldama
Smart
Clarke
Kennard
LaRavia
[ x ] picks

Memphis can afford another star due to a surprising rise of end-bench players

Phoenix can remain competitive and get some young/future assets (retool + rebuild) rather than just start rebuilding by trading KD. Aldama takes KD’s spot for many years ahead, Smart is what Booker and Beal dream about, Tyus + Grayson + Clarke is a proven elite bench gang.

Is this trade even legal for a 2nd apron team?