Kevin Durant

[cmoss84]

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?

Yeah...would definitely have to acquire a cheap defensive big or two via FA or trade.

[minimus]

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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After everything I have read about Towns, I am very hesitant to believe any narrative about any player. Many things depend on context which I don't know, so it requires a research, but people are lazy.

[Klomp]

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After everything I have read about Towns, I am very hesitant to believe any narrative about any player. Many things depend on context which I don't know, so it requires a research, but people are lazy.

That explains why Ant is a finalist for Clutch Player of the Year!

Minnesota played more clutch games than any other team. That's why his scoring volume was so high.

[TimberKat]

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After everything I have read about Towns, I am very hesitant to believe any narrative about any player. Many things depend on context which I don't know, so it requires a research, but people are lazy.

That explains why Ant is a finalist for Clutch Player of the Year!

Minnesota played more clutch games than any other team. That's why his scoring volume was so high.

Well he was clutch in the overall 5mins. Just not Clutch in the last 1 min.

[frankenwolf]

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.

Looking at this, it's a great way to throw away Ant's prime time. The Wolves do not need KD, KD needs the Wolves.

[winforlose]

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.

Great question, let’s break it down.

1. Jaden and Naz are both pre prime. If you believe you have seen the peak of their game then we will have to agree to disagree. I think both players have made steady improvements each year and will continue to do so for the next 5-7 years. Coincidentally Ant is pre prime and will hopefully continue to expand his game as well. So the question is in year 3 or 27/28 would you rather have prime Naz, Jaden, and NAW, or have a 40 year old KD? Also Coincidentally, most Superstars win their first NBA championship when they enter their primes, ( Tatum won his first at 26, Jokic at 28, Curry at 26, Giannis 26, to name a few.)

2. As has been discussed this season and earlier, major roster changes take time to gel. KD is expiring. If he is unhappy here and leaves, can we say we benefited from the one year he was here? Is it your honest take that Ant, KD, and Rudy win a championship in year 1? If no, then we must look to year 2. We don’t know what KD will cost, we don’t know if we will have the money to bring in new talent, we don’t know if any of the young guys will turn out as good as we hope (they didn’t play enough this year to evaluate or develop them.) The list of things we don’t know is quite long. What we do know is that we will have Mike retired and only Dilly to play PG. We know Rudy is the only legit +center on the team at 34 and with a history of back issues. Tell me this doesn’t sound dangerous?

I could go on but what is the point.

[life_saver]

Ant's efficiency overall in clutch time is fine...its the final go ahead shots where he has sucked. Some of it probably also falls on Finch for the poor play designs.

[Klomp]

Ant's efficiency overall in clutch time is fine...its the final go ahead shots where he has sucked.

Which is where having a Kevin Durant would be handy. Even if Ant gets the shot, Durant is drawing away more coverage than the guys currently on the roster. You can scheme up whatever play you want, if the defense knows who is taking the last shot, it is going to be very difficult to score.

[Klomp]

I actually wonder if the Durant trade could get grouped in with the Zion trade this summer. Feels like the kind of splashy move Phoenix would try to make.

[Mattya]

It feels like a lot of moves could happen this summer. Sacto, Phoenix, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Philly all seem to be on the verge of drastic trades.

[TimberKat]

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.

Great question, let’s break it down.

1. Jaden and Naz are both pre prime. If you believe you have seen the peak of their game then we will have to agree to disagree. I think both players have made steady improvements each year and will continue to do so for the next 5-7 years. Coincidentally Ant is pre prime and will hopefully continue to expand his game as well. So the question is in year 3 or 27/28 would you rather have prime Naz, Jaden, and NAW, or have a 40 year old KD? Also Coincidentally, most Superstars win their first NBA championship when they enter their primes, ( Tatum won his first at 26, Jokic at 28, Curry at 26, Giannis 26, to name a few.)

2. As has been discussed this season and earlier, major roster changes take time to gel. KD is expiring. If he is unhappy here and leaves, can we say we benefited from the one year he was here? Is it your honest take that Ant, KD, and Rudy win a championship in year 1? If no, then we must look to year 2. We don’t know what KD will cost, we don’t know if we will have the money to bring in new talent, we don’t know if any of the young guys will turn out as good as we hope (they didn’t play enough this year to evaluate or develop them.) The list of things we don’t know is quite long. What we do know is that we will have Mike retired and only Dilly to play PG. We know Rudy is the only legit +center on the team at 34 and with a history of back issues. Tell me this doesn’t sound dangerous?

I could go on but what is the point.

I respect your points. You maybe double dipping on who we could keep. My assumption is between Randle, Naz, and NAW, one of them will be gone due to salary. Conley is old. So, who are the core if we don't make the KD trade?

I do believe we can win a chip in year one. KD is basically the better version of Towns in last year's team. We beat Dallas if you sub KD for Towns. I like the spacing and options we get with him and Ant.

I do prefer to keep JMcD. But won't mind throw him it. Suns may just be happy with a line up of center, Randle, JMcD, Beal, and Booker.

[Klomp]

My assumption is between Randle, Naz, and NAW, one of them will be gone due to salary. Conley is old. So, who are the core if we don't make the KD trade?

This is a very important factor.

I think the premise people are fighting back against the most is the concern of breaking up the young core of Edwards, McDaniels, and Reid. And that's understandable. But I think the rest of us are saying he could be a piece who is added to that core group, rather than breaking it up.

I want to also add the Randle contract discourse into the discussion.

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To some fans, this conundrum represents a lose-lose where Randle is bound to be on the team. However, I would counter and say that him opting in does not automatically mean he will be on the roster this October. Opting in just means we have a $30,935,520 (new number after his playoff bonus) expiring contract to use in trade negotiations. Phoenix is in a situation where they need to clear the books. Or if they want to keep being aggressive, Randle is a trade piece in their other negotiations.

Randle's contract means we are over halfway (56%) to Kevin Durant's salary ($54,708,609). It's not as wide of a gap to make up as you might think.

[jpatrick]

The only trade that financially makes sense is Jaden/Randle for Durant. You can haggle what other young guys and/or picks we need to add, if any. If that’s not the deal, we’re too expensive. And Rudy isn’t bing moved in the deal. I just don’t see it.

I don’t like it. But if we lose to the Lakers in 5 or 6, I think we need to do something. Our #2 just isn’t good enough. Especially if we lose NAW and/or Naz this offseason.

[TimberKat]

The only trade that financially makes sense is Jaden/Randle for Durant. You can haggle what other young guys and/or picks we need to add, if any. If that’s not the deal, we’re too expensive. And Rudy isn’t bing moved in the deal. I just don’t see it.

I don’t like it. But if we lose to the Lakers in 5 or 6, I think we need to do something. Our #2 just isn’t good enough. Especially if we lose NAW and/or Naz this offseason.

2026 Lakers rematch: Luka/LBJ vs Ant/KD. I like the sound of it. Don't forget Gobert

[winforlose]

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.

Great question, let’s break it down.

1. Jaden and Naz are both pre prime. If you believe you have seen the peak of their game then we will have to agree to disagree. I think both players have made steady improvements each year and will continue to do so for the next 5-7 years. Coincidentally Ant is pre prime and will hopefully continue to expand his game as well. So the question is in year 3 or 27/28 would you rather have prime Naz, Jaden, and NAW, or have a 40 year old KD? Also Coincidentally, most Superstars win their first NBA championship when they enter their primes, ( Tatum won his first at 26, Jokic at 28, Curry at 26, Giannis 26, to name a few.)

2. As has been discussed this season and earlier, major roster changes take time to gel. KD is expiring. If he is unhappy here and leaves, can we say we benefited from the one year he was here? Is it your honest take that Ant, KD, and Rudy win a championship in year 1? If no, then we must look to year 2. We don’t know what KD will cost, we don’t know if we will have the money to bring in new talent, we don’t know if any of the young guys will turn out as good as we hope (they didn’t play enough this year to evaluate or develop them.) The list of things we don’t know is quite long. What we do know is that we will have Mike retired and only Dilly to play PG. We know Rudy is the only legit +center on the team at 34 and with a history of back issues. Tell me this doesn’t sound dangerous?

I could go on but what is the point.

I respect your points. You maybe double dipping on who we could keep. My assumption is between Randle, Naz, and NAW, one of them will be gone due to salary. Conley is old. So, who are the core if we don't make the KD trade?

I do believe we can win a chip in year one. KD is basically the better version of Towns in last year's team. We beat Dallas if you sub KD for Towns. I like the spacing and options we get with him and Ant.

I do prefer to keep JMcD. But won't mind throw him it. Suns may just be happy with a line up of center, Randle, JMcD, Beal, and Booker.

The math works any number of ways. The set I used was Randle out, keep the other 2 plus add a tax payer MLE player and 2 draft picks. Naz and Jaden are the young core.

Your argument about winning a chip next year depends on too many variables working out.

1. Mike Conley at 38 is at least as good as good Mike from 24/25 and does not get hurt.

2. Dilly is ready to meaningfully contribute next season.

3. TSJ is ready to be a top 8 guy in the rotation.

4. Clark is a top 8 player and able to consistently give you what NAW gave you.

5. That KD can out score, out rebound, and out assist, Jaden, NAW, and Randle. I say this because you could have traded Randle for a cheaper but effective big and then gone into the 2nd apron. If new ownership has deep pockets they could have negotiated a cheaper Randle deal 3/75 and kept everyone anyway. You are sending the trade value of Randle plus the trade value of Jaden (quite high,) plus putting the money situation into hard cap so you lose NAW. I don’t see KD being that good.

6. The Wolves were by games missed the healthiest team in 24/25. In 23/24 that probably is close to true with KAT missing a month, Mike and Rudy each missing a few, and Ant missing a few. You are hoping for a 3rd straight year of significant health, and that might not be doable. With a top heavy team, each injury is felt more significantly and the bottom guys that back fill are often far less effective. That is why losing KCP had such a dire effect on Denver. If Rudy misses time we have who exactly to fill time at C? If you have lost Jaden and Randle you have Naz , KD, and undrafted rookies (you cannot afford vet minimum played.) That is probably season over.

[Klomp]

I think the base starting point for a package is opted-in Randle and Conley. From there, it depends on what you are willing to give up. If you're willing to give up DiVincenzo or Dillingham, he could be paired with a Minott or Miller in a trade package. If not, it might require at least two from the group of Clark, Shannon, DET 1st, UTA 2nd. I think in any of these scenarios, there would be room to bring back both Reid and Alexander-Walker.

Hypothetical depth chart (trading Randle, Conley, DiVincenzo, Miller, UTA 2nd):
Alexander-Walker / Dillingham
Edwards / Clark
McDaniels / Shannon / Minott
Durant / Reid / Minott
Gobert / Reid / Garza

12 spots filled, with the DET 1st and minimums to fill the last 2-3 spots. You are putting expectations on the young guys, but not to where they have to do everything.

[TimberKat]

I think the base starting point for a package is opted-in Randle and Conley. From there, it depends on what you are willing to give up. If you're willing to give up DiVincenzo or Dillingham, he could be paired with a Minott or Miller in a trade package. If not, it might require at least two from the group of Clark, Shannon, DET 1st, UTA 2nd. I think in any of these scenarios, there would be room to bring back both Reid and Alexander-Walker.

Hypothetical depth chart (trading Randle, Conley, DiVincenzo, Miller, UTA 2nd):
Alexander-Walker / Dillingham
Edwards / Clark
McDaniels / Shannon / Minott
Durant / Reid / Minott
Gobert / Reid / Garza

12 spots filled, with the DET 1st and minimums to fill the last 2-3 spots. You are putting expectations on the young guys, but not to where they have to do everything.

That is the other way to do it. DDV or Naz or JMcD - one will have to go. We also possibly keep NAW. In reality, we aren't giving up much, if ARod is willing to paid the bill. I like to keep DDV over NAW and Naz for PG. Also we may get Tyrus Jones as a bonus. The DET #1 will go to PHX too. Basically Towns for KD.

[TimberKat]

The math works any number of ways. The set I used was Randle out, keep the other 2 plus add a tax payer MLE player and 2 draft picks. Naz and Jaden are the young core.

Your argument about winning a chip next year depends on too many variables working out.

1. Mike Conley at 38 is at least as good as good Mike from 24/25 and does not get hurt.

2. Dilly is ready to meaningfully contribute next season.

3. TSJ is ready to be a top 8 guy in the rotation.

4. Clark is a top 8 player and able to consistently give you what NAW gave you.

5. That KD can out score, out rebound, and out assist, Jaden, NAW, and Randle. I say this because you could have traded Randle for a cheaper but effective big and then gone into the 2nd apron. If new ownership has deep pockets they could have negotiated a cheaper Randle deal 3/75 and kept everyone anyway. You are sending the trade value of Randle plus the trade value of Jaden (quite high,) plus putting the money situation into hard cap so you lose NAW. I don’t see KD being that good.

6. The Wolves were by games missed the healthiest team in 24/25. In 23/24 that probably is close to true with KAT missing a month, Mike and Rudy each missing a few, and Ant missing a few. You are hoping for a 3rd straight year of significant health, and that might not be doable. With a top heavy team, each injury is felt more significantly and the bottom guys that back fill are often far less effective. That is why losing KCP had such a dire effect on Denver. If Rudy misses time we have who exactly to fill time at C? If you have lost Jaden and Randle you have Naz , KD, and undrafted rookies (you cannot afford vet minimum played.) That is probably season over.

If I understand you proposal correctly, we re-sign NAW and Naz. Add a MLE and lose Randle. We basically run with the current team without Randle the next couple years and hope Naz and/or JMcD becomes an all star in a couple years. I don't have faith in them.

[shrink]

Randle's contract means we are over halfway (56%) to Kevin Durant's salary ($54,708,609). It's not as wide of a gap to make up as you might think.

If Mike Conley is ready to retire, I could see his $10,774,038 being included, and then PHX buying him out and stretching him. That would save them about $7 mil off their payroll this year, which would drastically reduce their current tax bill. If Conley wants to keep playing, I expect Tim Connelly to honor his promise, and keep him here with his family.

So Randle ($30,935,520) and Conley ($10,774,038) adds up to $41,709,558, and leaves a gap of $12,999,051.

Remember, FIRST apron restrictions include, not being able to take back more salary in a trade, and unable to acquire a player in a sign-and-trade, so PHX would need to cut a lot of salary elsewhere if we want to include Naz or NAW, as well as Randle if he doesn’t opt in. Donte $12 mil plus a prospect like Minott, Leonard Miller or Garza all have team options, and could get us over the minimum salary we’d need.

[jpatrick]

Randle's contract means we are over halfway (56%) to Kevin Durant's salary ($54,708,609). It's not as wide of a gap to make up as you might think.

If Mike Conley is ready to retire, I could see his $10,774,038 being included, and then PHX buying him out and stretching him. That would save them about $7 mil off their payroll this year, which would drastically reduce their current tax bill. If Conley wants to keep playing, I expect Tim Connelly to honor his promise, and keep him here with his family.

So Randle ($30,935,520) and Conley ($10,774,038) adds up to $41,709,558, and leaves a gap of $12,999,051.

Remember, FIRST apron restrictions include, not being able to take back more salary in a trade, and unable to acquire a player in a sign-and-trade, so PHX would need to cut a lot of salary elsewhere if we want to include Naz or NAW, as well as Randle if he doesn’t opt in. Donte $12 mil plus a prospect like Minott, Leonard Miller or Garza all have team options, and could get us over the minimum salary we’d need.

Does being over the first apron mean we can’t sign and trade players in the deal? Not that’d I’d necessarily want to include Naz/NAW.

If the two packages are Donte/Conley/Randle or Jaden/Randle are we sure trading Jaden is the wrong move? Would free up more money longterm. His defense and shooting were down this year. Is he any more than a good 5th starter that plays very good defense but can’t space the floor? Is that worth $30m/year.

Just throwing that out there. I could be swayed either way, but I could see Phoenix wanting Jaden since they have two scorers in the backcourt that are not known for defense.