Kevin Durant

[cmoss84]

Just food for thought: if we were in trade negotiations with KD last trade deadline, the framework of the trade might already be in place. Maybe Suns weren't sold on Randle, but now his value is up after playoffs?

[Slim Tubby]

I think that if we want Durant, it’s going to cost us either Gobert or McDaniels.

I would hang up the phone if they demand McDaniels.

I could see them wanting Gobert, but that would need to involve us figuring out a way to get a legit defensive center to replace him.

There is no way you can run Naz/Durant as your bigs - unless you fire Finch and hire Paul Westhead to coach.

If you could guarantee me that we'd be able to acquire Steven Adams after moving Gobert, I'd feel much better about the trade.

Adams and Sexton are a couple of second tier guys that have my attention this offseason.

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[BlacJacMac]

I think that if we want Durant, it’s going to cost us either Gobert or McDaniels.

I would hang up the phone if they demand McDaniels.

I could see them wanting Gobert, but that would need to involve us figuring out a way to get a legit defensive center to replace him.

There is no way you can run Naz/Durant as your bigs - unless you fire Finch and hire Paul Westhead to coach.

If you could guarantee me that we'd be able to acquire Steven Adams after moving Gobert, I'd feel much better about the trade.

Adams and Sexton are a couple of second tier guys that have my attention this offseason.

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I love Adams. But I wonder if he's more than a 15-18 MPG guy at this point. Would be a great backup, but who starts in front of him?

[minimus]

There is no way you can run Naz/Durant as your bigs - unless you fire Finch and hire Paul Westhead to coach.

Well, I guess in this case MIN need to find a Jalen Clark version of bigman

[Slim Tubby]

I would hang up the phone if they demand McDaniels.

I could see them wanting Gobert, but that would need to involve us figuring out a way to get a legit defensive center to replace him.

There is no way you can run Naz/Durant as your bigs - unless you fire Finch and hire Paul Westhead to coach.

If you could guarantee me that we'd be able to acquire Steven Adams after moving Gobert, I'd feel much better about the trade.

Adams and Sexton are a couple of second tier guys that have my attention this offseason.

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I love Adams. But I wonder if he's more than a 15-18 MPG guy at this point. Would be a great backup, but who starts in front of him?

Thanks for ruining my great idea with a question I can't answer.

You're probably right about Adams with 20 minutes per game likely to be his cap although he's younger than I thought.

If we could acquire Durant using Randle, Naz and Conley, I'd call DET to see if they'd have interest in Gobert to expedite their progression with Duren and Ivey as our prize.

C Duren/Adams/Miller
PF Durant/TSJ/#31(Broome)
SF McDaniels/Clark
SG Edwards/DDV
PG Dilly/Ivey/#17(Clayton Jr)

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[jpatrick]

I think that if we want Durant, it’s going to cost us either Gobert or McDaniels.

I would hang up the phone if they demand McDaniels.

I could see them wanting Gobert, but that would need to involve us figuring out a way to get a legit defensive center to replace him.

There is no way you can run Naz/Durant as your bigs - unless you fire Finch and hire Paul Westhead to coach.

I wouldn’t mind moving Randle/Gobert and leaning more into the Ant timeline, getting younger at C/PF. However, if we are acquiring Durant no way I trade McDaniels or Gobert. We are in absolute win-now mode and that requires Gobert, McDaniels, and at least one of DDV/NAW.

[Loaf_of_bread]

All of these speculative trades make zero sense to me.

37 years old, while OKC will be too tough to beat anytime soon. Regardless, Durant doesn't have the value some of you think he does. Jaden?? Come on now..

Would prefer giving up assets to attempt to beat okc in 2 years for some younger guys around the age of 25 or younger..

[shrink]

Can we sign and trade and combine them in a deal for Durant? Could we combine a sign and traded Randle or NAW with other players in the deal?.

It is legal to combine sign-and-traded players with other players in a trade.

There’s been a rumor out there for several years that the CBA prevents this, but it’s not true. For example, remember how many S&T’s the Knicks had to combine and trade to CHA to complete the KAT trade?

[shrink]

Why would the team want KD?? Is it mostly for mentorship or do they actually think it's for winning?

Great question. And while KD could be a viable #2 option on a championship team, I think mentoring Ant is the real value.

I think Ant is a very impressionable kid. He learned to be a professional from Rubio, who he gave tons of credit to. Then he followed PatBev, which is good in limited amounts. KAT was a good mentor to him, always focused on Ant’s growth, but then he did a lot of the same KAT complaining about fouls.

Ant could learn a lot from Durant. KD isn’t like most NBA players, caught in the glitz - he’s a hooper. It’s why Ant loves the guy. KD exists to play basketball. Sometimes between road back-to-backs, Durant will rent out a gym to work on his game from 12-2 am. Ant has a lot of dedication to the game right now, and he loves to steal the best qualities of other players. If he could steal Durant’s single-minded dedication to developing his game, it raises Ant’s already stratospheric ceiling even higher.

[moss_is_1]

Why would the team want KD?? Is it mostly for mentorship or do they actually think it's for winning?

Great question. And while KD could be a viable #2 option on a championship team, I think mentoring Ant is the real value.

I think Ant is a very impressionable kid. He learned to be a professional from Rubio, who he gave tons of credit to. Then he followed PatBev, which is good in limited amounts. KAT was a good mentor to him, always focused on Ant’s growth, but then he did a lot of the same KAT complaining about fouls.

Ant could learn a lot from Durant. KD isn’t like most NBA players, caught in the glitz - he’s a hooper. It’s why Ant loves the guy. KD exists to play basketball. Sometimes between road back-to-backs, Durant will rent out a gym to work on his game from 12-2 am. Ant has a lot of dedication to the game right now, and he loves to steal the best qualities of other players. If he could steal Durant’s single-minded dedication to developing his game, it raises Ant’s already stratospheric ceiling even higher.

Not just Ant, but I think Jaden could benefit greatly from KD as well.

[minimus]

Why would the team want KD?? Is it mostly for mentorship or do they actually think it's for winning?

Great question. And while KD could be a viable #2 option on a championship team, I think mentoring Ant is the real value.

I think Ant is a very impressionable kid. He learned to be a professional from Rubio, who he gave tons of credit to. Then he followed PatBev, which is good in limited amounts. KAT was a good mentor to him, always focused on Ant’s growth, but then he did a lot of the same KAT complaining about fouls.

Ant could learn a lot from Durant. KD isn’t like most NBA players, caught in the glitz - he’s a hooper. It’s why Ant loves the guy. KD exists to play basketball. Sometimes between road back-to-backs, Durant will rent out a gym to work on his game from 12-2 am. Ant has a lot of dedication to the game right now, and he loves to steal the best qualities of other players. If he could steal Durant’s single-minded dedication to developing his game, it raises Ant’s already stratospheric ceiling even higher.

Not just Ant, but I think Jaden could benefit greatly from KD as well.

Yes, I cant think about another superstar that might help McDaniels and Ant development as much as KD, not to mention Clark, Rob and TJ who's roles will be massively simplified.

[shrink]

The interesting thing about Durant is that I think he’s a shy kid, that is obsessed with basketball. Ant has that obsession, and the desire to work, but I doubt KD is going to go out and recruit mentees. Fortunately, I think Ant is already built that way.

And I think you’re right about Jaden. He is a lot like KD - quiet, works hard, and similar dimensions! He could learn a lot!

[Guest84]

With all the KD talk, it just feels like this is inevitable. I'd prefer another route but oh well if it happens.

[Slim Tubby]

With all the KD talk, it just feels like this is inevitable. I'd prefer another route but oh well if it happens.

I think Ant's admiration for KD is stimulating the hype machine here and around the league. I think all three (3) of the TX teams are strong contenders for his acquisition.

We would sure get a ton of national media exposure if he ends up here, though. ESPN might even give us some coverage immediately following a breakdown of whether the Yankees or Dodgers have better food on their team flights.

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[minimus]

There are four team that played in WCF and ECF. OKC, MIN, NYK, IND. If KD wants to play in Finals, then MIN might be a logical choice.

[Guest84]

With all the KD talk, it just feels like this is inevitable. I'd prefer another route but oh well if it happens.

I think Ant's admiration for KD is stimulating the hype machine here and around the league. I think all three (3) of the TX teams are strong contenders for his acquisition.

We would sure get a ton of national media exposure if he ends up here, though. ESPN might even give us some coverage immediately following a breakdown of whether the Yankees or Dodgers have better food on their team flights.

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[Klomp]

With all the KD talk, it just feels like this is inevitable. I'd prefer another route but oh well if it happens.

I've tempered the expectation slightly since becoming one of the betting favorites. I’m starting to think that it’s getting too high-profile for Connelly. He usually operates in the shadows.

[guest81]

Just for the record kd averaged 27-6-4 on 50-40-90 shooting last season. Yea he's old but the dude will be able to shoot until he's 80. He still has easily 2-3 years in him

[Klomp]

Just for the record kd averaged 27-6-4 on 50-40-90 shooting last season. Yea he's old but the dude will be able to shoot until he's 80. He still has easily 2-3 years in him

His game will age very gracefully, I agree. That's another arrow in his quiver.

[jpatrick]

Can we sign and trade and combine them in a deal for Durant? Could we combine a sign and traded Randle or NAW with other players in the deal?.

It is legal to combine sign-and-traded players with other players in a trade.

There’s been a rumor out there for several years that the CBA prevents this, but it’s not true. For example, remember how many S&T’s the Knicks had to combine and trade to CHA to complete the KAT trade?

I thought there was something that if you’re over the first apron (maybe it’s the second apron), you cannot receive a player signed/traded unless after the trade you are under that apron. I feel us and the Suns are still over the first apron once the offseason starts. The Suns might be over the second apron still.