Suns aggressively shopping Durant before draft

[FarBeyondDriven]

remember, most of these reports are just speculation or even agent/team driven narratives so should be treated as such. None of these teams are going to telegraph their intentions to beat writers, Youtube "scouts" or talking heads on TV.

[Chuck Everett]

https://www.si.com/nba/suns/news/report-phoenix-suns-aggressive-pursuit-trade-kevin-durant-houston-rockets

The good news for Phoenix that Durant is a happy-go-lucky sort who doesn't hold grudges. If they have to bring him back he will be a happy camper.

He's not happy with losing. That's all he'd see in Phoenix. He has one more shot over the remainder of his contract to win. And to play with a playmaker who can get his own bucket and still get everyone else involved.

I'd personally like to see him go to Detroit to help them bridge these next couple of years if they can't get Naz Reid.

I think Detroit offers the best opportunity as well, but I remain firm that his ego won't allow him to go there, even though it would be the best basketball fit for what he does and what he can bring to their team. They also have so much youth to help him out on the defensive end, but he's a moody bitch, so I don't see him being willing to do it.

It could easily be Tobias Harris, Ron Holland, Marcus Sasser and another pick (works in the trade checker). He would have Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Duren and Beef Stew around him. And Detroit could fill out the fringes with vets.

[sp6r=underrated]

The good news for Phoenix that Durant is a happy-go-lucky sort who doesn't hold grudges. If they have to bring him back he will be a happy camper.

He's not happy with losing. That's all he'd see in Phoenix. He has one more shot over the remainder of his contract to win. And to play with a playmaker who can get his own bucket and still get everyone else involved.

I'd personally like to see him go to Detroit to help them bridge these next couple of years if they can't get Naz Reid.

I think Detroit offers the best opportunity as well, but I remain firm that his ego won't allow him to go there, even though it would be the best basketball fit for what he does and what he can bring to their team. They also have so much youth to help him out on the defensive end, but he's a moody bitch, so I don't see him being willing to do it.

It could easily be Tobias Harris, Ron Holland, Marcus Sasser and another pick (works in the trade checker). He would have Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Duren and Beef Stew around him. And Detroit could fill out the fringes with vets.

Houston is the only club that:
1. has stuff Phoenix wants
2. could contend with Durant after a trade
3. a city Durant would be okay with
4. get Durant the credit he craves.

Detroit is a fit but he'll never accept going there

[CodeBreaker]

Come on Nuggets, do something!

Denver badly needs a talent upgrade but the pairing of Durant and Jokic hits me as a disaster on the defensive end. And on the offensive end Durant wouldn't maximize Jokic's passing given the ambivalence he showed for Golden State's motion offense at the end of his tenure there.

Nuggets biggest problem is getting bucket while Jokic is on the bench. Murray has been a failure in that regard.

AG is also not an ideal defensive pairing with Jokic with his porous rim protection. But I rather keep AG over Murray. Also don't want to sell low on MPJ.

Perhaps as part of a 3 team trade with Sacramento, involving Murray and perhaps Braun (more assets coming to Denver in this case) as well.

With Durant, Nuggets would be fine with a Derek Fisher type PG.

KD thrives playing alongside an all-time great offensive player that can make play for him and the team, while KD plays his role as a pure scorer and not a first option playmaker. Start with Jokic and Durant as your core, then surround them with defensive pieces like Gordon, Braun, etc.

KD with the Nuggets would have beaten OKC in the 2nd round.

[pipfan]

I think Den, Det and Hou make sense. Hou probably the best fit but which salaries to match?

[Dan Z]

He's not happy with losing. That's all he'd see in Phoenix. He has one more shot over the remainder of his contract to win. And to play with a playmaker who can get his own bucket and still get everyone else involved.

I'd personally like to see him go to Detroit to help them bridge these next couple of years if they can't get Naz Reid.

I think Detroit offers the best opportunity as well, but I remain firm that his ego won't allow him to go there, even though it would be the best basketball fit for what he does and what he can bring to their team. They also have so much youth to help him out on the defensive end, but he's a moody bitch, so I don't see him being willing to do it.

It could easily be Tobias Harris, Ron Holland, Marcus Sasser and another pick (works in the trade checker). He would have Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Duren and Beef Stew around him. And Detroit could fill out the fringes with vets.

Houston is the only club that:
1. has stuff Phoenix wants
2. could contend with Durant after a trade
3. a city Durant would be okay with
4. get Durant the credit he craves.

Detroit is a fit but he'll never accept going there

Who does Houston send back to Phoenix to match KD's 54 million dollar contract? If FVV is part of it then who is the PG for Houston? Reed starts?

They'll also need to add more salary than just FVV to make it work.

[SkyBill40]

He's near the end of the line noone should give up too much for him and any team that does will regret it

Austin Reeves + Knecht salary filler plus a first round pick and a couple of swaps seems like a more than fair deal.

Nah, Durant is 36.

How many years do you think he realistically have left? Two? Maybe three? I think the offer is more than fair it's sort of the Harden package plus Reeves and Knecht. It shouldn't cost more than that. To me the Lakers make a ton of sense because Reeves doesn't really fit with all the ballhandlers there and Lebron timetable makes the window short anyways.

It was more about the Reaves+ Knecht mention. Reaves is hugely overrated and we've already got some of that on our roster. And we're not trading him to a friggin' division rival.

[jkvonny]

If I were Durant I would want to go East. Knicks, Cleveland, Indiana and Orlando.

I'd stay away from the Knicks for now.

Bad FO.

[NyKnicks1714]

Denver is intriguing, but I don't know how they can both trade for him and shore up their depth in any significant way.

[ball_takes23]

Come on Nuggets, do something!

Denver badly needs a talent upgrade but the pairing of Durant and Jokic hits me as a disaster on the defensive end. And on the offensive end Durant wouldn't maximize Jokic's passing given the ambivalence he showed for Golden State's motion offense at the end of his tenure there.

MPJ is at best an equal defender and an even less willing passer than KD is, so from that perspective it’s pretty much a wash. Denver would basically be getting an older, more consistent MPJ. But Phx has no reason to make that trade, they will be getting better offers

[ball_takes23]

If I were Durant I would want to go East. Knicks, Cleveland, Indiana and Orlando.

Indiana and Cleveland have great things going, they’d both be stupid to entertain the idea. Knicks wouldn’t work but they probably aren’t going anywhere anyways. Magic make the most sense for both parties, they need scoring and could still be competitive after giving up Suggs

[SNPA]

Come on Nuggets, do something!

Denver badly needs a talent upgrade but the pairing of Durant and Jokic hits me as a disaster on the defensive end. And on the offensive end Durant wouldn't maximize Jokic's passing given the ambivalence he showed for Golden State's motion offense at the end of his tenure there.

Nuggets biggest problem is getting bucket while Jokic is on the bench. Murray has been a failure in that regard.

AG is also not an ideal defensive pairing with Jokic with his porous rim protection. But I rather keep AG over Murray. Also don't want to sell low on MPJ.

Perhaps as part of a 3 team trade with Sacramento, involving Murray and perhaps Braun (more assets coming to Denver in this case) as well.

With Durant, Nuggets would be fine with a Derek Fisher type PG.

So just dump Murray’s horrific deal on Sac to level up to KD and Sac should send more assets to Denver? Anything else the Kings can do to help Denver?

[Dan Z]

If I were Durant I would want to go East. Knicks, Cleveland, Indiana and Orlando.

Indiana and Cleveland have great things going, they’d both be stupid to entertain the idea. Knicks wouldn’t work but they probably aren’t going anywhere anyways. Magic make the most sense for both parties, they need scoring and could still be competitive after giving up Suggs

KD plays the same position as the best player on the Magic (Banchero).

I guess KD, Wagner and Banchero would be the forward rotation and then the guard position gets weaker (with Suggs going out in the deal)?

[Lalouie]

If I were Durant I would want to go East. Knicks, Cleveland, Indiana and Orlando.

no indy or orl or cavs or knicks

no 17yr vet superstar will play with players half his age

the bucks have a better chance and they NEED to make it work

of course, phx can trade kd wherever they want

[KGtabake]

miami for bam?

Kd doesn't come close to guaranteeing a title at this stage in his career so why would Riley do this?

Because Bam can't guarantee even a playoff spot.

[Black Jack]

If I were Durant I would want to go East. Knicks, Cleveland, Indiana and Orlando.

bingo.

[Black Jack]

Denver badly needs a talent upgrade but the pairing of Durant and Jokic hits me as a disaster on the defensive end. And on the offensive end Durant wouldn't maximize Jokic's passing given the ambivalence he showed for Golden State's motion offense at the end of his tenure there.

Nuggets biggest problem is getting bucket while Jokic is on the bench. Murray has been a failure in that regard.

AG is also not an ideal defensive pairing with Jokic with his porous rim protection. But I rather keep AG over Murray. Also don't want to sell low on MPJ.

Perhaps as part of a 3 team trade with Sacramento, involving Murray and perhaps Braun (more assets coming to Denver in this case) as well.

With Durant, Nuggets would be fine with a Derek Fisher type PG.

So just dump Murray’s horrific deal on Sac to level up to KD and Sac should send more assets to Denver? Anything else the Kings can do to help Denver?

say thank you sir

[Astaluego]

He's near the end of the line noone should give up too much for him and any team that does will regret it

Austin Reeves + Knecht salary filler plus a first round pick and a couple of swaps seems like a more than fair deal.

I think if that's the Lakers' best idea to rebuild around 26-year-old Luka, he'd be better off going somewhere else in 2026 free agency...
I'm not sure either that the Suns need more scoring guards, negatives on defense with Booker/Beal/Allen...

[Astaluego]

I wouldn't understand Houston paying for Durant when they have the Suns as hostages, owning those picks, watching the ship sink and enjoying the process, collecting assets at the top of the lottery... if I were Booker, who is at least younger, I would find it meaningful... although if I were Houston, I would block the Suns' number and delete it from my contact list, so as not to even be tempted.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Come on Nuggets, do something!

hopefully not