[Charania] - Durant’s business partner, Rich Kleiman, are sorting through trade options (HOU, SAS, MIN, MIA, NY))

[Zeno]

I don't see any motivation for Brooklyn to send Claxton out. He needs to bring back some draft capital for them to be involved. That said, this trade hard caps Minnesota at the 1st apron, while leaving them about only $200k under the apron to bring back NAW, assuming Reid picks up his option. In order for Minnesota to have any substantial hope of bringing back Reid and NAW, they need to send out more salary than they bring back, so they aren't hard capped. so, for example, they could do this.

Minnesota out: Gobert and DiVincenzo and 17 to Phoenix, 2 future 2nds and Conley to Brooklyn
Minnesota in: Durant

Phoenix sends Durant to Minnesota and a future 2nd to Brooklyn for Gobert, Divincenzo and 17, and Brooklyn takes on Conley for 3 future 2nds.

In this scenario, Minnesota gets a realistic shot at retaining Reid and NAW, and at the same time the trade doesn't depend on Randle picking up his option before the draft.

They just need to throw in a minimum-like salary to make up the 2.1 million to not be hard capped at the 1st apron.

Fair enough, but why does Randle opt in early, and why does Brooklyn using $6 million of cap space for no return?

Randle might just really want to be in NY again? Nets would have to have a plan for another star(s) and truly believe Claxton is a toxic contract. I admit the Nets motivation is elusive but there have been quotes about them not wanting to rebuild for long. They owe their 2027 pick.

[Son Goku 25]

Getting Gobert for the Suns would be massive and almost instantly solves their defensive problems. Since they'll still have Booker/Beal, they are not rebuilding and would be a massive W in that case.

Wolves are shrinking their window around a 23 year old Edwards for no reason, very shortsighted if its true.

To be fair all the older superstars are basically past their prime and now it's all about the Ants, Lukas, Shais of this league who are all relatively young. Gone are the days when you need to be a 28 + superstar to win in this league. You just need a youngish superstar, with a couple of borderline stars and good to decent vets to win.

It makes sense to go after KD so long as their defense isn't ruined.

[Tor_Raps]

Getting Gobert for the Suns would be massive and almost instantly solves their defensive problems. Since they'll still have Booker/Beal, they are not rebuilding and would be a massive W in that case.

Wolves are shrinking their window around a 23 year old Edwards for no reason, very shortsighted if its true.

To be fair all the older superstars are basically past their prime and now it's all about the Ants, Lukas, Shais of this league who are all relatively young. Gone are the days when you need to be a 28 + superstar to win in this league. You just need a youngish superstar, with a couple of borderline stars and good to decent vets to win.

It makes sense to go after KD so long as their defense isn't ruined.

Trading Gobert instantly ruins their defense though.

[Pointgod]

I don't see any motivation for Brooklyn to send Claxton out. He needs to bring back some draft capital for them to be involved. That said, this trade hard caps Minnesota at the 1st apron, while leaving them about only $200k under the apron to bring back NAW, assuming Reid picks up his option. In order for Minnesota to have any substantial hope of bringing back Reid and NAW, they need to send out more salary than they bring back, so they aren't hard capped. so, for example, they could do this.

Minnesota out: Gobert and DiVincenzo and 17 to Phoenix, 2 future 2nds and Conley to Brooklyn
Minnesota in: Durant

Phoenix sends Durant to Minnesota and a future 2nd to Brooklyn for Gobert, Divincenzo and 17, and Brooklyn takes on Conley for 3 future 2nds.

In this scenario, Minnesota gets a realistic shot at retaining Reid and NAW, and at the same time the trade doesn't depend on Randle picking up his option before the draft.

They just need to throw in a minimum-like salary to make up the 2.1 million to not be hard capped at the 1st apron.

Fair enough, but why does Randle opt in early, and why does Brooklyn using $6 million of cap space for no return?

I think you can make it worth it for Brooklyn if they get the 17th pick and send out two of their later first rounders to Phoenix. I think Brooklyn is just going to play the cap space game and be a salary dumping ground for future picks.

[LoveMyRaps]

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[TimeForChange]

[Scase]

Crisis averted! If we were pursuing him, to me, that means Ujiri is getting desperate and entering into Bryan Colangelo last years territory.

Doesn't mean Masai wasn't pursuing him, just that it seems there is little to no chance of KD actually coming here.

Unfortunately, this is true. But I'll give him benefit of doubt here because his track record is much better than Colangelo's and say maybe he didn't pursue him or he pursued him to just gauge if they can get him for cheap. i.e. didn't pursue him too hard.

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Well this doesn't bode well

[SpezNc]

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Paraphrasing Marc Stein , Houston and San Antonio are Durant’s preferred destination but maybe another team like Toronto could be willing to gamble on 1 year of Durant and offer more than what Durant’s preferred destination are offering …

I think for Toronto to get Durant, Toronto would have to overpay.

It’s interesting that Stein, KOC, Fischer are mentioning us but never Shams. I mean it’s a clear indication that Toronto is not a preferred destination of Durant.

[Raps in 4]

Doesn't mean Masai wasn't pursuing him, just that it seems there is little to no chance of KD actually coming here.

Unfortunately, this is true. But I'll give him benefit of doubt here because his track record is much better than Colangelo's and say maybe he didn't pursue him or he pursued him to just gauge if they can get him for cheap. i.e. didn't pursue him too hard.

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Well this doesn't bode well

We're gambling on a first round appearance. As long as the gamble doesn't cost us anything valuable, Masai can have his fun.

[LoveMyRaps]

Proposed this a little while back... but something like this makes sense:

To PHX: RJ + Poeltl + #9 + Future First
To UTA: Dick + couple second round picks
To TOR: KD + Kessler

[LoveMyRaps]

Our first round picks would be the most valuable in any potential KD trade....

cuz if KD doesn't re-sign, or Ingram gets hurt... we'll likely still be a lotto team for the foreseeable future.

[Scase]

Unfortunately, this is true. But I'll give him benefit of doubt here because his track record is much better than Colangelo's and say maybe he didn't pursue him or he pursued him to just gauge if they can get him for cheap. i.e. didn't pursue him too hard.

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Well this doesn't bode well

We're gambling on a first round appearance. As long as the gamble doesn't cost us anything valuable, Masai can have his fun.

Eh the convo wasn't about gambling or having fun, but rather him feeling like he needs to make half assed moves to scratch and get as many wins as he can, similar to BC.

[causal_fan]

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Paraphrasing Marc Stein , Houston and San Antonio are Durant’s preferred destination but maybe another team like Toronto could be willing to gamble on 1 year of Durant and offer more than what Durant’s preferred destination are offering …

I think for Toronto to get Durant, Toronto would have to overpay.

It’s interesting that Stein, KOC, Fischer are mentioning us but never Shams. I mean it’s a clear indication that Toronto is not a preferred destination of Durant.

I'd like to think it's just the Suns trying to drive up the price for KD.

[Raps in 4]

Well this doesn't bode well

We're gambling on a first round appearance. As long as the gamble doesn't cost us anything valuable, Masai can have his fun.

Eh the convo wasn't about gambling or having fun, but rather him feeling like he needs to make half assed moves to scratch and get as many wins as he can, similar to BC.

KD is Masai's Nash/Hakeem move. We have a long tradition of these types of moves.

[Godaddycurse]

We're gambling on a first round appearance. As long as the gamble doesn't cost us anything valuable, Masai can have his fun.

Eh the convo wasn't about gambling or having fun, but rather him feeling like he needs to make half assed moves to scratch and get as many wins as he can, similar to BC.

KD is Masai's Nash/Hakeem move. We have a long tradition of these types of moves.

At least Gasol paid off

[LoveMyRaps]

We're gambling on a first round appearance. As long as the gamble doesn't cost us anything valuable, Masai can have his fun.

Eh the convo wasn't about gambling or having fun, but rather him feeling like he needs to make half assed moves to scratch and get as many wins as he can, similar to BC.

KD is Masai's Nash/Hakeem move. We have a long tradition of these types of moves.

Hakeem was totally washed when he signed with the Raps.

KD is still an All-NBA level player and a bonafide star.

[Merit]

Go with the more cost-effective solution and get Bane or Poole.

No to Poole. Why to bane?

[LoveMyRaps]

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GET ER DONE MASAI

[Merit]

I think KD makes a ton of sense actually. People make the mistake of comparing him to Ingram, the reality is they're not the same type of players at all.

Ingram is an isolation scorer around the nail and can play of ball while Durant has evolved to become a spectacular three point shooter who can still play some defense (even at his age).

The Raps are hesitant because they don't want to parse out Poeltl, he's the sticking point in all this.

Yeah acquiring KD by moving RJ/Ochai/Gradey/Minimum contract also works.

Agreed that Jak is the sticking point.

[LoveMyRaps]

Go with the more cost-effective solution and get Bane or Poole.

No to Poole. Why to bane?

We need 3pt shooting - Poole and Bane are both excellent shooters. Poole offers more shot creation and Bane offers a lil more defense. Both are young and Bane also has a good relationship with Darko.