Rumors, Random Thoughts, and non-Threadworthy Posts 18.0 Dave Cowens drove a taxi

[Mavrelous]

How is saying I would prefer to play here, here, and here, but not here, acting like a prima donna? He should be allowed to state his preference, he should be allowed to send the message he won't extend if you trade him here. Suns don't have to honor it. Teams don't have to be scared off. I find it hard to believe he would actually turn down a 9 figure extension from Minnesota or anyone else if it came to it.

Teams trade players where they don't necessarily want to go all the time, we never make these kinds of accusations about not honoring contracts, ruining the player's future etc...

We usually don't get Shams news flash saying Minnesotta is interested but KD doesn't want to go there.
Yeah, he can have his preferences, and Suns should honour them if possible, but of Wolves have the best offer, send him his (not so) merry way...

He could had forced his way out at the deadline . Think there is some mutual respect between the two parties .

Not like the Minny package is tiers better than the other teams.

It's really confusing, some reports are saying Spurs offer is Brnes/Vassel/14 which is lowball OMO, Goldsberry is saying Suns are askinf for #2/Castle which is delusional...

[wemby]

https://hoopshype.com/2025/06/16/kevin-durant-prefers-to-play-in-san-antonio/
But amid their most recent round of talks with Phoenix, the Timberwolves were made aware that he prefers to play elsewhere — specifically, league sources say, the Spurs.

I'm getting the sense Durant told the Suns he wants to go to the Spurs, and the other teams were included by the Suns for leverage. I hope Spurs don't budge and destroy in a minute an incredible long term future ahead that took years and a lot of luck to build up.

If potential trade partners are only offering a rental price for Durant anyway, this is the rare situation where I wouldn't care if he agrees to extend. It could be a blessing in disguise. He's not going to refuse to report or play at 37 in the last year of his contract. Assuming a max deal will be there for him at 38 if he dogs it or refuses to report, would be really unwise. Unlike Butler, he doesn't have a P.O to fall back on next season.

I don't disagree, in fact I've said so before: The TWolves make the most sense, they're the one team among all those mentioned (Rockets, Spurs, Heat, Raptors) who, if they traded for Durant, have a realistic shot at going all the way. Also, at 37 Durant at best may have what, 3 more years? Of those 3, the more valuable is certainly the first one, which should probably account for 50% of his total value left, so a rental for a TWolves like team may actually yield the same value as a 2/3 year contract for a team such as the Spurs. So the TWolves are an example of a team where you can make a legitimate case of going after Durant anyway, but of course it'd help if he were willing to go there.

Randle S&T + DDV + Leonard Miller / Terrance Shannon Jr + 31 sounds like a damn good offer, throw in 17 if you want but I'd pull the trigger right now on that offer if I were the Suns.

[shrink]

I’ve always been a big Rudy fan since his Utah days, and I’m concerned using him in a KD trade is a mistake.

Randle, Naz and KD are all PF’s. All three are good offensive players, but all three could use Gobert behind them.

MIN’s only center is Rudy (Naz is a big wing now). Using Gobert only works if they have a deal lined up for a starting center.

Finally, KD fits a lot of team needs, but they still need to address the situation of needing a starting PG.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

We usually don't get Shams news flash saying Minnesotta is interested but KD doesn't want to go there.
Yeah, he can have his preferences, and Suns should honour them if possible, but of Wolves have the best offer, send him his (not so) merry way...

He could had forced his way out at the deadline . Think there is some mutual respect between the two parties .

Not like the Minny package is tiers better than the other teams.

It's really confusing, some reports are saying Spurs offer is Brnes/Vassel/14 which is lowball OMO, Goldsberry is saying Suns are askinf for #2/Castle which is delusional...

buyer low balls and sellers ask for too much lol there is a big gap between the value of those two packages . I just can't see giving 2 for KD at this point in his career. Maybe 3 or 4 years ago.

[wemby]

It's really confusing, some reports are saying Spurs offer is Brnes/Vassel/14 which is lowball OMO, Goldsberry is saying Suns are askinf for #2/Castle which is delusional...

Goldsberry worked for the Spurs, if he says so he probably knows what he's talking about.

[Klomp]

What “big” move does Minn make if they don’t get KD?

Even though they have young pieces and have had a lot of success.. I don’t think this is a run it back situation.

I think they would essentially run things back, but as we've seen they're not afraid to pounce when the opportunity arises. Yesterday on #WolvesTwitter, De'Aaron Fox was a popular talking point. It's been reported previously that the Timberwolves had made calls on him at the trade deadline, I believe.

[Klomp]

I’ve always been a big Rudy fan since his Utah days, and I’m concerned using him in a KD trade is a mistake.

Randle, Naz and KD are all PF’s. All three are good offensive players, but all three could use Gobert behind them.

MIN’s only center is Rudy (Naz is a big wing now). Using Gobert only works if they have a deal lined up for a starting center.

Finally, KD fits a lot of team needs, but they still need to address the situation of needing a starting PG.

I think there are natural assumptions that could be made:
1. A trade would be done with the belief that a Durant/Randle or Durant/Reid lineup can function well enough.
2. One of Randle or Reid could be turned into a starting PG in a trade.
3. The team could use 17 and/or 31 to address the third big in the rotation, which would be able to play next to either PF.

[Texas Chuck]

I have no idea why the Suns are respecting KDs wishes, go to the Wolves and suck it up, we are a lottery team w/o picks for the 7 years becaus eof our stupid gamble on you and you're acting like a prima donna....

How is saying I would prefer to play here, here, and here, but not here, acting like a prima donna? He should be allowed to state his preference, he should be allowed to send the message he won't extend if you trade him here. Suns don't have to honor it. Teams don't have to be scared off. I find it hard to believe he would actually turn down a 9 figure extension from Minnesota or anyone else if it came to it.

Teams trade players where they don't necessarily want to go all the time, we never make these kinds of accusations about not honoring contracts, ruining the player's future etc...

We usually don't get Shams news flash saying Minnesotta is interested but KD doesn't want to go there.
Yeah, he can have his preferences, and Suns should honour them if possible, but of Wolves have the best offer, send him his (not so) merry way...

Yes. Again, so Shams reporting stuff makes KD a prima donna? I'm not following the connection here really.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[Mavrelous]

How is saying I would prefer to play here, here, and here, but not here, acting like a prima donna? He should be allowed to state his preference, he should be allowed to send the message he won't extend if you trade him here. Suns don't have to honor it. Teams don't have to be scared off. I find it hard to believe he would actually turn down a 9 figure extension from Minnesota or anyone else if it came to it.

Teams trade players where they don't necessarily want to go all the time, we never make these kinds of accusations about not honoring contracts, ruining the player's future etc...

We usually don't get Shams news flash saying Minnesotta is interested but KD doesn't want to go there.
Yeah, he can have his preferences, and Suns should honour them if possible, but of Wolves have the best offer, send him his (not so) merry way...

Yes. Again, so Shams reporting stuff makes KD a prima donna? I'm not following the connection here really.

I see very direct and clear connection though...

[mademan]

Depending on what else, Minnesota should do a Gobert-KD swap. They'll join a few other contenders who are looking for a starting level-ish C while having few assets, but they'll still have more than the Lakers. Gobert with Dillingham or 17 is probably how far i'd go, and then trade the other for a C

[Devilanche]

We usually don't get Shams news flash saying Minnesotta is interested but KD doesn't want to go there.
Yeah, he can have his preferences, and Suns should honour them if possible, but of Wolves have the best offer, send him his (not so) merry way...

Yes. Again, so Shams reporting stuff makes KD a prima donna? I'm not following the connection here really.

I see very direct and clear connection though...

I’m not seeing it . Players try to influence where they are traded all the time .

However if he say he’s not reporting to Minnesota if he’s trading there . That’s then a prima donna.

[Mavrelous]

Yes. Again, so Shams reporting stuff makes KD a prima donna? I'm not following the connection here really.

I see very direct and clear connection though...

I’m not seeing it . Players try to influence where they are traded all the time .

However if he say he’s not reporting to Minnesota if he’s trading there . That’s then a prima donna.

Players absolutely try to influence where they are traded, and when they refuse to go to a winning situation and a good fit, and their unwillingness is aired through the major news outlet representative, that qualifies as a prima donna behavior to me.

[daoneandonly]

WOuld any of the teams in the top 9 of the lottery this year be interested in AD? If so, what would a package look like? Intentionally put 9 because Dallas should have zero interest in Jalen Green, and 9 straight games is probably the most AD has ever played in his entire career.

I don’t think Dallas should care about eating Jalen Green, pending the rest of the trade obviously

He expires a year before Flagg gets paid so would have a chance to retool and he makes far enough under the max that he is a useful salary filler as an expiring in general. If he happens to get better as basketball over the next 12-18 months, even better.

Well, if there's a chance to win another lottery without having to pay a terrible contract for a losing basketball player, I'd do it. I think a guy like Jalen hurts Flagg more than helps. As promising as Amen has been thus far, I'd imagine he'd be even better without dead weight like Green dragging him down.

I'd really like to somehow turn AD into cap savings and one of VJ/Tre Johnson/Kneuppel.

[mademan]

I'd trade 9 for AD pretty easily from Toronto, but im one of the few who actually value him as a top 10 player and think that would be a steal.

[Jojothewhale]

Players absolutely try to influence where they are traded, and when they refuse to go to a winning situation and a good fit, and their unwillingness is aired through the major news outlet representative, that qualifies as a prima donna behavior to me.

I find it hard to speak with any confidence on things like this. It feels like this is just how the machine works now. We don’t know what comes from the player versus the agent. We don’t even know who leaks what, although we can at least infer who has something to to gain from the info being out there.

Or to put it another way, let’s say you’re a star on the trade block. What steps can you take to guarantee your preferred destinations don’t get out? You have no real control over your agent. You have zero control over what any team involved in the talks does.

[jbk1234]

WOuld any of the teams in the top 9 of the lottery this year be interested in AD? If so, what would a package look like? Intentionally put 9 because Dallas should have zero interest in Jalen Green, and 9 straight games is probably the most AD has ever played in his entire career.

I don’t think Dallas should care about eating Jalen Green, pending the rest of the trade obviously

He expires a year before Flagg gets paid so would have a chance to retool and he makes far enough under the max that he is a useful salary filler as an expiring in general. If he happens to get better as basketball over the next 12-18 months, even better.

Well, if there's a chance to win another lottery without having to pay a terrible contract for a losing basketball player, I'd do it. I think a guy like Jalen hurts Flagg more than helps. As promising as Amen has been thus far, I'd imagine he'd be even better without dead weight like Green dragging him down.

I'd really like to somehow turn AD into cap savings and one of VJ/Tre Johnson/Kneuppel.

Has there been any reporting suggesting that the Mavs are open to moving AD?

[SkyHook]

I see very direct and clear connection though...

I’m not seeing it . Players try to influence where they are traded all the time .

However if he say he’s not reporting to Minnesota if he’s trading there . That’s then a prima donna.

Players absolutely try to influence where they are traded, and when they refuse to go to a winning situation and a good fit, and their unwillingness is aired through the major news outlet representative, that qualifies as a prima donna behavior to me.

Unless I've missed something, saying that he doesn't want to go there and refusing to go there are still two different things. To me, this hasn't reached the Derek Harper or Rony Seikaly level of dickishness yet.

I don't think that Toronto had any regrets on their gamble with Kawhi on an expiring deal. The Wolves should break their offer into two tiers; with and without a KD extension. If without and it's similar to the value of Kawhi + Danny Green for Derozan + Poetl + 1 FRP deal then that's a reasonable gamble. Randle+ may still be a better offer than any other Durant suitor.

[daoneandonly]

I don’t think Dallas should care about eating Jalen Green, pending the rest of the trade obviously

He expires a year before Flagg gets paid so would have a chance to retool and he makes far enough under the max that he is a useful salary filler as an expiring in general. If he happens to get better as basketball over the next 12-18 months, even better.

Well, if there's a chance to win another lottery without having to pay a terrible contract for a losing basketball player, I'd do it. I think a guy like Jalen hurts Flagg more than helps. As promising as Amen has been thus far, I'd imagine he'd be even better without dead weight like Green dragging him down.

I'd really like to somehow turn AD into cap savings and one of VJ/Tre Johnson/Kneuppel.

Has there been any reporting suggesting that the Mavs are open to moving AD?

None whatsoever, just my wishful thinking. I work for the government where people can coast by without showing up and doing what they were hired to do, so having the basketball equivalent to that on my fave team is frustrating

[kobe_vs_jordan]

I see very direct and clear connection though...

I’m not seeing it . Players try to influence where they are traded all the time .

However if he say he’s not reporting to Minnesota if he’s trading there . That’s then a prima donna.

Players absolutely try to influence where they are traded, and when they refuse to go to a winning situation and a good fit, and their unwillingness is aired through the major news outlet representative, that qualifies as a prima donna behavior to me.

So a player should be spineless and not use their power?? All to benefit billionaire owners? I don't see the angle. KD didn't force a trade. Didn't hold out. Not doing interviews on ESPN asking for a trade.