Kevin Durant in the Offseason

[60WinTim]

Where there is smoke, there is fire...

So, let's explore what a KD trade might look like. Here are a few observations surrounding salaries, the cap and timing:

• The draft is on June 25th. On draft day, both the Suns and Wolves will be 2nd apron teams.

• Randle has until June 29th to pick up his player option (NAZ is June 28th)

• The Wolves have two nice draft assets leading up to the draft - Detroit's 1st and Jazz's 2nd.

• The only way a draft day trade is even possible requires:
  • Randle picks up his player options BEFORE June 25th, which might happen IF he had a desire to go to Phoenix.
  • A third team is included to make salaries work between the two 2nd apron teams.
  • Seems unlikely, huh?

• A trade after July 1st has these complications:
  • Randle must pick up his player option, not only for his player value, but for salary matching.
  • The Suns are still a 2nd apron team and cannot take back more salary than they send out.
  • It's noteworthy that Randle and Jaden together make more than KD, so Jaden cannot be included (which I would hope the Wolves would not do anyway).
  • The Wolves will start the offseason below both aprons, although they will be a luxury tax team.

So, how much will KD trade cost? A 37-year old with one year left on his contract. Randle and either DDV or Conley is enough for salaries to match. We have no additional draft picks (at least 1st rounders) to include, although we would have two new draftees. There is also enough room to include one or two of our cheap young players.

A lot would depend on KD wanting out of Phoenix, and choosing Minnesota as a destination. Randle is kind of a Jimmy-lite, right?

From a big splash move, and knowing the ANT-KD connection, I could see this being pursued, even if some of us think it unwise. It would make the final version of ANT 1.5 rather intriguing...

[DNatagal]

What if the Wolves wait until the trade deadline next year? Or just attempt to sign him when he is a free agent?

[Q-is-here]

Thanks for framing up the situation in such detail Tim!

Yeah, I believe this is a real possibility and presumably Phoenix will want to extract some younger assets from the Wolves along with Randle.

This would also likely be the end of Naz Reid's tenure with the Wolves, as Durant is a PF and would Naz really want to come off the bench yet again!? Plus it makes affording Naz even more difficult.

My guess is that the price of the trade would be something like Randle, Dillingham, Detroit's 1st, and Naz Reid not re-signing with the Wolves.

[60WinTim]

Thanks for framing up the situation in such detail Tim!

Yeah, I believe this is a real possibility and presumably Phoenix will want to extract some younger assets from the Wolves along with Randle.

This would also likely be the end of Naz Reid's tenure with the Wolves, as Durant is a PF and would Naz really want to come off the bench yet again!? Plus it makes affording Naz even more difficult.

My guess is that the price of the trade would be something like Randle, Dillingham, Detroit's 1st, and Naz Reid not re-signing with the Wolves.

And that would be a bridge too far for me... And hopefully too far for TC as well. But it'll certainly be something to watch after the season is over, especially any comments made by KD.

[BloopOracle]

KD stating he will only sign an extension with us would be the dream, and very possible after the Suns tried to trade him without his knowledge

[Q-is-here]

Thanks for framing up the situation in such detail Tim!

Yeah, I believe this is a real possibility and presumably Phoenix will want to extract some younger assets from the Wolves along with Randle.

This would also likely be the end of Naz Reid's tenure with the Wolves, as Durant is a PF and would Naz really want to come off the bench yet again!? Plus it makes affording Naz even more difficult.

My guess is that the price of the trade would be something like Randle, Dillingham, Detroit's 1st, and Naz Reid not re-signing with the Wolves.

And that would be a bridge too far for me... And hopefully too far for TC as well. But it'll certainly be something to watch after the season is over, especially any comments made by KD.

Understood. I guess the question for you and others here is what is a bridge that isn't too far? Or is it a bridge folks don't even want to consider crossing at all?

[60WinTim]

I actually like the idea of a one or two year run with ANT and KD. And I disagree that NAZ would not re-sign, although I could be wrong. If the money was right, I think his ties to the community and fanbase, and to ANT and Jaden are so strong that he could live with a bench role for another year or two, especially if the minutes were still there.

As for untouchables in a KD trade: ANT, Jaden, NAZ, Rudy, Dilly and Clark. I would hate to give up Mike (nostalgic reasons) or DDV (production reasons), but one of those two would be needed to match salaries. This likely means the Suns would not find any offer we made acceptable...

So, maybe the only way this happens is as DNatagal suggests -- as a FA in 2026.

[DNatagal]

Durant turns 37 at the start of next season (born 9/29/1988), so how many more years does he have? He has been very durable for a skinny 7' athlete that plays the minutes he does. He is still scoring at a top 5 rate.

If the Wolves do sign him in 2026 when he is 38, will he still make $51M / year?

[WildWolf2813]

It's one of those ideas that sounds cool in theory but not practical.

It's not worth being Suns North just to make this deal happen unless TC is convinced his youngins are not just playable, but also big time stars in the making, to which then I say, they better play now.

[kekgeek]

The idea of Durant on the wolves is cool. The assets to get them are not worth it in my opinion. If they go trade for Durant my opinion on the Kat trade changes because then the wolves should of just kept Kat if they want to get rid of long term roster flexibility