Kevin Durant Rumors

[Crazysauce]

If we traded Jaden for Durant we should all go to target center and burn it down.

[BloopOracle]

I can confirm Jaden is not in the deal

[Phenom]

I can confirm Jaden is not in the deal

17 or 31?

[Lipoli390]

I can confirm Jaden is not in the deal

The true oracle has spoken.

[DNatagal]

If Durant agrees to a $30m per year extension and we don't have to overpay, this could be interesting, if for no other reason then Durant is one of the best players to ever play for the Wolves.

[Lipoli390]

I went on the trade machine for the first time to explore possibilities. I just don’t see a realistic two-way deal with the Suns. Since the only 3rd team we’ve read about is the Nets I focused on possible scenarios involving them. Here’s the way it breaks down in my mind.

WOLVE: Durant, Claxton.

PHOENIX SUNS: Gobert, Donte, #31 or #17. Based on what we’ve read, the Suns top priority is getting an impact big. I can’t see the Suns rebuilding with the the 28 year old Booker on the roster - unless they’re prepared to do what the jazz did a few years back when they unloaded both Rudy and Donovan. But I’ve read that their owner does not want to rebuild. All that, plus the salary match issue, leads me to conclude that Rudy will be headed to the Suns as part of the deal. Would Rudy be enough? Absolutely not. The Suns will clearly expect more, although they should not expect anything close to what they gave up for him given Durant’s age and unmistakable significantly defensive decline, durability issues, etc. So who else from the Wolves would make sense for the Suns. My guess is Donte. I’m assuming again that the Suns are focused on retooling and winning now with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal rather than retrenching and rebuilding. Beyond that, we’re seen reports that the Suns want picks to replenish their draft cupboard. The Wolves have two very nice picks this month and I’m sure the Suns would push for both. My guess is they get one of those two picks unless TC caves in his zeal for KD.

NETS: Randle, Minott, Miller, #17 or 31. The Nets are clearly in full rebuild mode so they’ll want young players and picks as part of this deal. It’s already been reported that the Nets are interested in Naz. He’d be the prize for them, but they’d probably insist on a little more so I see Minott being thrown in. I think this would be a near steal for the Nets. Naz is better than Nic statistically and has a more dynamic game with far more upside in my view. So I’m hoping for an alternative where the Nets Randle instead of Naz but also get Minott, Miller and our other pick (17 or 31) to satisfy their desire for young talent and picks to build with.

I wouldn’t do this deal if I were TC but I don’t think there’s any stopping TC from trading for Durant. I think the scenario I’ve outlined is reasonable for all three teams. If this turns out to be the deal, I won’t be furious. . Here’s what we’d be left with:

C: Claxton, Naz, Garza
PF: Durant, Naz, Jaden
SF: Jaden, Durant, TSJ
SG: Ant, TSJ, Clark
PG: Conley, Dilly

That’s 10 players with 4 more roster spots to fill. If we sign Naz to a deal starting at no more than 26 or 27 million it looks like we can fill out our roster with vet minimum players and remain barely under the 2nd apron. Would this be a better team than the one we had this past season? In my view no. I don’t think we’d be as good and I think the Suns would be better.

[Q-is-here]

If Durant agrees to a $30m per year extension and we don't have to overpay, this could be interesting, if for no other reason then Durant is one of the best players to ever play for the Wolves.

Yeah, that's a big part of it to me. How many young assets/draft picks do we need to give up and what does the contract look like after next season? I want to preserve our ability to keep competing when Durant eventually retires or moves on otherwise after a couple seasons.

If Durant's side is insisting on a two-year extension, I'd insist back that the 2nd year of that extension is a team option. I mean, I know the Wolves are in a bit of a competition here for his services, but I can't imagine Pat Riley signing up for two additional years after next season at $100M or whatever the high-end figure might be without any team option or step-down in value in the 2nd year.

[Jester1534]

Saw that wolves went from +400 to -100 to land Durant.

I don't believe in all these random twitter accounts but I do believe in Vegas odds lol

[Crazysauce]

Yeah the contract extension KD would want is going to be the absolute killer of all this. You can't pay a 38 year old 50 million a year. I think there is almost no chance he takes less. His ego wouldn't allow it

[Lipoli390]

If Durant agrees to a $30m per year extension and we don't have to overpay, this could be interesting, if for no other reason then Durant is one of the best players to ever play for the Wolves.

Yeah, that's a big part of it to me. How many young assets/draft picks do we need to give up and what does the contract look like after next season? I want to preserve our ability to keep competing when Durant eventually retires or moves on otherwise after a couple seasons.

If Durant's side is insisting on a two-year extension, I'd insist back that the 2nd year of that extension is a team option. I mean, I know the Wolves are in a bit of a competition here for his services, but I can't imagine Pat Riley signing up for two additional years after next season at $100M or whatever the high-end figure might be without any team option or step-down in value in the 2nd year.

I agree, Q. There’s no way Pat Riley would give the two-year extension without a team option on year 2. But I’m certain there were no other teams willing to give up anything close to what TC gave up for Rudy. So I’m worried that TC tends to negotiate against himself when he’s star chasing. We’ll see soon.