Kevin Durant Rumors

[rapsuperstar31]

The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant's preferred trade destinations out of Phoenix, sources tell ESPN. Those across the NBA have been made aware in recent days that those are the three teams that Durant would commit to long-term.

Yeah, I posted yesterday or the day before in this thread that KD wanted to go to Houston or San Antonio...not sure where the Miami thing came from. My concern was that while the Suns can trade him to whomever they want, the Wolves trading for a KD who didn't want to come here sounded quite risky...$54 million for a discontent 37 year old? I think we (and the media) have put too much stock in the "he wants to play with Ant" narrative. He clearly enjoyed playing with Ant in the Olympics, but he has never expressed any interest in coming here. I think it's bizarre how the betting markets have jumped around every time Shams tweets. I think he's going to lose a lot of credibility through this KD stuff...I think he's a lot closer to Doogie than he is to Woj in terms of credibility.

It could also be, Durant saw what we would have to give up for him Randle, Donte, and Rob or Mike or Rudy, Donte, and Rob or Mike and said that guts the team. I still think Connelley makes a deal if he likes the price, and figures it out later.

[Lipoli390]

I think we're missing half the story in this thread. We're focusing entirely on the pros and cons of KD. What about the pros of ridding ourselves of Rudy, Randle or both? Opportunities to jettison those guys may not come around again. In the deal involving the Nets we could move both in one shot. To me that is a huge proposition. I acknowledge the contributions both made, particularly Rudy, but I can't discount the feeling we would have a better chance for the next couple years and then benefit from KD's expiring. Personally I think Ju, and Ru are currently a couple of albatrosses we will have to deal with sooner than later.

Cool - I think that’s a fair and important perspective to consider. It looks like we’re out of the Durant sweepstakes so it’s not worth rehashing my arguments on why I wouldn’t want Durant. Instead, I want to refocus on your point about Ju and Ru as a couple of albatrosses. I generally agree with you that they’re not the right fit for our young core or for winning a championship in the current NBA. Having said that, we’d lose a lot if we were to lose either one. Rudy’s impact on our defense is profound and while I think we could revamp into a different kind of good defensive team, it wouldn’t be easy. Randle gave us nearly 20 points and 5 assists per game, which we’d have to replace. Do we keep one? I continue to think it’s best to move Randle in a sign-and-trade but keep Rudy but I could be persuaded to part with Rudy depending on the return.

I keep coming back to who I want to move forward with rather than who I want to move forward without. My vision of a championship Wolves team includes moving forward with Ant, Jaden, Naz, TSJ, Dilly and Clark. Rudy and/or Donte could be included as well in my view. We’d obviously need to get some rotation pieces into the fold in return for Randle and Rudy if we trade him. So much will depend on how great Ant and Jaden become in the next couple years as they approach their respective prime years.

[Q-is-here]

I think we're missing half the story in this thread. We're focusing entirely on the pros and cons of KD. What about the pros of ridding ourselves of Rudy, Randle or both? Opportunities to jettison those guys may not come around again. In the deal involving the Nets we could move both in one shot. To me that is a huge proposition. I acknowledge the contributions both made, particularly Rudy, but I can't discount the feeling we would have a better chance for the next couple years and then benefit from KD's expiring. Personally I think Ju, and Ru are currently a couple of albatrosses we will have to deal with sooner than later.

Cool - I think that’s a fair and important perspective to consider. It looks like we’re out of the Durant sweepstakes so it’s not worth rehashing my arguments on why I wouldn’t want Durant. Instead, I want to refocus on your point about Ju and Ru as a couple of albatrosses. I generally agree with you that they’re not the right fit for our young core or for winning a championship in the current NBA. Having said that, we’d lose a lot if we were to lose either one. Rudy’s impact on our defense is profound and while I think we could revamp into a different kind of good defensive team, it wouldn’t be easy. Randle gave us nearly 20 points and 5 assists per game, which we’d have to replace. Do we keep one? I continue to think it’s best to move Randle in a sign-and-trade but keep Rudy but I could be persuaded to part with Rudy depending on the return.

I keep coming back to who I want to move forward with rather than who I want to move forward without. My vision of a championship Wolves team includes moving forward with Ant, Jaden, Naz, TSJ, Dilly and Clark. Rudy and/or Donte could be included as well in my view. We’d obviously need to get some rotation pieces into the fold in return for Randle and Rudy if we trade him. So much will depend on how great Ant and Jaden become in the next couple years as they approach their respective prime years.

What Rudy does well is much harder to replace than what Randle does well.

I still think the Wolves can gradually de-emphasize Rudy's role and minutes during the rest of his contract and basically turn him into an important role player versus one of the key pillars of our entire team. Granted, we'd be paying him a lot to take on a reduced role, but we got a preview of it in the playoffs where he was still a plus player overall because of his defense, but didn't play typical full-time starter minutes.

[Lipoli390]

I think we're missing half the story in this thread. We're focusing entirely on the pros and cons of KD. What about the pros of ridding ourselves of Rudy, Randle or both? Opportunities to jettison those guys may not come around again. In the deal involving the Nets we could move both in one shot. To me that is a huge proposition. I acknowledge the contributions both made, particularly Rudy, but I can't discount the feeling we would have a better chance for the next couple years and then benefit from KD's expiring. Personally I think Ju, and Ru are currently a couple of albatrosses we will have to deal with sooner than later.

Cool - I think that’s a fair and important perspective to consider. It looks like we’re out of the Durant sweepstakes so it’s not worth rehashing my arguments on why I wouldn’t want Durant. Instead, I want to refocus on your point about Ju and Ru as a couple of albatrosses. I generally agree with you that they’re not the right fit for our young core or for winning a championship in the current NBA. Having said that, we’d lose a lot if we were to lose either one. Rudy’s impact on our defense is profound and while I think we could revamp into a different kind of good defensive team, it wouldn’t be easy. Randle gave us nearly 20 points and 5 assists per game, which we’d have to replace. Do we keep one? I continue to think it’s best to move Randle in a sign-and-trade but keep Rudy but I could be persuaded to part with Rudy depending on the return.

I keep coming back to who I want to move forward with rather than who I want to move forward without. My vision of a championship Wolves team includes moving forward with Ant, Jaden, Naz, TSJ, Dilly and Clark. Rudy and/or Donte could be included as well in my view. We’d obviously need to get some rotation pieces into the fold in return for Randle and Rudy if we trade him. So much will depend on how great Ant and Jaden become in the next couple years as they approach their respective prime years.

What Rudy does well is much harder to replace than what Randle does well.

I still think the Wolves can gradually de-emphasize Rudy's role and minutes during the rest of his contract and basically turn him into an important role player versus one of the key pillars of our entire team. Granted, we'd be paying him a lot to take on a reduced role, but we got a preview of it in the playoffs where he was still a plus player overall because of his defense, but didn't play typical full-time starter minutes.

I think you’re absolutely right that it’s easier to replace Randle than Rudy. Keeping Rudy and de-emphasizing his role and minutes over time make sense to me, Q. That approach would give us time to ween our defense off of its dependence on Rudy.

[Phenom]

Per Shams just now, Spurs, Rockets and Heat are the only teams he will commit to long term

So you’re telling me we just wasted 18 pages of deliberation for nothing?!?

I would guess this means the Wolves aren't offering an extension that he is looking for at this moment.

[KG4Ever]

What does Utah have to show for it, you ask Cool? Don't diminish those big 17 wins they had last season! I think it's time for us all to admit TC was playing checkers while Ainge was playing 3-level chess .

It was never a good trade and if we trade Rudy, without him winning a title here, its going to be a terrible trade. Whether or not Utah capitalizes on the assets they acquired isn't how to assess the trade, its the lost opportunities the Wolves gave up either in the draft or trade market by not having all those assets and having Rudy's crippling salary take away free agent opportunities and taking away roster construction flexibility. I said it was terrible when it was made and unless Rudy brings us a title, no amount of spinning, will make this a good trade.

By that logic, the only criteria for success in not trading for him is also winning a title, right? You are making the assertion that the assets we traded away for him would have been deployed in such a way that would have won us a title.

You don't trade away essentially five first round picks unless you expect that trade to put you over the hump and win a title. I've been consistent in hating the trade from day one. There was already a good young core and TC burned most of our assets for a guy on the wrong side of 30 who was known to have offensive struggles in the playoffs. TC and Finchy hyped up the trade as a pairing of KAT and Rudy. TC already traded away KAT and now rumors are that Rudy could follow the same fate. Big splash move that made little sense. Ant, Jaden, KAT and Naz were a great nucleus and if you trade assets you go for a young stud. Heck, Derrick White cost Boston far less and he would have a better impact than Rudy and he's younger.

[KG4Ever]

The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant's preferred trade destinations out of Phoenix, sources tell ESPN. Those across the NBA have been made aware in recent days that those are the three teams that Durant would commit to long-term.

Yeah, I posted yesterday or the day before in this thread that KD wanted to go to Houston or San Antonio...not sure where the Miami thing came from. My concern was that while the Suns can trade him to whomever they want, the Wolves trading for a KD who didn't want to come here sounded quite risky...$54 million for a discontent 37 year old? I think we (and the media) have put too much stock in the "he wants to play with Ant" narrative. He clearly enjoyed playing with Ant in the Olympics, but he has never expressed any interest in coming here. I think it's bizarre how the betting markets have jumped around every time Shams tweets. I think he's going to lose a lot of credibility through this KD stuff...I think he's a lot closer to Doogie than he is to Woj in terms of credibility.

I watched the clip of what Shams actually said about the situation yesterday. It was way less decisive sounding than what the quotes on Twitter made it sound like.

Again keep in mind Paul George didnt want to go to OKC and they traded for him anyway and then he stayed for a couple years and then OKC got a crazy haul for him even though even my cat (who really doesn't care about anything on TV much less sports) knew he was going to the Clippers.

Yeah, my fears of a Durant trade where TC pays too much are still alive. It wasn't very long ago that Wolves were a 52% favorite to have Durant and I trust Vegas more than reporters grinding out stories, especially as teams try to use the media to gain an advantage in negotiations.

[WildWolf2813]

It was never a good trade and if we trade Rudy, without him winning a title here, its going to be a terrible trade. Whether or not Utah capitalizes on the assets they acquired isn't how to assess the trade, its the lost opportunities the Wolves gave up either in the draft or trade market by not having all those assets and having Rudy's crippling salary take away free agent opportunities and taking away roster construction flexibility. I said it was terrible when it was made and unless Rudy brings us a title, no amount of spinning, will make this a good trade.

By that logic, the only criteria for success in not trading for him is also winning a title, right? You are making the assertion that the assets we traded away for him would have been deployed in such a way that would have won us a title.

You don't trade away essentially five first round picks unless you expect that trade to put you over the hump and win a title. I've been consistent in hating the trade from day one. There was already a good young core and TC burned most of our assets for a guy on the wrong side of 30 who was known to have offensive struggles in the playoffs. TC and Finchy hyped up the trade as a pairing of KAT and Rudy. TC already traded away KAT and now rumors are that Rudy could follow the same fate. Big splash move that made little sense. Ant, Jaden, KAT and Naz were a great nucleus and if you trade assets you go for a young stud. Heck, Derrick White cost Boston far less and he would have a better impact than Rudy and he's younger.

without that splash move, they're nowhere near where they are now.


and I'll go back to this:

Ant, Jaden, KAT and Naz wasn't a great nucleus, especially if you weren't super high on KAT (and if that's the case, then it wasn't a good nucleus.


your example was simply not where the team was at the time. Derrick White coulda been good for us, but Rosas was too far down the rabbit hole with D'Lo to consider something like that. Also, I'd rather not compare the Wolves to a team that at least had their clear top 2 guys. You can say Ant and KAT were that, but without that anchor on defense, we just weren't gonna advance too much further and that has been proven.

[Q-is-here]

It was never a good trade and if we trade Rudy, without him winning a title here, its going to be a terrible trade. Whether or not Utah capitalizes on the assets they acquired isn't how to assess the trade, its the lost opportunities the Wolves gave up either in the draft or trade market by not having all those assets and having Rudy's crippling salary take away free agent opportunities and taking away roster construction flexibility. I said it was terrible when it was made and unless Rudy brings us a title, no amount of spinning, will make this a good trade.

By that logic, the only criteria for success in not trading for him is also winning a title, right? You are making the assertion that the assets we traded away for him would have been deployed in such a way that would have won us a title.

You don't trade away essentially five first round picks unless you expect that trade to put you over the hump and win a title. I've been consistent in hating the trade from day one. There was already a good young core and TC burned most of our assets for a guy on the wrong side of 30 who was known to have offensive struggles in the playoffs. TC and Finchy hyped up the trade as a pairing of KAT and Rudy. TC already traded away KAT and now rumors are that Rudy could follow the same fate. Big splash move that made little sense. Ant, Jaden, KAT and Naz were a great nucleus and if you trade assets you go for a young stud. Heck, Derrick White cost Boston far less and he would have a better impact than Rudy and he's younger.

"You don't trade away five first round picks unless you expect that trade to put you over the hump and win a title"

But what you are saying is that keeping those five first round picks would have been a better decision in terms of increasing our odds of making the Western Conference Finals and winning a title. Go ahead and try proving that, especially since you believe the GM in charge is incompetent. Tell us which GM you would have hired instead that would have turned those picks into a title.

You also seem to forget that part of the logic of trading for Rudy was to get that good young core - specifically Ant and Jaden - deep playoff experience early in their career so that when they hit their peak years they would have a ton of playoff experience to draw upon. Mission accomplished! This is yet another goal of the trade that you refuse to accept.

I think there are fans that in good faith didn't like or were skeptical about the trade at the time it was made. I even think it's fair now to may be give it a B grade because we didn't get to the Finals. But to continue saying it was an awful trade and total failure doesn't make any sense.

[FNG]

By that logic, the only criteria for success in not trading for him is also winning a title, right? You are making the assertion that the assets we traded away for him would have been deployed in such a way that would have won us a title.

You don't trade away essentially five first round picks unless you expect that trade to put you over the hump and win a title. I've been consistent in hating the trade from day one. There was already a good young core and TC burned most of our assets for a guy on the wrong side of 30 who was known to have offensive struggles in the playoffs. TC and Finchy hyped up the trade as a pairing of KAT and Rudy. TC already traded away KAT and now rumors are that Rudy could follow the same fate. Big splash move that made little sense. Ant, Jaden, KAT and Naz were a great nucleus and if you trade assets you go for a young stud. Heck, Derrick White cost Boston far less and he would have a better impact than Rudy and he's younger.

"You don't trade away five first round picks unless you expect that trade to put you over the hump and win a title"

But what you are saying is that keeping those five first round picks would have been a better decision in terms of increasing our odds of making the Western Conference Finals and winning a title. Go ahead and try proving that, especially since you believe the GM in charge is incompetent. Tell us which GM you would have hired instead that would have turned those picks into a title.

You also seem to forget that part of the logic of trading for Rudy was to get that good young core - specifically Ant and Jaden - deep playoff experience early in their career so that when they hit their peak years they would have a ton of playoff experience to draw upon. Mission accomplished! This is yet another goal of the trade that you refuse to accept.

I think there are fans that in good faith didn't like or were skeptical about the trade at the time it was made. I even think it's fair now to may be give it a B grade because we didn't get to the Finals. But to continue saying it was an awful trade and total failure doesn't make any sense.

Somebody has to remove his shovel...that hole is getting awfully deep.