Durant

[AbeVigodaLive]

Kevin Durant is definitely a top 5 NBA player who makes many teams title contenders instantly... with 4 more years of control (IF he's with a team he likes).

That sort of thing happens very infrequently in NBA history.

As for the recent injury situation... I think it can be looked at two ways:

1) He's gonna be 34 and has played only 90 games in 3 seasons.
2) He's the first player in NBA history who came back from an Achilles injury as good or better than he was previously.

Remember he was good enough that the Nets paid a fortune for him knowing he'd miss at least one entire season and may never be the same player again. I also think his game translates well as he ages. As we've seen in recent years, modern medicine and training extends careers. Would you have taken LeBron James at 34? While Durant isn't as durable, I think we'll see much of the same on-court production over the next 2 or 4 or 5 years from Durant.

All that being said... I get why certain teams in winter wastelands shouldn't bother chasing such a prima donna... but for the team that ultimately lands/keeps Durant, they're getting one of the all-time best players who is still playing like it.

[TheFuture]

Durant is an amazing player one of the best players of my lifetime. As Q pointed out he is a significant injury risk. I actually thought he was older than he is.

I wouldn't do the deal. Towns for Durant straight up if it was possible? I might actually consider that. The Nets are trying to get more (actually a ton more) and they already have a pretty good reported offer from Boston of Brown White and a draft pick.

I wouldn't even do that one. KAT has faults, but he doesn't cause turmoil like Durant does.

Durant needed to be surrounded by the best team in league history to win anything. Then gifted them a sign and trade deal to go to Brooklyn. Now he is quitting on them because he decided he is unhappy. Fuck him.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

It also needs to be mentioned that Brooklyn reportedly wanted Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and multiple future first-round picks in return for Kevin Durant. How far those demands could be whittled down remains a mystery, but the chance of getting Durant for just Towns and Jaden McDaniels is little, in my opinion.

And for what it's worth, that's not something I'd be willing to entertain. I had interest in Durant prior to acquiring Rudy Gobert as long as Towns and Edwards were retained. That scenario never presented itself as far as we know.

[Q-is-here]

Kevin Durant is definitely a top 5 NBA player who makes many teams title contenders instantly... with 4 more years of control (IF he's with a team he likes).

That sort of thing happens very infrequently in NBA history.

As for the recent injury situation... I think it can be looked at two ways:

1) He's gonna be 34 and has played only 90 games in 3 seasons.
2) He's the first player in NBA history who came back from an Achilles injury as good or better than he was previously.

Remember he was good enough that the Nets paid a fortune for him knowing he'd miss at least one entire season and may never be the same player again. I also think his game translates well as he ages. As we've seen in recent years, modern medicine and training extends careers. Would you have taken LeBron James at 34? While Durant isn't as durable, I think we'll see much of the same on-court production over the next 2 or 4 or 5 years from Durant.

All that being said... I get why certain teams in winter wastelands shouldn't bother chasing such a prima donna... but for the team that ultimately lands/keeps Durant, they're getting one of the all-time best players who is still playing like it.

I don't know Abe. I know Durant was incredible in the 2021 playoffs, but he didn't have much juice these past playoffs. Also, if he's as valuable as you and others think he is, whatever team he goes to is going to be stripped of a ton of assets - even more than the Wolves were for Gobert - which means Durant has to carry a huge load without the type of team mates he had in Golden State. I'm a Durant-trade skeptic and think his best shot at winning something might be staying put in Brooklyn!

[AbeVigodaLive]

Kevin Durant is definitely a top 5 NBA player who makes many teams title contenders instantly... with 4 more years of control (IF he's with a team he likes).

That sort of thing happens very infrequently in NBA history.

As for the recent injury situation... I think it can be looked at two ways:

1) He's gonna be 34 and has played only 90 games in 3 seasons.
2) He's the first player in NBA history who came back from an Achilles injury as good or better than he was previously.

Remember he was good enough that the Nets paid a fortune for him knowing he'd miss at least one entire season and may never be the same player again. I also think his game translates well as he ages. As we've seen in recent years, modern medicine and training extends careers. Would you have taken LeBron James at 34? While Durant isn't as durable, I think we'll see much of the same on-court production over the next 2 or 4 or 5 years from Durant.

All that being said... I get why certain teams in winter wastelands shouldn't bother chasing such a prima donna... but for the team that ultimately lands/keeps Durant, they're getting one of the all-time best players who is still playing like it.

I don't know Abe. I know Durant was incredible in the 2021 playoffs, but he didn't have much juice these past playoffs. Also, if he's as valuable as you and others think he is, whatever team he goes to is going to be stripped of a ton of assets - even more than the Wolves were for Gobert - which means Durant has to carry a huge load without the type of team mates he had in Golden State. I'm a Durant-trade skeptic and think his best shot at winning something might be staying put in Brooklyn!

Yeah, he looked out of sorts vs. the Celtics, but I'd be willing to bet on small sample size before putting too much stock in the playoffs. He struggled vs. a Celtics team built and geared up for him.

29.9 ppg
7.4 reb
6.4 apg
51.8% fg
38.3% 3fg
91.0% ft

That's pretty absurd. By the way, I think I might agree with you about the Brooklyn situation which is why I wrote "lands/keeps" blurb.

[TheFuture]

The talent of Durant cannot be denied. His mental makeup to lead a team can be denied.

I never would strip my team to get him. I'd even think twice about taking him on for a team trying to build a culture. He doesn't build shit, he strips it away. Then runs.

Remember Melo years ago having to figure out that he is a role player or bench player. Durant is more accomplished and talented, so imagine the acceptance he will have to endure to come down a step? Want nothing to do with that.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The talent of Durant cannot be denied. His mental makeup to lead a team can be denied.

I never would strip my team to get him. I'd even think twice about taking him on for a team trying to build a culture. He doesn't build shit, he strips it away. Then runs.

Remember Melo years ago having to figure out that he is a role player or bench player. Durant is more accomplished and talented, so imagine the acceptance he will have to endure to come down a step? Want nothing to do with that.

Durant is a social media thin-skinned pansy, but his trade demand this offseason is actually unprecedented.

OKC was a perennial winner with Durant. He left as a FA. GSW won back-to-back titles with Durant as the Finals MVP and might have won a 3rd if not for his achilles tear. The team's culture didn't seem to take a hit during or after his tenure with the team. Durant left as a FA even though it was packaged as a sign-and-trade. Durant was incredible in his first healthy season in Brooklyn and ended the season averaging 43/13/6 while shooting 54% fg over the final 3 playoff games, losing in OT to the eventual champs.

I'm far from an everyday Durant apologist. But I guess I'm not seeing how he hasn't been a bad ass mfing assassin on the court for the better part of 15 years.

You'll have to explain the Carmelo Anthony reference. That seems random and I'm not seeing the similarities.

[Q-is-here]

It's still hard for me to believe that Durant, Curry, and Klay Thompson were on the same team. Curry is the greatest shooter of all time. Durant might be the second greatest shooter of all time or close to it. And Klay might be among the top 15 shooters of all time. It's just absurd that Golden State had all three of those guys in their prime.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

It's still hard for me to believe that Durant, Curry, and Klay Thompson were on the same team. Curry is the greatest shooter of all time. Durant might be the second greatest shooter of all time or close to it. And Klay might be among the top 15 shooters of all time. It's just absurd that Golden State had all three of those guys in their prime.

Yep, and it took a perfect storm to accomplish too. It started with Golden State being able to sign Steph Curry to a team-friendly deal because of his constant ankle injuries. Then the cap increased significantly allowing the Warriors the opportunity to shift their payroll and find the ability to offer a maximum contract. And perhaps most importantly, Kevin Durant has the competitive fire of a newborn baby -- choosing to sign with the team that beat him in the the Conference Finals after he led 3-1. That perfect storm killed whatever parity the NBA had at the time and remains one of the more annoying dynasties in sports history.

[AbeVigodaLive]

It's still hard for me to believe that Durant, Curry, and Klay Thompson were on the same team. Curry is the greatest shooter of all time. Durant might be the second greatest shooter of all time or close to it. And Klay might be among the top 15 shooters of all time. It's just absurd that Golden State had all three of those guys in their prime.

Yep, and it took a perfect storm to accomplish too. It started with Golden State being able to sign Steph Curry to a team-friendly deal because of his constant ankle injuries. Then the cap increased significantly allowing the Warriors the opportunity to shift their payroll and find the ability to offer a maximum contract. And perhaps most importantly, Kevin Durant has the competitive fire of a newborn baby -- choosing to sign with the team that beat him in the the Conference Finals after he led 3-1. That perfect storm killed whatever parity the NBA had at the time and remains one of the more annoying dynasties in sports history.

I'm ok with it.

In large part because they (1) proved a legit team before and after Durant... (2) I liked them (lol)... and (3) mostly because it kept James from winning more titles with his own brand of contrived team building.