Kevin Durant Rumors

[FNG]

Lip, I agree that I don't want Rob or Shannon included in a KD deal, as well as both of our draft picks. Somehow I think it's unlikely TC would do that. Rob and Shannon are "his guys", players that he had a hand in bringing in, and in Rob's case, a guy he gave up assets to draft. This is different than 2022 when he traded a few guys he had no attachment to to get Gobert. Even KAT was not "his guy". Trading either of them a year after drafting them to bring in a 37 year old might look like he made a mistake in the previous draft, and I think his ego won't let him do that. Our picks might be included, and I wouldn't like that, but I'll be very surprised if we see Rob and Shannon go.

That’s a nice insight, FNG. I hope you’re right.

After watching OKC and Indiana a lot through the playoffs I can see even more clearly how the Wolves can be a really special championship contending team in a couple seasons when Ant and Jaden will just be wintering the prime years of their careers and for many years thereafter. When you combine those two guys with Naz and also with TSJ, Dilly and Clark you have a tremendously athletic, fast, aggressive and also skilled group of players who would be a nightmare for opposing defenses and offenses. Interestingly, most of the best highlights of Dilly and TSJ are with Jaden and/or Ant on the floor. The fit is so perfect.

Like you, given our lack of picks going forward, including no picks at all in 2027, I also hate to give up our picks this year. This looks like one of the better drafts for talented bigs, which is what we need with Rudy getting older and possibly being traded. I’d love to add a defensive big like Thomas Sorber, Kalkbrenner, Berlinger or Raynard who can also do other things Rudy can’t. But alas, I don’t see a deal getting done without giving up at least our #17 unless we also include Dilly, TSJ or Clark.

FNG Connelly has a legit track record of moving his guys that he drafted. He LOVES Vanderbilt and traded him twice. He also traded Beasley Twice so he had attachment to both of those players in the Gobert deal. In the Aaron Gordon deal he traded RJ Hampton a guy he had drafted a few months earlier. He traded Walker Kessler in the Gobert deal. That's just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Connelly is not afraid to move players and that's a little maddening but I think it's one of the positives about him.

Some good points, monster, and some evidence that it wouldn't be surprising if he moved Shannon. But I'll push back a little as evidence that he's not likely to move Rob. None of the guys TC traded were lottery picks, but rather late first rounders. Heck, Beasley was drafted after Juancho! Further, I don't think he ever had an attachment to Kessler...I think he was drafted on behalf of Utah because a Gobert trade was already in the works. And technically he didn't draft Hampton...he was drafted by the Bucks (but maybe he was drafted on behalf of Denver, just like Kessler was for Utah). Rob is an entirely different story in that he was a lottery pick that TC gave up assets to get...he has to be far more invested in Rob than any of those other guys, and that's why I see it as unlikely he moves him, even for Durant. But my view could be influenced by wishful thinking too, as I'm pretty high on Rob's potential.

[Q-is-here]

Look at what Houston and Miami have to offer compared to what the Wolves have, I can see why the Wolves are heavy favorites to get Durant. That same disparity also tells me TC should drive a really hard bargain and not negotiate against himself as I believe he did when he acquired Rudy. Here’s a breakdown of assets I think Houston and Miami would probably be willing to offer and that the Suns might have an interest in getting. I’m assuming neither team will be willing to part with any core players under age 30

HOUSTON

Players: I think Houston has three core young players, Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jalen Green, who would hands off in any trade discussions for Durant. Remember, this is the core of a team that had the 2nd best record in the West. I know there is disappointment in Jalen Green, but he’s putting up terrific numbers and he’s still young. Moreover, he’s the sort of fast, athletic player who flourishes in today’s NBA. As a SG, he fits well with a roster where most of the top young talent is in the front court, namely Sengun C, Thompson F, Jabari Smith, Eason F, Cam Whitmore F. With Sengun and Thompson as untouchabes in my view, that leaves Smith, Eason and Whitmore as the young talent they MIGHT be willing to give up and who the Suns would probably be interested in getting. Houston has last year’s #3 pick in the draft, Reed Sheppard. He was pretty bad this past season, but he was a consensus top 5 pick and had a great freshman season at Kentucky so he should be a player of interest to the Suns. So at most, I could see Houston giving up Whitmore or Eason and Sheppard. Or maybe the Suns would want VanVleet for more of a win-now PG to pair with Booker while also getting a young talent and pick in turn.

Picks: Houston has the #10 pick in this year’s draft. Their only tradeable future 1st round pick is the Suns’ unprotected 2027 pick. The rest of their future 1st rounders are untradeable under the CBA’s bar on trading consecutive 1st rounders.

Possible Deal: Without checking for salary match, I could see Houston offering VanVleet, Smith, this year’s #10 pick and the Suns 2027 1st. That would be a very robust offer but it would not give the Suns the center they purportedly want and I think the jig is up on Jabari Smith. I wasn’t a big fan of him coming out of college and I don’t see a lot of upside there. But VanVleet is still only 31 and has game left. So I’d say Houston has the assets to get Durant. But I think the Wolves can offer a more attractive package on non-core assets unless Houston is willing to part with Eason as well as Smith. Based on what we’ve heard, Phoenix was to win now but also bolster their future with this deal. Who helps the Suns more next season - Rudy and Donte, or VanVleet and Smith? If Houston offers #10; return of the Suns’ 2027 1st rounder; and Jabari Smith (has both present and long-term future value — would that be a better “future” package than this year’s ##17 and 31, Minott and Miller? I think we could easily beat that future package if we gave up Dilly, TSJ or Clark but I think giving up any of those three for Durant would be a big mistake.

MIAMI

Players: There’s no doubt that Bam and Tyler Herro would be off the table. There’s no point in trading for Durant as a win-now move if you let one of two go. Once you get past those two, there isn’t anything worth much on Miami’s roster. Wiggins? Duncan Robinson? Davion Mitchell? Jaquez? Jovic? Rozier? Kel’el Ware? I don’t see any of those players exciting the Suns front office. Ware is a talented young big who might interest the Suns as a future prospect with some current value on the court.

Picks: This year’s #20 pick. 2029 1st, 2030 1st. Not a particularly impressive collection of tradeable draft assets.

Possible Deal: I won’t even bother because I don’t see a realistic trade that would interest the Suns. So I don’t view Miami as a true competitive for Durant.

I don't know Lip, Ware seems like the most enticing option of all the young guys on rookie deals any of these teams could offer up, including Minnesota. The reason I say that is because unlike Dillingham, he was actually a regular part of Miami's rotation last year and produced quite well for a rookie big man. So he offers both proven help now at Center for Phoenix AND he's got a lot of upside left on a rookie deal. Of course Miami may not be willing to part with him for the same reason!

Ware is even more proven than Shannon IMO. By the way, Shannon turns 25 this July. I mean, that dude is about as old as you can get for someone that just barely got their feet wet as a rookie. I love TSJ, but as a trade asset I'd say Ware is far more valuable.

[FNG]

I also don't think Houston regards Green as untouchable, and that the Suns might value him more than Houston. He's a flashy player, but not an effective one IMO...just the kind of guy the Suns might want.

[KG4Ever]

That’s a nice insight, FNG. I hope you’re right.

After watching OKC and Indiana a lot through the playoffs I can see even more clearly how the Wolves can be a really special championship contending team in a couple seasons when Ant and Jaden will just be wintering the prime years of their careers and for many years thereafter. When you combine those two guys with Naz and also with TSJ, Dilly and Clark you have a tremendously athletic, fast, aggressive and also skilled group of players who would be a nightmare for opposing defenses and offenses. Interestingly, most of the best highlights of Dilly and TSJ are with Jaden and/or Ant on the floor. The fit is so perfect.

Like you, given our lack of picks going forward, including no picks at all in 2027, I also hate to give up our picks this year. This looks like one of the better drafts for talented bigs, which is what we need with Rudy getting older and possibly being traded. I’d love to add a defensive big like Thomas Sorber, Kalkbrenner, Berlinger or Raynard who can also do other things Rudy can’t. But alas, I don’t see a deal getting done without giving up at least our #17 unless we also include Dilly, TSJ or Clark.

FNG Connelly has a legit track record of moving his guys that he drafted. He LOVES Vanderbilt and traded him twice. He also traded Beasley Twice so he had attachment to both of those players in the Gobert deal. In the Aaron Gordon deal he traded RJ Hampton a guy he had drafted a few months earlier. He traded Walker Kessler in the Gobert deal. That's just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Connelly is not afraid to move players and that's a little maddening but I think it's one of the positives about him.

Some good points, monster, and some evidence that it wouldn't be surprising if he moved Shannon. But I'll push back a little as evidence that he's not likely to move Rob. None of the guys TC traded were lottery picks, but rather late first rounders. Heck, Beasley was drafted after Juancho! Further, I don't think he ever had an attachment to Kessler...I think he was drafted on behalf of Utah because a Gobert trade was already in the works. And technically he didn't draft Hampton...he was drafted by the Bucks (but maybe he was drafted on behalf of Denver, just like Kessler was for Utah). Rob is an entirely different story in that he was a lottery pick that TC gave up assets to get...he has to be far more invested in Rob than any of those other guys, and that's why I see it as unlikely he moves him, even for Durant. But my view could be influenced by wishful thinking too, as I'm pretty high on Rob's potential.

"None of the guys TC traded were lottery picks"? Huh? Wasn't KAT the number one pick? Wasn't DLO the second pick? Keyonte George was barely out of the lottery at 16. There is a good likelihood that TC has traded away future picks that will become lottery picks, especially the two picks used for Dilly.

[FNG]

Context matters, and if you had read the dialogue between the people involved in the discussion, you may have noticed that it centered around TCs attachment to players HE had drafted. My sources tell me he didn’t draft KAT or DLo, so they are irrelevant to the conversation you inserted yourself into.

[Monster]

I also don't think Houston regards Green as untouchable, and that the Suns might value him more than Houston. He's a flashy player, but not an effective one IMO...just the kind of guy the Suns might want.

FNG I get what you are saying but other than ownership it's a totally new group making the decisions now. Until a couple weeks ago I didn't even know that the GM and their new head coach even existed so idk if we know what they will want or not want.

[Monster]

That’s a nice insight, FNG. I hope you’re right.

After watching OKC and Indiana a lot through the playoffs I can see even more clearly how the Wolves can be a really special championship contending team in a couple seasons when Ant and Jaden will just be wintering the prime years of their careers and for many years thereafter. When you combine those two guys with Naz and also with TSJ, Dilly and Clark you have a tremendously athletic, fast, aggressive and also skilled group of players who would be a nightmare for opposing defenses and offenses. Interestingly, most of the best highlights of Dilly and TSJ are with Jaden and/or Ant on the floor. The fit is so perfect.

Like you, given our lack of picks going forward, including no picks at all in 2027, I also hate to give up our picks this year. This looks like one of the better drafts for talented bigs, which is what we need with Rudy getting older and possibly being traded. I’d love to add a defensive big like Thomas Sorber, Kalkbrenner, Berlinger or Raynard who can also do other things Rudy can’t. But alas, I don’t see a deal getting done without giving up at least our #17 unless we also include Dilly, TSJ or Clark.

FNG Connelly has a legit track record of moving his guys that he drafted. He LOVES Vanderbilt and traded him twice. He also traded Beasley Twice so he had attachment to both of those players in the Gobert deal. In the Aaron Gordon deal he traded RJ Hampton a guy he had drafted a few months earlier. He traded Walker Kessler in the Gobert deal. That's just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Connelly is not afraid to move players and that's a little maddening but I think it's one of the positives about him.

Some good points, monster, and some evidence that it wouldn't be surprising if he moved Shannon. But I'll push back a little as evidence that he's not likely to move Rob. None of the guys TC traded were lottery picks, but rather late first rounders. Heck, Beasley was drafted after Juancho! Further, I don't think he ever had an attachment to Kessler...I think he was drafted on behalf of Utah because a Gobert trade was already in the works. And technically he didn't draft Hampton...he was drafted by the Bucks (but maybe he was drafted on behalf of Denver, just like Kessler was for Utah). Rob is an entirely different story in that he was a lottery pick that TC gave up assets to get...he has to be far more invested in Rob than any of those other guys, and that's why I see it as unlikely he moves him, even for Durant. But my view could be influenced by wishful thinking too, as I'm pretty high on Rob's potential.

FWIW Hampton was acquired in a draft day deal and he was arguably another guy that fell to Connelly and he grabbed him. Hampton coming out of HS was a much higher thought of prospect than where he was drafted after playing a year professionally and was quite young. Heck he is still only 24 now! You make a good point that Dillingham was a lottery pick but I still don't know if he is a guy that Connelly would basically not put in a deal. The question would be if he did then what is his long term plan for PG because Dillingham was exactly that when they drafted him. I think we have plenty of evidence to say that Connelly is pretty unpredictable. If you believe that Kessler was drafted for Utah (I don't) than that gives even more evidence to wait back and see what he does.

[FNG]

I also don't think Houston regards Green as untouchable, and that the Suns might value him more than Houston. He's a flashy player, but not an effective one IMO...just the kind of guy the Suns might want.

FNG I get what you are saying but other than ownership it's a totally new group making the decisions now. Until a couple weeks ago I didn't even know that the GM and their new head coach even existed so idk if we know what they will want or not want.

That's true, Monster...honestly, without looking it up, I can't even name the Suns' POBO and coach. My sense is though (and maybe I'm wrong) that Mat Ishbia is a very involved kind of owner, and might like an exciting (but not necessarily effective) player like Green. But who knows. One thing I'm certain of though is that both the Rocket's brass and the fan base have lost patience with Green. His flame out in the playoffs this year might have been the last straw. I think Houston wants to move him.

[Crazysauce]

https://x.com/VikesCentral/status/19336 ... sI_aw&s=19

Apparently grok says the deal is done already.

Phx gets Gobert Donte and Rob and 2027 1st and 2029 1st.

We get Durant and Ryan Dunn.

Just curious when those odds changed in vegas?

[FNG]

https://x.com/VikesCentral/status/19336 ... sI_aw&s=19

Apparently grok says the deal is done already.

Phx gets Gobert Donte and Rob and 2027 1st and 2029 1st.

We get Durant and Ryan Dunn.

Just curious when those odds changed in vegas?

I would not have liked this deal, but fortunately looks like a big swing and a miss by grok. First of all, we don't have our 2027 pick. And second, do the salaries even work? Durant and Dunn (who does nothing for me) make $58 million.

Anyway, I would have hated this deal because it would have left us with Naz/Luka at center, and Mike/? at PG, while also further depleting draft capital.