I just hope we have a Plan B that isn't "run it back" or "Internal development." I get that we have until the trade deadline to put together our final roster, but there's very recent history (like, the last 2 seasons) of a strong regular season masking playoff deficiencies.
I’m fine with the Front Office holding his ground. Gutting the team to become another Top Heavy team is not a clear improvement or a better plan than "run it back" or "Internal development”. In fact, unless you are the 400 million Warriors, it’s looking more and more like a recipe for disaster that not even the coveted-FA-destination Lakers were capable to pull it off. And Lacob is already cringing on the perspective of a $500 million price tag coming their way.
Of course it will be underwhelming, but even the Celtics went through a similar development of overachievement that lead them to believe they have arrived, then underachieving to a degree were the media pundits started circling like vultures talking about breaking them up, and now they are on Top again coming from a Finals appearance.
CP3’s age is hanging over our heads, but not sure bringing KD “at any cost” would do the trick. Jeremy G’s Ayton coming to fruition could be just what we need with only requiring and a Patty Mills trade without losing our depth.
I wouldn't say "right now", but I believe that'll be what it takes from the Suns end and will also likely need other teams to balk at giving up much due to Durant's disinterest in playing for their team.
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I am kind of worried that trading for KD would mean bringing in a guy who has no reservations about going to the owner and demanding that the coach and GM be fired. I like Coach Monty and James Jones and wouldn't want Sarver to hypothetically fire them if KD told him to do so. And I don't like players trying to make such demands of their owners. KD is amazingly talented, but after the city put a hand-picked team around him to make him happy, now he's trying to force them to fire everyone after it didn't quickly lead to a title. I worry about taking on a player who's willing to do such a thing.
We wouldn't even be having this conversation if it weren't for Monty Williams. I don't think there's any need to worry about KD and him.
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Would you be willing to bet your job as GM and give up your good, young players to trade for a 34 year old on likely his last contract when he tells you directly he doesn't want to play for you? I mean he is doing this to a Brooklyn team that he chose just a short time ago, and just gave him a new max contract. Why would you think he wouldn't do this to you immediately?
It's actually the first time he's ever asked out. Otherwise, he fulfilled all of his contracts. I may be naive, but I don't see him requesting a trade to Phoenix and then a trade from Phoenix soon after.
Ultimately, I would do it because the name of the game is winning a championship and if we can keep one of our key wings (even Jae), then a CP/Book/Jae/KD/Ayton lineup gives us a better chance of that than a lineup with Mikal and Cam. We're also not giving up all of our young players. We just locked in our only actual good young player for 4 years.
Sorry, that hypothetical was for Boston. I should have quoted Wally's post on it.
Depends what the trade is, but I think they should as well.
I guess then my question stands. Why would you trade so much for a player that specifically said he doesn't want to play for you, and has just shown he is willing to publicly go to the owner and say "trade me" after just signing a new max contract?
I’m so tired of all this back and forth. It’s ridiculous. We have hacks posting “breaking news” that don’t know anything about anything. And we have a 50 page thread that says nothing different from page 1. What a colossal waste of time and energy.
For all except one fanbase, every year is a colossal waste of time, energy and money. But we keep on doing it anyway, so let’s go for a 100 pages thread before all is said and done!!!
Hello All! Fun to see so many of the OGs still here!!
Doesn't the simplest thing seem like the below, if we're willing to give up Mikal and Cam? I've seen very little about something like this....has Brooklyn or Utah said no to this? Or Suns won't do it?? We need to make it happen - swing for the fences. 4 years of KD and Booker is not something to pass up!
Would you be willing to bet your job as GM and give up your good, young players to trade for a 34 year old on likely his last contract when he tells you directly he doesn't want to play for you? I mean he is doing this to a Brooklyn team that he chose just a short time ago, and just gave him a new max contract. Why would you think he wouldn't do this to you immediately?
It's actually the first time he's ever asked out. Otherwise, he fulfilled all of his contracts. I may be naive, but I don't see him requesting a trade to Phoenix and then a trade from Phoenix soon after.
Ultimately, I would do it because the name of the game is winning a championship and if we can keep one of our key wings (even Jae), then a CP/Book/Jae/KD/Ayton lineup gives us a better chance of that than a lineup with Mikal and Cam. We're also not giving up all of our young players. We just locked in our only actual good young player for 4 years.
Sorry, that hypothetical was for Boston. I should have quoted Wally's post on it.
Depends what the trade is, but I think they should as well.
I guess then my question stands. Why would you trade so much for a player that specifically said he doesn't want to play for you, and has just shown he is willing to publicly go to the owner and say "trade me" after just signing a new max contract?
Basically, Durant is being an asshole and betraying a team that invested heavily in him, but if this behavior ends up bringing the Suns a championship in the next year or two, I’ll accept it.
“Are you crazy?! You think I’m going to go for seven years and try to get there? You enjoy the 2030 draft picks that we have holding? I want to try to see the game today.” — Ish 3/13/25
Hello All! Fun to see so many of the OGs still here!!
Doesn't the simplest thing seem like the below, if we're willing to give up Mikal and Cam? I've seen very little about something like this....has Brooklyn or Utah said no to this? Or Suns won't do it?? We need to make it happen - swing for the fences. 4 years of KD and Booker is not something to pass up!
Would you be willing to bet your job as GM and give up your good, young players to trade for a 34 year old on likely his last contract when he tells you directly he doesn't want to play for you? I mean he is doing this to a Brooklyn team that he chose just a short time ago, and just gave him a new max contract. Why would you think he wouldn't do this to you immediately?
It's actually the first time he's ever asked out. Otherwise, he fulfilled all of his contracts. I may be naive, but I don't see him requesting a trade to Phoenix and then a trade from Phoenix soon after.
Ultimately, I would do it because the name of the game is winning a championship and if we can keep one of our key wings (even Jae), then a CP/Book/Jae/KD/Ayton lineup gives us a better chance of that than a lineup with Mikal and Cam. We're also not giving up all of our young players. We just locked in our only actual good young player for 4 years.
Sorry, that hypothetical was for Boston. I should have quoted Wally's post on it.
Depends what the trade is, but I think they should as well.
I guess then my question stands. Why would you trade so much for a player that specifically said he doesn't want to play for you, and has just shown he is willing to publicly go to the owner and say "trade me" after just signing a new max contract?
Because he's a top 3 player in the league, is underpaid on his max contract and increases your chances of winning a title.
It's actually the first time he's ever asked out. Otherwise, he fulfilled all of his contracts. I may be naive, but I don't see him requesting a trade to Phoenix and then a trade from Phoenix soon after.
Ultimately, I would do it because the name of the game is winning a championship and if we can keep one of our key wings (even Jae), then a CP/Book/Jae/KD/Ayton lineup gives us a better chance of that than a lineup with Mikal and Cam. We're also not giving up all of our young players. We just locked in our only actual good young player for 4 years.
Sorry, that hypothetical was for Boston. I should have quoted Wally's post on it.
Depends what the trade is, but I think they should as well.
I guess then my question stands. Why would you trade so much for a player that specifically said he doesn't want to play for you, and has just shown he is willing to publicly go to the owner and say "trade me" after just signing a new max contract?
Because he's a top 3 player in the league, is underpaid on his max contract and increases your chances of winning a title.
It's actually the first time he's ever asked out. Otherwise, he fulfilled all of his contracts. I may be naive, but I don't see him requesting a trade to Phoenix and then a trade from Phoenix soon after.
Ultimately, I would do it because the name of the game is winning a championship and if we can keep one of our key wings (even Jae), then a CP/Book/Jae/KD/Ayton lineup gives us a better chance of that than a lineup with Mikal and Cam. We're also not giving up all of our young players. We just locked in our only actual good young player for 4 years.
Sorry, that hypothetical was for Boston. I should have quoted Wally's post on it.
Depends what the trade is, but I think they should as well.
I guess then my question stands. Why would you trade so much for a player that specifically said he doesn't want to play for you, and has just shown he is willing to publicly go to the owner and say "trade me" after just signing a new max contract?
Basically, Durant is being an asshole and betraying a team that invested heavily in him, but if this behavior ends up bringing the Suns a championship in the next year or two, I’ll accept it.
It's actually the first time he's ever asked out. Otherwise, he fulfilled all of his contracts. I may be naive, but I don't see him requesting a trade to Phoenix and then a trade from Phoenix soon after.
Ultimately, I would do it because the name of the game is winning a championship and if we can keep one of our key wings (even Jae), then a CP/Book/Jae/KD/Ayton lineup gives us a better chance of that than a lineup with Mikal and Cam. We're also not giving up all of our young players. We just locked in our only actual good young player for 4 years.
Sorry, that hypothetical was for Boston. I should have quoted Wally's post on it.
Depends what the trade is, but I think they should as well.
I guess then my question stands. Why would you trade so much for a player that specifically said he doesn't want to play for you, and has just shown he is willing to publicly go to the owner and say "trade me" after just signing a new max contract?
Basically, Durant is being an asshole and betraying a team that invested heavily in him, but if this behavior ends up bringing the Suns a championship in the next year or two, I’ll accept it.
Let’s also remember that Brooklyn was nothing before Durant chose them. Sometimes I feel the loyalty stuff doesn’t get viewed equally from both sides. Ya Brooklyn paid KD and brought in his friends, but basically any team in the league would’ve done that. KD re-upped with them and they decided they didn’t want his friends anymore(can’t blame Brooklyn there), but I don’t blame KD for not wanting to be there anymore either. Honestly I think Brooklyn would love to trade KD, getting a haul for him is the best thing they could do for that franchise, they are just using him as an asset now and to me any loyalty from either party is out the window.
That's what I was always afraid of...KD changes his mind too easily. If he wants to play in Boston or Philly, it's over. We can't compete with their offers.
"I'm a Deandre Ayton guy."--Al McCoy, September 21, 2022.
So all I can assume is that nobody really has much of an idea where he'll end up.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
