The Kevin Durant Problem

[Kryptonic]

How'd that work for Nico not shopping for a better deal? I really don't think we're that stupid.

[Split T]

I would be absolutely shocked if the #2 pick was even in the discussion. Spurs would just say no…they aren’t some dumb organization. Dylan Harper is an awesome prospect, they aren’t trading him for a 37 year old KD. That’s a better asset than anything we gave up for KD.

The spurs are not desperate, they don’t need KD. They are only trading for him if it makes sense. By all means keep looking for other deals, but the spurs can make it work without trading Castle and Harper. They are a good trade partner…

Vassell/14 are a given in my opinion. Johnson or Barnes too for salary. The maybe’s are Sochan and an additional 1st. I want both and I’m not doing the trade without one of them…the unprotected ‘27 Hawks pick would be my first choice. Spurs have a lot of picks.

[wpmiller42]

It sounds like the problem is that they are letting Durant dictate his destination once again.

This is one time when utilizing KD and some back channel communication could work out really well for us. You really want to play for SA? Make that clear that if it's between trading Castle or the #2 pick, you want to play with Castle. Want to play for Houston? Great, we can either have our picks back or Sengun. KD wants to play with who he wants to play with, not the rookies that may or may not get drafted wherever. I really hope our front office holds strong, because we can settle and be mediocre, or we can play a bit of hardball and really accelerate our rebuild.

[Mori Chu]

I don't think we are getting the #2 pick. But I would at least hold out for an additional pick, a second 1st in a future year. That's at least a decent deal. And it would be a deal you could show to Houston and say, hey, you have to beat this if you want KD; we aren't giving him to you for #10 and garbage like Jalen Green.

[SunsRIt]

Can you imagine how long the Spurs will be with both KD and Wemby?

[TOO]

Can you imagine how long the Spurs will be with both KD and Wemby?

Sign Bol, Boucher, and draft Ace Bailey, just go all in on skinny hilarity.

[Split T]

At one point do these teams stop?

I’m going to assume the first 3 are baseline offers and I’ll go in order at what each team would be willing to include.

Spurs:
1. Vassell
2. Johnson or Barnes
3. #14
4. Sochan
5. Non Hawks future 1st
6. Hawks future 1st
7. Stephon Castle
8. #2

Rockets:

1. Green
2. Smith Jr
3. #10
4. Cam Whitmore
5. Our 2027 1st
6. Our 2029 1st
7. Reed Sheppard
8. Tari Eason

My hope is we get to #5 on one of those. 2 1sts, 2 decent players/prospects and 1 salary filler…but I feel like we end up having to take either 4 or 5 and not both. Also I do think the rockets assets 1-6 are better. They won’t offer all of that, but if they do, spurs can’t really beat it unless they offer castle or #2. I would be shocked if it got that far though.

[TOO]

My biggest issue with both of these is trading KD for a package led by a SG is down right insane.

[Split T]

I know I put them at #1, but I wouldn’t consider them leading the package…especially not Jalen Green. Green is just the salary that has to be included. Literally #2-8 is all better than Green.

Vassell I guess you could say is leading the package, but he’s at least pretty good. I would still look into flipping him(and definitely Green) elsewhere, but I’m also not as concerned about fit next year.

[TOO]

I want Sochan in any package from SA for sure, big fan of that kid.

[Wally_West]

Two 3 team trade



Spurs - KD

Grizzlies- Vassell, Sochan, 29th pick from Phoenix


Suns- Jaren Jackson Jr, Keldon Johnson, Scottie Pippen Jr, 14th pick, three 2nds from SA


Pippen jr- Book- K. Johnson(not a pedophile), Jaren Jackson Jr, Oso

Colin Gillespie, 14th pick(probably Jase Richardson smh), Dunn, Richards.

Or

Spurs- KD

Magic: Devin Vassell

Suns: Keldon Jonson, Sochan, KCP, Goga Bitazde, 14th pick, 16th, three 2nds from SA

[Split T]

I saw one that had us getting Vassell/Barnes/14 from Spurs while routing Sochan and 3 2nds to Charlotte for Mark Williams…that was interesting to me.

Vassell is still an odd fit, but it gets you a starting 5, 2 playable wings, and a lottery pick. I’d prefer just taking the 2027 unprotected hawks pick though. I think we could make a deal to get a C independently. Gafford seems very available.

[Gladiator]

I want Sochan in any package from SA for sure, big fan of that kid.

I like Sochan too but if we assume Dunn is a big part of our plans and we aren’t getting a shooting center, there would be a big query in outside shooting in many of our line ups (especially given Booker’s 3 point shooting isn’t his primary strength).

[Mori Chu]

These trades really aren't that impressive-looking so far. Everybody seems to be holding on tight to their best picks and players. I am really worried that our bozo owner and his new under-experienced GM are going to give away KD for a half-eaten bag of magic beans.

I really want them to prioritize picks back. If we get back one of these puu-puu platters with an SG as the headline player, and a bloated contract to make the numbers work, and one mediocre pick, I'm going to go drink bleach. We simply cannot do that. If that's the best that is out there, just keep KD for now and enjoy his presence as he ages into the end of his career. I don't want that, but it's better than letting teams fleece us. And maybe somebody gets desperate by the deadline next year.

I hope they are working the phones and thinking outside the box. Call Atlanta and see if you can get Trae Young. Call the Warriors, tell them you will take their shitty Kuminga / ballast package if they give you a bunch of their future 1sts. Call Philly and get that #3 and everything else you can get.

[Carno]

The Suns want players, not picks. If they can pull it off, I'm expecting a 3-way trade maybe with Utah to turn picks and fodder into someone like Markkanen.

[TOO]

I want Sochan in any package from SA for sure, big fan of that kid.

I like Sochan too but if we assume Dunn is a big part of our plans and we aren’t getting a shooting center, there would be a big query in outside shooting in many of our line ups (especially given Booker’s 3 point shooting isn’t his primary strength).

Sochan offers so much more than Dunn that id trade Dunn if it came down to choosing between them. Sochan and his ability to handle the ball and defend 1-4 is awesome. He's Draymond lite

[JeremyG]

These trades really aren't that impressive-looking so far. Everybody seems to be holding on tight to their best picks and players. I am really worried that our bozo owner and his new under-experienced GM are going to give away KD for a half-eaten bag of magic beans.

I really want them to prioritize picks back. If we get back one of these puu-puu platters with an SG as the headline player, and a bloated contract to make the numbers work, and one mediocre pick, I'm going to go drink bleach. We simply cannot do that. If that's the best that is out there, just keep KD for now and enjoy his presence as he ages into the end of his career. I don't want that, but it's better than letting teams fleece us. And maybe somebody gets desperate by the deadline next year.

I hope they are working the phones and thinking outside the box. Call Atlanta and see if you can get Trae Young. Call the Warriors, tell them you will take their shitty Kuminga / ballast package if they give you a bunch of their future 1sts. Call Philly and get that #3 and everything else you can get.

Yes, I even said I would trade Durant for Embiid straight up if we’re refusing to rebuild. But if we could get #3 for taking on Paul George (or Embiid), I would definitely do it.

[Superbone]

I want Sochan in any package from SA for sure, big fan of that kid.

I like Sochan too but if we assume Dunn is a big part of our plans and we aren’t getting a shooting center, there would be a big query in outside shooting in many of our line ups (especially given Booker’s 3 point shooting isn’t his primary strength).

Sochan offers so much more than Dunn that id trade Dunn if it came down to choosing between them. Sochan and his ability to handle the ball and defend 1-4 is awesome. He's Draymond lite

Shut yo mouth!

[Kryptonic]

[Superbone]

These trades really aren't that impressive-looking so far. Everybody seems to be holding on tight to their best picks and players. I am really worried that our bozo owner and his new under-experienced GM are going to give away KD for a half-eaten bag of magic beans.

I really want them to prioritize picks back. If we get back one of these puu-puu platters with an SG as the headline player, and a bloated contract to make the numbers work, and one mediocre pick, I'm going to go drink bleach. We simply cannot do that. If that's the best that is out there, just keep KD for now and enjoy his presence as he ages into the end of his career. I don't want that, but it's better than letting teams fleece us. And maybe somebody gets desperate by the deadline next year.

I hope they are working the phones and thinking outside the box. Call Atlanta and see if you can get Trae Young. Call the Warriors, tell them you will take their shitty Kuminga / ballast package if they give you a bunch of their future 1sts. Call Philly and get that #3 and everything else you can get.

Yes, I even said I would trade Durant for Embiid straight up if we’re refusing to rebuild. But if we could get #3 for taking on Paul George (or Embiid), I would definitely do it.

I don't like either of your guys proposals. And we're not hanging on to KD. He does nothing for us. I'd rather watch a couple average players that give it their all and buy into the new team concept.