The Kevin Durant Problem

[Wally_West]

…I still want to keep KD on the team.

*runs away*

[TOO]

…I still want to keep KD on the team.

*runs away*

Talent wise absolutely, but there isn't a way to build a viable NBA roster with him, Booker and Beal destroying the cap.

[Superbone]

…I still want to keep KD on the team.

*runs away*

Dang it! Quit running. My tomatoes missed you! So, you are enjoying these last two seasons, eh? Interesting. Maybe you are a masochist.

[Wally_West]

…I still want to keep KD on the team.

*runs away*

Dang it! Quit running. My tomatoes missed you! So, you are enjoying these last two seasons, eh? Interesting. Maybe you are a masochist.

No but he’s never been the problem in my eyes. The problems of the last two years has been because of garbage roster construction done by this front office. Building around KD and Book shouldn’t have been that fuckin hard. Size, defense and skill. Every move since the KD trade has been in the opposite of that. You see it now. The Camara trade should honestly land everyone in the front office in jail.

[The Bobster]

Durant trade proposals from today's ESPN.com -

Mavericks get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, Dereck Lively II, 2025 first-round pick (via Dallas)

Rockets get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Jock Landale, 2025 and 2027 first-round picks (via Phoenix; the 2025 first is conveyed after the May draft lottery)

Heat get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Nikola Jovic, Andrew Wiggins, 2025 first-round pick (via Golden State), 2030 first-round pick (via Miami), 2026 second-round pick (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Nets get: Duncan Robinson, Keshad Johnson, 2029 first-round swap (top-4 protected), 2031 first-round swap (top-4 protected), 2031 second-round pick (via better of Indiana and Miami)

Knicks get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson

[ShelC]

The Knicks could be a darkhorse if they fall flat in the playoffs. I think they'd like to get off that OG contract sooner than later but I wouldn't want him or Mitch. Too risky with injuries and OG isn't a reliable scorer. He'd be a Tobias Harris type of 4/3, plus we wouldn't be getting picks.

The Mavs and Rockets deals are mostly in line with what we've talked about here. I'd want Jabari or Eason back tho in the deal and hold firm on that.

With the Heat, I'd need Ware in the deal.

Also saw some talk about the Wolves and Randle but not sure it's doable cap-wise.

[Wally_West]

…I still want to keep KD on the team.

*runs away*

Talent wise absolutely, but there isn't a way to build a viable NBA roster with him, Booker and Beal destroying the cap.

I get it the reasons why. For me, I’d prefer to just purge this Front office and bring in an actual GM to build this roster. I still think there’s moves to make, Tyus, Grayson, Royce- two of those rotation spots need to be upgraded to a defensive wing and a big.

Trading Grayson solves one of them. Having 2 picks in next draft is nice. Dunn taking the next step. I see a path where we can make this a good team still. But I know I’m in the minority or maybe the only guy who believes that lol.

Book, KD, Dunn, Richards, Bol, Gilly is who’d I like to keep. Everyone else, I’m either trying trading to trade or I’m okay trading in the right deal.

[The Bobster]

I'd consider offers for both Durant and Booker as well, because I doubt Beal is going anywhere. Dunn, Richards and Gillespe can stay, everybody else can go.

[Cap]

Has Oso fallen out of favor?

[Wally_West]

I like Oso. I definitely want to keep him but i wouldn’t be against trading him. Let’s say to get off Beal, I’d have to add Oso in the deal to do it, id probably do it.

[SunsRIt]

I like Oso. I definitely want to keep him but i wouldn’t be against trading him. Let’s say to get off Beal, I’d have to add Oso in the deal to do it, id probably do it.

Oso needs to be locked in a gym with a good shooting coach all summer. Is Dan D'Antoni available?

[Split T]

Durant trade proposals from today's ESPN.com -

Mavericks get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, Dereck Lively II, 2025 first-round pick (via Dallas)

Rockets get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Jock Landale, 2025 and 2027 first-round picks (via Phoenix; the 2025 first is conveyed after the May draft lottery)

Heat get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Nikola Jovic, Andrew Wiggins, 2025 first-round pick (via Golden State), 2030 first-round pick (via Miami), 2026 second-round pick (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Nets get: Duncan Robinson, Keshad Johnson, 2029 first-round swap (top-4 protected), 2031 first-round swap (top-4 protected), 2031 second-round pick (via better of Indiana and Miami)

Knicks get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson

I like the Mavs one the best…then flip Klay to Orlando for contracts and maybe a pick.

Booker/Beal/Naji/PJ/Lively

It’s nothing special, but could get a play-in spot and at least not drive us crazy each night. You are kinda banking on Lively turning into a high level player though and also needing to find a second star out of nowhere.

The Rockets trade is fine, but I would rather tank if we do that one. Switch out Brooks/Jock for Jalen Green and flip him to Orlando for our 2026 pick back. See if Booker will get on board with a 2 year tank(having our 2026/27 picks makes that possible), and hope we hit in the draft. Beal in 2026 as an expiring could also bring back a disgruntled star.

I don’t like the Heat or Knicks trades. Knicks needs some picks coming back too. Heat needs Ware.

[Superbone]

I just don't get the impression that Ishbia will ever willingly tank.

[Split T]

Ya I don’t think he will either

[TOO]

Devin Booker is in his prime, there is no shot Ishbia tanks, I think he'll make bad deal for the best player he can get from whatever team Durant chooses so he looks like a players first owner. I do not have high hopes unless there are sweeping FO changes beforehand.

[JeremyG]

I do not have high hopes unless there are sweeping FO changes beforehand.

So if Isiah takes over then you will have high hopes?

[TOO]

I do not have high hopes unless there are sweeping FO changes beforehand.

So if Isiah takes over then you will have high hopes?

[Cap]

I do not have high hopes unless there are sweeping FO changes beforehand.

So if Isiah takes over then you will have high hopes?

What if Isiah’s trying to tank? Then will you have high hopes for wins?

[Superbone]

Is it possible this latest series of events could change the narrative of a sure KD trade this summer? What would it take? If we were to win say half of these upcoming gauntlet of top team games, get past the play-in, and played a competitive series with OKC, would that be enough?

[Carno]

It's a good question, and some posters have lamented that the team playing better now increases the likelihood of Durant staying, which they don't want. Personally, I think Durant has his flaws for sure, but Booker and Durant, with the right mix of players, should work. If the current mix of players continue to have success, then the Suns should give this another go, in my opinion. There has to be a path to getting the right players around them though, which has become abundantly clear needs to be high effort, high IQ, defensive minded role players.