The Kevin Durant Problem

[Split T]

The only reason to go with Houston in a Durant trade is if they are willing to give us every single pick of ours that they control.

Why is that the only reason?

I’d gladly take 2 picks, Eason, and Smith.

My reason for going with Houston is they have an abundance of picks and young players.

Houston isn’t giving us all 3 and I really don’t think another team can match a Houston offer.

I just don’t like anything they have to offer, other than getting our picks back. Either way, Ishbia is not going to make a trade for picks and/or young players. He’ll want an established star (or at least semi-star) included.

I agree with this, I think he goes big fish hunting in return.

Probably the best we can hope for is a “star” that is a few levels below Durant but at least 5 years younger.

We are gonna end up with Lauri Markkanen, aren’t we?

[wpmiller42]

Why is that the only reason?

I’d gladly take 2 picks, Eason, and Smith.

My reason for going with Houston is they have an abundance of picks and young players.

Houston isn’t giving us all 3 and I really don’t think another team can match a Houston offer.

I just don’t like anything they have to offer, other than getting our picks back. Either way, Ishbia is not going to make a trade for picks and/or young players. He’ll want an established star (or at least semi-star) included.

I agree with this, I think he goes big fish hunting in return.

Probably the best we can hope for is a “star” that is a few levels below Durant but at least 5 years younger.

We are gonna end up with Lauri Markkanen, aren’t we?

Lauri Markkanen is legit. I wouldn't be sad at all if we were able to get him. But I don't think Ainge is letting him go without some sort of massive overpay.

[Split T]

I like Lauri too, but if we just end up swapping KD for Lauri, did that do anything for us?

The idea would be Utah taking whatever Houston gives us for KD…if we could keep say Eason I could get on board.

KD to Houston
27/29 1sts, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr to Utah
Lauri/Eason to Phoenix


I’d do that…I just think Lauri is a lesser KD that doesn’t change much of what we are. Eason would make it worth it though.

[Mori Chu]

Utah won't want KD. A 38-year-old scorer isn't on their timetable. In general Ainge seems horrible to deal with and just wants to extract draft picks out of everybody he talks to. Under no circumstances do I want Ishbia talking to Ainge; he'll convince us to to give our 2032 through 2050 pick swaps in exchange for taking Beal's contract or some BS like that.

[Split T]

Utah won't want KD. A 38-year-old scorer isn't on their timetable. In general Ainge seems horrible to deal with and just wants to extract draft picks out of everybody he talks to. Under no circumstances do I want Ishbia talking to Ainge; he'll convince us to to give our 2032 through 2050 pick swaps in exchange for taking Beal's contract or some BS like that.

I’m not suggesting KD to Utah. KD would go to Houston.

[JeremyG]

The only reason to go with Houston in a Durant trade is if they are willing to give us every single pick of ours that they control.

Why is that the only reason?

I’d gladly take 2 picks, Eason, and Smith.

My reason for going with Houston is they have an abundance of picks and young players.

Houston isn’t giving us all 3 and I really don’t think another team can match a Houston offer.

I just don’t like anything they have to offer, other than getting our picks back. Either way, Ishbia is not going to make a trade for picks and/or young players. He’ll want an established star (or at least semi-star) included.

I do think you’re right about Ishbia. My fear is we get a nice haul from Houston that we turn around and give it up for a semi-star.

That would be crazy if we got our own picks back only to give them right back.

You don’t like anything Houston has? Smith jr? Eason? Whitmore? Sheppard? What do you like better that other teams have?

I just don’t know if any of them really have All-Star potential. That’s what I would be looking for. But you may be right that they will give us the best overall offer.

[Split T]

I think the only thing I might like better is a Stephon Castle package from the Spurs, but I have my doubts they’d include him.

[ShelC]

I think the Knicks will make a push for KD with OG. I don't think they'd offer KAT but some fans are talking about that kind of deal because they've seen KATs defense for a full season now. Pretty sure we'd make the deal for KAT but we'd have to shore up the 5 spot or maybe he'd be the guy we could pair with Oso.

[Split T]

I don’t think I’d be too excited about OG…I’d need a picks package coming back too and I’m not sure the Knicks have that.

KAT is interesting. I’d do that. You’d need NYK to lose early because they can’t stop anyone. He is tricky to play at the 5.

[England Sun]

KAT at the 4 and Oso, Richards and a an other 5 to be anywhere close to sorting your front court out.
Does KAT do any actual defending…..at all?

[ShelC]

Knicks don't have many good picks left after the Mikal trade and we know Ishbia isn't interested in future picks, tho we'll need some good ones to get off the Beal contract I imagine. So any picks we get would be moved out with Beal. Not sure about the cap but OG and Mitch works which would aling with the "retooling" around Book, at least on paper but OG and Mitch have legit health concerns and I would trust either long term. Plus OG, despite his numbers recently, isn't a true #2 offensive threat we'd need next to Book nor is he a true 4. He and Dunn would be a pretty dynamic combo tho.

I tihnk you could get creative with Oso and KAT cross matching and switch offensively and defensively. Oso in the post, KAT spacing and then use KAT against the bigger centers and Oso against the more mobile 4s defensively.

[Split T]

KAT did pretty good at the 4 in Minny. He’s bad as your primary rim protector though.

OG isn’t a bad player, but he’s not a max guy like he’s being paid. He’s more of an Aaron Gordon. He’d be great on this team between Booker and KD.

Honestly if you end up with OG and Robinson, I think you have to keep Beal. You are going to need some scoring at that point. Book/Beal/Dunn/OG/Robinson. Could be pretty good defensively if Book and Beal just try, but they might struggle to score. You are also going to have 3 of your 5 starters miss a good chunk of the season with injury.

[ShelC]

Book and Beal don't work and won't ever work. Beal needs to go and Book needs a PG next to him because he isn't a PG or primary ballhandler.

[Split T]

Book and Beal don't work and won't ever work. Beal needs to go and Book needs a PG next to him because he isn't a PG or primary ballhandler.

Book and Beal don’t work because of the defense, it’s not an offensive problem.

I also disagree about Book not being a pg. He’s quite good at playing pg. He does need someone to take the scoring load off him and Colin Gillespie isn’t doing that.

[ShelC]

Book and Beal are too redundant in the backcourt to work. And Book notching assists doesn't make him a PG. He doesn't play with pace, doesn't control the game. That's why we've looked better with CG on the floor going and getting the ball and playing fast, getting us into offense quicker and getting Book the ball on the move in his spots where he can either score or draw the defense to kick out and get assists. We need to stop pretending Book can be Harden or Luka. We've tried it, it doesn't play to his strengths.

[Split T]

I do agree he doesn’t play fast enough…but neither did CP3. You don’t have to play with pace to be a pg. I also am not suggesting to play him like Luka or Harden. Ya he’s not a heliocentric ball dominant pg, but he’s quite capable at making all the reads in the pick and roll. He’s still running a lot of the offense with Collin Gillespie out there.

I agree that you get the best out of Booker when you can play him off ball, but moving him off ball for guys that aren’t great shot creators is not a good idea. Why didn’t it work with Tyus Jones? Part of the problem it didn’t work with Beal is they let Beal initiate the offense too much.

Beal needs to play like Grayson Allen at this point. Stand in the corner, shoot 3s, come off screens/pin downs, cut to the basket…Beal is most definitely not a pg and we’ve tried to use him in that role too much alongside Booker.

[ShelC]

I want a guy who's played PG his whole life and knows how to run a team. I don't care if he's 6-1 or 6-8. We need a true PG and leader on the floor to make others better. Tyus is a backup who defers. There's a reason teams know to trap Book and do it successfully which leads to those frustrating TOs. I'm fine with CG, I'd love to see us draft another veteran college PG late in the 1st and I'd be open to bringing CP back for a year.

But sticking with Beal and Grayson and thinking we can use them better is insane. Our guard rotation doesn't work and we've got plenty of proof over the past 2 seasons.

[Split T]

Book doesn’t turn the ball over that much. He has some bad ones at times, but I think that makes people think he’s a high turnover guy…he’s not. He creates tons of scoring opportunities for his teammates..



Yes he needs to be able to handle pressure a bit better, but I don’t know what you want if you think someone who is in the 99th percentile for potential assists and 98th percentile for on ball gravity isn’t able to play pg.

[ShelC]

THEREISMORETOPLAYINGPOINTGUARDTHANJUSTGETTINGASSISTS

Sorry, just don't know any other way to say it at this point.

[Split T]

THEREISMORETOPLAYINGPOINTGUARDTHANJUSTGETTINGASSISTS

Sorry, just don't know any other way to say it at this point.

If that’s all you think I’m saying then there’s no point in continuing the conversation.