The Kevin Durant Problem

[ShelC]

Who's a better point guard? Devin Booker or Jalen Brunson? Devin Booker or Derrick White? Devin Booker or Jamal Murray?

[ShelC]

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.

You keep throwing out assist stats tho. Best to agree to disagree on this one.

[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.

You keep throwing out assist stats tho. Best to agree to disagree on this one.

Because it is a huge part of the job. I also threw out some ball gravity stats. Drawing two to the ball is a huge benefit to the offense and Booker is elite at it.

[Split T]

Who's a better point guard? Devin Booker or Jalen Brunson? Devin Booker or Derrick White? Devin Booker or Jamal Murray?

Brunson, Booker, Murray, White is how I’d rank those.

It’s weird to me you think Murray and White are pg if you don’t think Booker is.

[SunsRIt]

Didn’t KAT play at Kentucky with Booker? There may be something to that.

[Split T]

Ya they are close. KAT would make for a great offensive fit…but the defense would not be good.

[Carno]

D'Angelo Russell is an upcoming free agent. Bring him on! Re-unite Book, KAT, and D-Lo! What could go wrong?

[Split T]

Ok who says no?

Houston gets KD and Royce

Sacramento gets Jalen Green, Tari Eason, Bradley Beal, 2027/2028/2029 Suns 1sts

Suns get Sabonis, LaVine, Smith Jr


Booker/Lavine/Dunn/Sabonis/Smith Jr
Gillespie/Allen/Oso/Richards

Add the 29th pick, maybe Cody Martin, and some free agents. Not bad.

[Mori Chu]

That's an interesting trade and a lot of talent coming back. But I just want my picks!! Seeing them go out in trade, but go to another team and not us, stings me a little too much.

Also I think maybe Houston says no? They are giving up a lot to get KD there. IMO Sacramento says a loud "YES" before you even finish speaking the trade details.

[TOO]

Ok who says no?

Houston gets KD and Royce

Sacramento gets Jalen Green, Tari Eason, Bradley Beal, 2027/2028/2029 Suns 1sts

Suns get Sabonis, LaVine, Smith Jr


Booker/Lavine/Dunn/Sabonis/Smith Jr
Gillespie/Allen/Oso/Richards

Add the 29th pick, maybe Cody Martin, and some free agents. Not bad.

Sabonis and Lavine are still both atrocious defenders. I love Sabonis, but I feel like this does zero to solve the defense. I like Smith but would prefer Eason

[ShelC]

Yea I like both players but don't want them on my team. Sabonis can't seem to find a position.

I don't think we're getting Eason now. i don't know that Smith will ever be an effective #2 to Book but I like his defensive versatility. We'll also need as many picks back as we can get because those will be moved in any Beal trade most likely.

Rockets fans seem to think we're getting FVV and Whitmore. I don't know why FVV would be moved because you'd think the Rockets would want that kind of veteran PG with title experience on the floor for a legit run. Smith should be more expendable. Maybe we can get Reed.

[BigLewy]

I think any KD-Houston trade will ultimately be something along the lines of Green, Smith, Eason or Whitmore and 2 of our picks back. I actually wouldn't mind that, as we'd get much younger/more athletic. Then move off of Royce and/or Grayson for a lower-salaried big and whatever draft compensation you can get.

[Split T]

That's an interesting trade and a lot of talent coming back. But I just want my picks!! Seeing them go out in trade, but go to another team and not us, stings me a little too much.

Also I think maybe Houston says no? They are giving up a lot to get KD there. IMO Sacramento says a loud "YES" before you even finish speaking the trade details.

I agree Houston is probably the toughest one to get on board.

Are you team trade Book? I can’t remember. It doesn’t make sense to me to trade for our picks and just keep Booker. It’s kinda one or the other for me.

[Split T]

Ok who says no?

Houston gets KD and Royce

Sacramento gets Jalen Green, Tari Eason, Bradley Beal, 2027/2028/2029 Suns 1sts

Suns get Sabonis, LaVine, Smith Jr


Booker/Lavine/Dunn/Sabonis/Smith Jr
Gillespie/Allen/Oso/Richards

Add the 29th pick, maybe Cody Martin, and some free agents. Not bad.

Sabonis and Lavine are still both atrocious defenders. I love Sabonis, but I feel like this does zero to solve the defense. I like Smith but would prefer Eason

Ya the trade isn’t meant to help the defense. It’s to maximize the offense…though I do think Smith(or Eason) is the type of player you want to put next to Sabonis. I would also prefer Eason, but I assume Sacramento would too…you gotta convince them to say yes.

[TOO]

Ok who says no?

Houston gets KD and Royce

Sacramento gets Jalen Green, Tari Eason, Bradley Beal, 2027/2028/2029 Suns 1sts

Suns get Sabonis, LaVine, Smith Jr


Booker/Lavine/Dunn/Sabonis/Smith Jr
Gillespie/Allen/Oso/Richards

Add the 29th pick, maybe Cody Martin, and some free agents. Not bad.

Sabonis and Lavine are still both atrocious defenders. I love Sabonis, but I feel like this does zero to solve the defense. I like Smith but would prefer Eason

Ya the trade isn’t meant to help the defense. It’s to maximize the offense…though I do think Smith(or Eason) is the type of player you want to put next to Sabonis. I would also prefer Eason, but I assume Sacramento would too…you gotta convince them to say yes.

Defense is the reason this team stinks, adding bad defens at different positions just sets you up for the same problem we have now. He KD is gonna be so tricky, I don't see how it ends well.

[SunsRIt]

Ok who says no?

Houston gets KD and Royce

Sacramento gets Jalen Green, Tari Eason, Bradley Beal, 2027/2028/2029 Suns 1sts

Suns get Sabonis, LaVine, Smith Jr


Booker/Lavine/Dunn/Sabonis/Smith Jr
Gillespie/Allen/Oso/Richards

Add the 29th pick, maybe Cody Martin, and some free agents. Not bad.

Sabonis and Lavine are still both atrocious defenders. I love Sabonis, but I feel like this does zero to solve the defense. I like Smith but would prefer Eason

Ya the trade isn’t meant to help the defense. It’s to maximize the offense…though I do think Smith(or Eason) is the type of player you want to put next to Sabonis. I would also prefer Eason, but I assume Sacramento would too…you gotta convince them to say yes.

Defense is the reason this team stinks, adding bad defens at different positions just sets you up for the same problem we have now. He KD is gonna be so tricky, I don't see how it ends well.

Defense is a reason, but not the only reason. I have seen many games where the points off turnovers for the other team is more than the difference in the game.

[Split T]

Sure, but this is really changing the whole identity of the team. Truthfully you aren’t going to build a true contender next year…the hope is you can create a top 5 offense, open the window further(Sabonis is younger) and hope to fix the defense later. You can try to fix the defense instead…but you might end up ruining the offense…I don’t think there’s a way to fix both.

[The Bobster]

Suns record with and without -

Durant - 33-29 with, 2-14 without
Booker - 34-38 with, 1-5 without
Beal - 21-29 with, 14-14 without
Allen - 28-32 with, 7-11 without
O'Neale - 32-39 with, 3-4 without
Jones - 35-42 with, 0-1 without

[Uncle_Gene]

I feel bad for Tyus Jones. He sacrificed a lot of money, came to Phoenix and then loses his starting job to a player on a two-way contract.

[TOO]

I feel bad for Tyus Jones. He sacrificed a lot of money, came to Phoenix and then loses his starting job to a player on a two-way contract.

Maybe he shouldn't be a pylon on defense.