The Kevin Durant Problem

[Superbone]

Most NBA fans probably think we're crazy that we want to get rid of future Hall of Famer, Kevin Durant. Heck, probably most casual Suns fans love him. Unfortunately, us die hards see the reality of the situation.

Pros:
Can get a bucket almost any time over almost anybody
Fantastic, highly efficient shooter
Can play great defense when he wants to
He's a good teammate and person

Cons:
Bogs down the offense
Horrible, lazy, momentum changing turnovers
Often lazy on D resulting in wide open dunks and threes from the opposition
Injury prone

Please feel free to add to the lists. Is there anybody here that wants to move forward with KD? As great a player as he is, he seems to be detrimental to team basketball and doesn't seem driven to win at all costs. Seems content to do his thing and whatever happens, happens. I believe he's the final piece to a team (like the Warriors championship teams), not a player to build around and run your offense through. Thoughts?

[Kryptonic]

Pros:
Genuinely seems like a nice guy
Amazing shot creator
Clutch
Relatively healthy given history

Cons:
Expensive
Aging
Won’t lead

He’s a great guy to plug into any offense but a luxury to have at his price. KDs tenure has always kind of reminded me of shaqs, albeit far better. I appreciate him being on the team but he’s never really felt like a “Sun” to me. I’ve seen how he navigated from team to team on selfish ambitions and forcing teams hands when he wants out because things aren’t going his way and personally couldn’t ever really attach myself to him. This team hasn’t been the same since we traded for him and feel bookers regressed with him here. My hope is he goes to Houston…. I think they’d be a lot of fun with him, and vice versa.

[The Bobster]

In a perfect world, you keep Durant because he is a great offensive player and pretty solid defensively.

Realistically, he'll be 37 when the next season starts. He needs to be with a team that is looking to win now for him to resign. If you look at the younger contending teams with enough talent to make a trade possible the ones that jump out are Houston and Oklahoma City. Memphis, Cleveland and New York are other possibilities.

If a trade is made I think they need to get at least two starters and draft picks for him There will probably also be filler contracts involved, but I wouldn't take anything back that goes beyond 2026-27 unless they're going to be in the Suns' rotation long term.

[1tinsoldier]

excellent, Superbone, i commend you for your critical thinking

now, please do your scouting report on Devin Booker.
i look forward to it...

[JeremyG]

[TOO]

And that's ok, it just isn't meant to work.

[Ring_Wanted]

We have to trade him. The franchise gave it a shot, sparing no resources. Sadly we made some costly miscalculations (Beal, Ayton) and now it is clear there is no way to reach contender status. It's a shame that a team with Durant still elite on offense and Devin Booker in his prime is on pace for a 41-41 season and plays the way they do, but roster construction has been beyond terrible and those two apparently can't lead. Time to work on the next iteration.

[specialsauce]

Fuck him, a dark cloud over this organization. The day he is gone we will celebrate his departure

[SunsSince92]

He's been the same everywhere he's gone. He is fine for a couple of years before something hurts his fragile ego and he either demands a trade or causes problems in the locker room. I never wanted him here but thought the trade was probably too good to turn down at the time. It was either going to be a massive hit or a miss and sadly it's been the latter.

Time to move on.

[Superbone]

excellent, Superbone, i commend you for your critical thinking

now, please do your scouting report on Devin Booker.
i look forward to it...

Thanks but no thanks. We all know what Booker is at this point. Besides, you have your own thread where he's discussed ad nauseam.

[Superbone]

Spoiler: show/hide

Good. We all know how vindictive he can be.

[Superbone]

Spoiler: show/hide

And that's ok, it just isn't meant to work.

It didn't work. It should be obvious to all parties by now including him.

[Superbone]

He's been the same everywhere he's gone. He is fine for a couple of years before something hurts his fragile ego and he either demands a trade or causes problems in the locker room. I never wanted him here but thought the trade was probably too good to turn down at the time. It was either going to be a massive hit or a miss and sadly it's been the latter.

Time to move on.

I didn't mind the experiment but not for what we gave up for him. It was way too much. At least Cam Johnson and 2 first rounders too much.

[Cap]

We have to trade him.

Reportedly we tried and he killed it. Just told the destination team he didn't want to be there and wouldn't give his best.

And it's Golden State, what the hell, KD?

[SunsShine]

My only concern is the possibility KD voices his displeasure with our organization publicly and demands a trade to only one team. It’s interesting to know half the league called the Suns to make an offer for KD, but he could destroy his trade value and leave us with an underwhelming trade package depending on how things play out.

[Superbone]

My only concern is the possibility KD voices his displeasure with our organization publicly and demands a trade to only one team. It’s interesting to know half the league called the Suns to make an offer for KD, but he could destroy his trade value and leave us with an underwhelming trade package depending on how things play out.

Butler did that yet ended up on a different team. Just take the best offer. Don't cater to him.

[SunsSince92]

We have to trade him.

Reportedly we tried and he killed it. Just told the destination team he didn't want to be there and wouldn't give his best.

And it's Golden State, what the hell, KD?

I guess we should be flattered that he wants to stay with us but it just doesn't feel that way.

I suspect he's probably been pushing for Beal to be moved behind the scenes and is pissed that he wouldn't waive his NTC to allow his buddy Butler to join him in Phoenix. It'll be pout central now.

[Superbone]

I'm pretty sure this has already been posted from our favorite bot, but this I'm sure makes us all happy:

[Superbone]

If we do trade him this off-season, it will be interesting to compare the deal to this purported deal.

[ShelC]

I would've been disappointed with that deal, even with all the picks. Butler and Kuminga instead of KD is just six of one and half a dozen of the other. We'd be smaller with no PF on the roster.