Durant to Suns

[Phrazbit]

When a star forces their way out their previous team typically gets 50 cents on the dollar... if they're lucky.

IMO, we paid a dollar twenty five to the dollar... despite that no one else had 80 cents to offer.

No team trading a player of Durant's age has received even a fraction of what we surrendered, and on top of all that, he isn't just injury prone... he is CURRENTLY injured.

This is a title or disaster trade, that didn't make us the title favorite.

I do think our title odds in the next 2 years have vastly improved, but we were in a situation to be a contender for the rest of the decade, with flexibility to improve upon those odds... that opportunity is gone. It's now or never... well, not for another decade at least.

I'm trying to talk myself into it. I know... we're a contender serious contender for the next couple years... but they better freakin win. If they don't win a title, I am not as optimistic as some of you about further superstars forcing their way onto a team featuring Booker and Ayton, a history of coming up short and no trade assets.

I hope this post provides egg on my face for decades.

 

[Proximo]

I heard James Jones was only going to make minor move(s) otherwise if the Durant trade didn't happen, per a tweet from John Gambadoro.

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James jones in his interview said the opposite, he said suns were going to do something major, even if no Durant deal.

really surprised me when he said that.

 

[Mainstreet]

James jones in his interview said the opposite, he said suns were going to do something major, even if no Durant deal.

really surprised me when he said that.

I must have missed that interview. I was conveying the information in the above tweet.

It's good to know because the Suns only made minor moves (tweaks) at the previous two trade deadlines.

 

[95pro]

James jones in his interview said the opposite, he said suns were going to do something major, even if no Durant deal.

really surprised me when he said that.

Maybe there were trying to shop cp3 again. Maybe they were after FVV.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

When a star forces their way out their previous team typically gets 50 cents on the dollar... if they're lucky.

IMO, we paid a dollar twenty five to the dollar... despite that no one else had 80 cents to offer.

I disagree with this part of the statement. We traded two solid to good players (and one okay one that wasn't playing) for a legit MVP caliber player with 3.5 years left on his contract.

If you make a move that took you from a team with an outside shot at winning it all to championship favorites overnight you did not give more value than you got.

If anything you could say we gave them 50 cents and a promise for another 50 cents in the future if they give us a dollar now.

Sure there are questions about KD's health and he is getting up there in age, but in the end he is playing at an MVP level and we have over 3 years of control.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

When a star forces their way out their previous team typically gets 50 cents on the dollar... if they're lucky.

IMO, we paid a dollar twenty five to the dollar... despite that no one else had 80 cents to offer.

No team trading a player of Durant's age has received even a fraction of what we surrendered, and on top of all that, he isn't just injury prone... he is CURRENTLY injured.

This is a title or disaster trade, that didn't make us the title favorite.

I do think our title odds in the next 2 years have vastly improved, but we were in a situation to be a contender for the rest of the decade, with flexibility to improve upon those odds... that opportunity is gone. It's now or never... well, not for another decade at least.

I'm trying to talk myself into it. I know... we're a contender serious contender for the next couple years... but they better freakin win. If they don't win a title, I am not as optimistic as some of you about further superstars forcing their way onto a team featuring Booker and Ayton, a history of coming up short and no trade assets.

I hope this post provides egg on my face for decades.

Memphis offered 4 picks and 4 swaps for Duarant.

 

[Phrazbit]

Memphis offered 4 picks and 4 swaps for Duarant.

Supposedly they also offered the Nets 4 picks for Bridges, and got declined.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Supposedly they also offered the Nets 4 picks for Bridges, and got declined.

Yeah they were desperate to keep up with the teams making moves. Now I would put them 4th in the west at best

 

[GatorAZ]

Supposedly they also offered the Nets 4 picks for Bridges, and got declined.

Memphis’ picks are going to be in the 20’s for a long time. If they were protected it makes them less valuable. It was a worthwhile offer for them to try considering the upgrade he’d be over Dillon Brooks.

 

[JCSunsfan]

When a star forces their way out their previous team typically gets 50 cents on the dollar... if they're lucky.

IMO, we paid a dollar twenty five to the dollar... despite that no one else had 80 cents to offer.

No team trading a player of Durant's age has received even a fraction of what we surrendered, and on top of all that, he isn't just injury prone... he is CURRENTLY injured.

This is a title or disaster trade, that didn't make us the title favorite.

I do think our title odds in the next 2 years have vastly improved, but we were in a situation to be a contender for the rest of the decade, with flexibility to improve upon those odds... that opportunity is gone. It's now or never... well, not for another decade at least.

I'm trying to talk myself into it. I know... we're a contender serious contender for the next couple years... but they better freakin win. If they don't win a title, I am not as optimistic as some of you about further superstars forcing their way onto a team featuring Booker and Ayton, a history of coming up short and no trade assets.

I hope this post provides egg on my face for decades.

The fact is that if we did not pay what we paid, we were not getting Durant. So your analogy just does not fit. At some point, you just have to pay and move on.

 

[elindholm]

The fact is that if we did not pay what we paid, we were not getting Durant. So your analogy just does not fit. At some point, you just have to pay and move on.

The problem with this argument is that it could be used to justify literally any price in a trade. "Well it's what we had to pay."

 

[Phrazbit]

The fact is that if we did not pay what we paid, we were not getting Durant. So your analogy just does not fit. At some point, you just have to pay and move on.

I don't know if that is true. At some point the Nets were going to have to take what they could get. The only other offer we've heard of is Memphis offering 4 firsts and 3 swaps, our offer blows that to smithereens.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

You know if we drafted Haliburton Bridges is probably still a Sun.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Get busy livin....... or get busy dyin. This was a bold move that had to happen IMO. A true gamble but we needed the energy shake up.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The problem with this argument is that it could be used to justify literally any price in a trade. "Well it's what we had to pay."

Well you have to determine how much risk you’re willing to take on. Steve’s desired risk was close to zero. That just wasn’t going to happen.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don't know if that is true. At some point the Nets were going to have to take what they could get. The only other offer we've heard of is Memphis offering 4 firsts and 3 swaps, our offer blows that to smithereens.

Not true. They could’ve held onto him. He’s under contract for three more years. Could’ve held and ttaded in offseason.

 

[Phrazbit]

Not true. They could’ve held onto him. He’s under contract for three more years. Could’ve held and ttaded in offseason.

They could have, but it's a huge risk on their end. If he decides to sit until they move him then they wouldn't have gotten squat for him.

 

[GatorAZ]

You know if we drafted Haliburton Bridges is probably still a Sun.

You buried the lead. We already have at least one title if Hali is a Sun.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Well you have to determine how much risk you’re willing to take on. Steve’s desired risk was close to zero. That just wasn’t going to happen.

That's not at all accurate. And the logic here floors me. How is everyone just completely dismissing the facts about Kevin Durant's Achilles rupture and that he's 34 years old? I get that everyone here wants to win a championship and everyone believes that we probably weren't going to do that in the immediate future without major change and that sometimes you have to take a chance but we went far beyond just taking a risk.

Signing him off the street at his current salary for the next 3.5 years? That's risky. And it's a risk I would have taken. But doing that while also giving up Mikal, CamJ and Crowder goes several steps beyond risky. Then, throwing in 4 picks on top of it and not even getting protection for one or more of them, that's a setup for an SNL "Bad Idea Jeans" commercial minus the humor.

And winning it all won't change the fact that we got extremely lucky. With a strong wind blowing in, we closed our eyes and swung for the fences. Like everyone else here, I really hope that getting lucky is the result of this move. Regardless, we paid what would have been a fair price for a disgruntled superstar in his prime.

 

[SirStefan32]

I still don't know how I feel about this trade. I hate losing the tho youngsters, but I keep coming back to the fact that they needed to get a second star. Unless Ayton turned into David Robinson or Bridges into Kawhi Leonard, the Suns weren't gonna win it all. If KD and Booker remain healthy, in my opinion, they are the favorites. With KD... you can't double Booker and suffocate CP3. Suddenly, Book goes from being an "OK" first option to being the best second option. CP3 goes from having to be the second option (and sometimes first) on regular basis to simply having to be a solid third option. Ayton goes from having to be a third option to having almost no pressure. Role players are gonna have a bunch of open shots with Booker and KD demanding so much attention from other teams. Sure, it's very risky- one injury and they are done, but I don't see how they win it all without making this trade.

 

[Carolinacacti]

I know one player that believed in the risk. Terrance Ross best buyout player available picked suns over Dallas nuf said.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I still don't know how I feel about this trade. I hate losing the tho youngsters, but I keep coming back to the fact that they needed to get a second star. Unless Ayton turned into David Robinson or Bridges into Kawhi Leonard, the Suns weren't gonna win it all. If KD and Booker remain healthy, in my opinion, they are the favorites. With KD... you can't double Booker and suffocate CP3. Suddenly, Book goes from being an "OK" first option to being the best second option. CP3 goes from having to be the second option (and sometimes first) on regular basis to simply having to be a solid third option. Ayton goes from having to be a third option to having almost no pressure. Role players are gonna have a bunch of open shots with Booker and KD demanding so much attention from other teams. Sure, it's very risky- one injury and they are done, but I don't see how they win it all without making this trade.

I agree with much of this but the conclusion I would have come to, were I in charge, was that despite our need it might not be the right time to chase a superstar. I agree we need another unstoppable force and KD is that when healthy but I'd have drawn the line at the safe side of the unprotected picks and if Brooklyn said no, I'd reset my timeline. Not because I wanted to but because the right target simply wasn't available at this time. I wouldn't have put it all down on a longshot.

It would still have been risky but I'd have hedged my bet with pick protections or waited for a star that we could reasonably expect to suit up and win games for us. We'd still have major assets to trade this offseason or the middle of the next season. Maybe we could have traded all our picks and a couple of players for Scoot or someone like that? But now, that ship has sailed.

 

[Mainstreet]

I know one player that believed in the risk. Terrance Ross best buyout player available picked suns over Dallas nuf said.

I like Terrence Ross a lot but I would have chosen Reggie Jackson if given a choice. However, Denver offered Jackson a better opportunity to play after they traded Bones Hyland.

Ross did seem to be high on the Suns wish list as both Mat Ishbia and coach Monty Williams pursued him.

I'm hoping the Suns can still add another buyout player if a good one becomes available.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Durant can handle the ball not worried about the pg position now. Pain might get some mins but not many with Paul and point book. Saben Lee is on a two way contract, to play in playoffs he needs to be on roster right?

 

[Hoop Head]

Durant can handle the ball not worried about the pg position now. Pain might get some mins but not many with Paul and point book. Saben Lee is on a two way contract, to play in playoffs he needs to be on roster right?

Correct. Two-Way players are not eligible for the playoffs unless signed to a regular roster spot. Their deals can be converted to regular deals up to the last day of the season, I believe.