Durant to Suns

[GatorAZ]

Woj reported Jones was going after John Collins until Ishbia pushed the KD deal thru. If Ishbia is as hands on as I suspect it’s smart to keep JJ around as a puppet. When he gets fired after the season it will defect some blame.

 

[95pro]

On Brandon Kleen's podcast/show, he reported that Simmons said KD was pouting and being passive aggressive towards Bud. EDIT: during the Spurs game.

Just something some of have said KD would be, a little toxic.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is my concern regarding Kevin Durant's contract situation with the Suns.

The Suns and Durant apparently turned down a one-year extension in favor of him getting a two-year contract extension this coming summer. This would add another two years and about $120 million to his contract and run through 2027-28.

What happens if the Suns don't find a trade partner (presumably has to be a contender) for him this summer or Durant doesn't want to be traded?

IMO, he should have been gone already if there was a trade to be had. I've suggested before this could play out as bad or worse than the Jimmy Butler situation with the Heat.

Here is the crux of the situation as I see it. What if the Suns do not offer Durant an extension for one or two seasons?

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Shams Charania Nov 20, 2024, 12:27 AM ET, ESPN:


As everyone in Phoenix hones in on a third consecutive postseason together, Ishbia told ESPN this week that he fully expects to sign Durant to a contract extension next offseason and wants the 14-time All-Star to retire as a Sun.

"[Durant] loves being in Phoenix, we love having him," Ishbia told ESPN. "He's off to an amazing start this season -- one of the MVP leaders -- and we're off to a very good start. We expect Kevin to sign an extension, be with us for the long term. We hope he finishes his career here in Phoenix.

"You can't sign a two-year extension this last summer, you can't do it based on the NBA rules. So we figured after the season we'll talk about it, take care of it.

"Kevin wants to be here, we want Kevin here. There's never been one grumbling of anything different."

Ishbia expects Suns to give KD extension in '25

Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia told ESPN's Shams Charania this week that he fully expects the Suns to sign star Kevin Durant, 36, to a contract extension next offseason, and that he wants the 14-time All-Star, acquired in February 2023, to retire with his club.

www.espn.com

 

[Mainstreet]

Also, Shams Charania discusses the possible extension on X.

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[Covert Rain]

Also, Shams Charania discusses the possible extension on X.

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Sure sounds like they are going to extend this experiment. This team is doomed to mediocrity unless that extension is Durant on a major discount which gives them future flexibility to go out get new guys. If they give him max? I don't see how that helps the team.

 

[Hoop Head]

What happens if the Suns don't find a trade partner (presumably has to be a contender) for him this summer or Durant doesn't want to be traded?

We need to call his bluff, like we should have with the Warriors. KD's legacy would be in serious jeopardy if he refused to report to Golden State after a trade. I don't think there will be a team that presents a better landing spot for him. We'll see what happens but it will require Ishbia standing firm.

 

[AzStevenCal]

We need to call his bluff, like we should have with the Warriors. KD's legacy would be in serious jeopardy if he refused to report to Golden State after a trade. I don't think there will be a team that presents a better landing spot for him. We'll see what happens but it will require Ishbia standing firm.

I don't think Phoenix had anything to do with it. If I were GS I'd insist on talking to KD before making that trade and if he weren't fully on board, I'd pass. There was a lot of tension involving him leading up to his exit to Brooklyn and I just don't believe they'd be dumb enough to give up real value for someone like him if he didn't want to be there. We'd be that dumb but we're the exception IMO.

 

[Mainstreet]

We need to call his bluff, like we should have with the Warriors. KD's legacy would be in serious jeopardy if he refused to report to Golden State after a trade. I don't think there will be a team that presents a better landing spot for him. We'll see what happens but it will require Ishbia standing firm.

IMO, Suns ownership may have over-committed to extending Durant for two more seasons. The comments are there to be read.

I don't see any nice way out of it unless the Suns find a trade partner that wants to pay Durant about $175 million over the next three seasons, or whatever the math works out to be.

Conceivably, this could look like a bad contract situation.

Since Durant held out for a two-year extension, I suspect money is very important.

 

[Mainstreet]

Sure sounds like they are going to extend this experiment. This team is doomed to mediocrity unless that extension is Durant on a major discount which gives them future flexibility to go out get new guys. If they give him max? I don't see how that helps the team.

The dye may have already been cast unless a team comes along and is fascinated with Durant as much as the Suns were.

It's hard to see that and I'm trying very hard not to think about injury.

 

[Covert Rain]

The dye may have already been cast unless a team comes along and is fascinated with Durant as much as the Suns were.

It's hard to see that and I'm trying very hard not to think about injury.

It's likely going to have to be a very very favorable situation for him. Even then, if he truly loves it here? He may not go anywhere for any team.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's likely going to have to be a very very favorable situation for him. Even then, if he truly loves it here? He may not go anywhere for any team.

Maybe it's time for the NBA to create a new rule or step up to negate trades or limit contracts.

The Stepien Rule may not cover the damage done to the Suns franchise.

Other teams that could be in a bad situation are the Mavericks and 76ers.

 

[Phrazbit]

It's likely going to have to be a very very favorable situation for him. Even then, if he truly loves it here? He may not go anywhere for any team.

We shouldn't care. He doesn't have a no trade clause, if we get an acceptable deal then he should be moved.

And if he actually loves it here that much, then sign him for a massive discount.

Giving him a max extension would be idiotic.

 

[Mainstreet]

We shouldn't care. He doesn't have a no trade clause, if we get an acceptable deal then he should be moved.

And if he actually loves it here that much, then sign him for a massive discount.

Giving him a max extension would be idiotic.

It's more about what happens if the Suns can't trade him or give him the extension he wants.

 

[AzStevenCal]

We shouldn't care. He doesn't have a no trade clause, if we get an acceptable deal then he should be moved.

And if he actually loves it here that much, then sign him for a massive discount.

Giving him a max extension would be idiotic.

I'm all for moving him for anything that even appears reasonable but I'm not sure we can get much of anything for him if he's not extended. And I'm not sure we can get much for him even if we do extend him but it seems clear to me that whichever way we go it won't be because we're happy campers (either side). We clearly want a divorce and KD either wants one too or has decided there are reasons for him to remain in an unhappy marriage.

 

[Phrazbit]

It's more about what happens if the Suns can't trade him or give him the extension he wants.

I'm all for moving him for anything that even appears reasonable but I'm not sure we can get much of anything for him if he's not extended. And I'm not sure we can get much for him even if we do extend him but it seems clear to me that whichever way we go it won't be because we're happy campers (either side). We clearly want a divorce and KD either wants one too or has decided there are reasons for him to remain in an unhappy marriage.

I am sure we can trade him... will it be for the haul that Golden State supposedly offered? Probably not. But I don't doubt we can move him, and we absolutely should, especially if Houston has an interest. Getting even a couple of our picks back would significantly alter our potential recovery timeline.

We need to root for Houston to have an embarrassing flameout... like take a 3-1 series lead and lose in round 1.

As for what KD wants... I would not be at all surprised if he demands his max extension, gets it, says he wants to retire a Sun... and then by mid December is openly campaigning for the coach to get fired and demanding a trade.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm all for moving him for anything that even appears reasonable but I'm not sure we can get much of anything for him if he's not extended. And I'm not sure we can get much for him even if we do extend him but it seems clear to me that whichever way we go it won't be because we're happy campers (either side). We clearly want a divorce and KD either wants one too or has decided there are reasons for him to remain in an unhappy marriage.

I don't think Durant should be extended unless there is a trade to be made and it should not require a 6-month waiting period.

What concerns me the most is your last sentence. The reason for Durant to stay here is money. Also, is there a team that would trade for him this summer?

Even one season at $54,708,608 is a lot of money. Age and injury are factors as well, as they were when the Suns traded for him.

 

[Mainstreet]

I am sure we can trade him... will it be for the haul that Golden State supposedly offered? Probably not. But I don't doubt we can move him, and we absolutely should, especially if Houston has an interest. Getting even a couple of our picks back would significantly alter our potential recovery timeline.

We need to root for Houston to have an embarrassing flameout... like take a 3-1 series lead and lose in round 1.

As for what KD wants... I would not be at all surprised if he demands his max extension, gets it, says he wants to retire a Sun... and then by mid December is openly campaigning for the coach to get fired and demanding a trade.

My concern is the Suns lost a lot of leverage at the trade deadline, not that they had a lot, because of Durant's salary, limited trade partners and his desire for an extension.

 

[leclerc]

Durant to Houston. Make it so.

 

[Covert Rain]

Maybe it’s not as set as we think. Sure sounds like KD isn’t saying he has to be here. See around 2:25 mark.

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[Mainstreet]

Maybe it’s not as set as we think. Sure sounds like KD isn’t saying he has to be here. See around 2:25 mark.

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What I heard, is KD only wants to be traded on his terms, nor inconvenienced by an in-season trade.

I heard is a lot of me… me… me in there.