What happened in the summer was always going to play out in reality and today is the final realization of that fact. Everything was planned. Did KD get injured on purpose, hell no, but he was always going to miss games with his frail body and Kyrie was going to negotiate for his contract before the deadline. I would not be surprised if the trade for KD goes down now but definitely in the summer. With the amount of players needed I am assuming summer because of roster flexibility but it is inevitable. Those Nets picks are going to be solid gold.
Hopefully KD is on Team Alpi and does our franchise player a solid by guaranteeing the future of this franchise.
I don't think it is clear at all that it is best for the rockets that Durant leaves. He is getting older and more injured every season. With an older Durant and Simmons you are asking for trouble. Players Durant's age usually flip a switch and are shadow of themselves. As great as he is the man is not immune to that.
I assume @Clutch meant what the Nets decide matters here. Unfortunately for us, KD doesn't have any leverage. Just as he didn't last summer. Which is why he's still in Brooklyn. I don't think KD is willing to make the kind of stink required to force the Nets' hand here.
The thing is, if they trade him, they are almost certain to get back just picks and salary filler... They're almost certainly not going to trade him for anyone that will help them win right now. In other words, yes you're right that there is a reasonably good chance they play poorly even with Durant remaining on the roster, though they've been pretty good so far this season... But it is a near-guarantee they play poorly if they trade Durant. For the next season and a half, at minimum.
Didn't he already make a stink during the summer, even as going as far as asking for Steve Nash to be fired?
That's my point. He won't go far enough to force the org's hand. All that was in the summer. He's not gonna stop playing or something. So, despite what he wants he's still gonna show up and compete. And they have a chance to win as long as he does that. Basically, he won't go full Kyrie.
Regardless they do not have their own draft picks, nor cap space, a ben simmons, and an aging super star. Most routes taken eventually end up with good value eventually. I bet there is a chance he wouldn't mind playing for the Thunder again.
So...crazy thought...why aren't WE the best trade destination for Durant? We can trade them Jabari, Tate, Martin Jr, and Gordon AND, most importantly, their picks back to them along with one or two of our own. Do the Nets really think a team led by Jaylen Brown is going to keep them from giving up valuable high lottery picks to us until 2027? They can get their picks back and actually start a real rebuild on their own terms. Meanwhile, Houston would have...Durant, Sengun, Green, Porter Jr, maybe Wembanyama or Henderson, and have room for one, maybe even two max free agents (or more mid level players). I mean, crazier things have happened, right?
Kevin Durant for DeAndre Ayton, I think Phoenix needs to make it happen. Monty and Ayton don't like each other and argue on the bench.
