Kevin Durant gets dealt to the Suns

erikthredd

KD & TJ Warren just got traded to the Suns for Mikal Bridges,Cam Johnson,Jae Crowder, 4 unprotected 1st round picks and a 1st round pick swap. Crazy!
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35620592/phoenix-suns-acquiring-kevin-durant-blockbuster-deal-brooklyn-nets

1951WheatiesPremium

The NBA continues to slide into a caricature of real basketball.

craig44

man, Phoenix sure did give up a lot for a 34 1/2 year old player.

erikthredd

Might as well just shutdown the NBA now after the Celtics just acquired this guy...Championship!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaClLqL_HXA&t=1s

erikthredd

Brooklyn made this KD deal then sent Jae Crowder to the Bucks for five 2nd round picks.

For a franchise that was kind of in limbo not knowing the direction it was heading in due to Kyrie & KD,after trading away both over the past few days,this is what they ended up with
FIVE unprotected 1st round picks
SEVEN 2nd round picks
one pick swap
Plus a decent scorer in Spencer DInwiddie and three great 3&D guys in Dorian Finney-Smith,Cam Johnson & Mikal Bridges
The Nets GM knocked it out of the park by landing this haul.

Steven59

Almost 35 and always hurt - Why would the Suns even make this deal?

erikthredd

Probably because Chris Paul is up there in age too and this will; be their best shot at a title. Huge gamble by the new Suns owner who literally just took full control yesterday lol.

Crazy day in the NBA with so many teams feeling that they have a shot at the title this season with so many trades.

Maywood

I have always thought that Kevin Durant was immensely talented but "weak" and somehow he couldn't get it done in Oklahoma City and now in Brooklyn. It's true that an entire team is needed and that Irving must have been a major distraction, but as the centerpiece of those teams he couldn't make it happen. His only real success was with Golden State and those teams were so stacked they could have won without him, he only made it easier.

Does anyone know if this trade was at Durant's behest or was he forced into it?? Even with the Suns talent I wonder if Durant can put them over the top.

erikthredd

@Maywood said:
I have always thought that Kevin Durant was immensely talented but "weak" and somehow he couldn't get it done in Oklahoma City and now in Brooklyn. It's true that an entire team is needed and that Irving must have been a major distraction, but as the centerpiece of those teams he couldn't make it happen. His only real success was with Golden State and those teams were so stacked they could have won without him, he only made it easier.

Does anyone know if this trade was at Durant's behest or was he forced into it?? Even with the Suns talent I wonder if Durant can put them over the top.

I haven't seen anything yet saying he asked out but I'm sure the Nets talked with him beforehand. Not to long ago Chris Paul & Devin Booker got the team to the Finals but couldn't win it so with Durant going there a win would definitely change his legacy. He'll likely get most of the credit unless someone else goes off and wins Finals MVP.

SanctionII

It would have been very interesting if Durant had been traded from Brooklyn back to Golden State (to reunite with Curry, Thomson and Green). Likely not feasible financially; and likely not something that Durant would want (since he wants to "lead his own team to a title").

However, if one imagines that it did happen, the complaining that took place when Durant signed with GS in he summer of 2016 ["its not fair!!!!!] would make a come back at an even more strident and higher decibel level.

With all of the NBA trades taking place up to noon today, the remainder of the regular season, seeing who makes it into the playoffs; and the actual playoffs will be interesting to watch as it unfolds.

erikthredd

GS had an interesting day...Traded James Wiseman to the Pistons for Saddiq Bey, then sent Bey to the Hawks for five 2nd round picks, then took sent those five picks to the Blazers to bring back Gary Payton Jr who helped them win the Finals last season.

erikthredd

The Lakers reshaped their front end rotation over the past couple days and now have what looks like a decent team with DAngelo Russell,Malik Beasley,Jarred Vanderbilt & Mo Bamba coming in and Russell Westbrook,Pat Beverly and two lesser players heading out. If AD can stay healthy they may be pretty good.

Steven59

@erikthredd said:

[ If AD can stay healthy they may be pretty good.]

Lotsa luck with that......He's another one that seems to be always hurt.

galaxy27

Durant, Booker, Ayton, and Paul is a very formidable core

Phoenix is going to be a tough out

thisistheshow

I am not a fan of the Suns. This makes it worse. 🤷

erikthredd

@thisistheshow said:
I am not a fan of the Suns. This makes it worse. 🤷

We did alright grabbing a Moose. Now we just need to find a decent wing in the buyout market.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugM_gAxPJEI&t=3s

thisistheshow

I'm happy with it.

Mooooooooooose!!

erikthredd

We go add another solid player for the rotation but likely to lose Jaylen Brown for anywhere between 4-12 games with a facial laceration. He'll be in a facemask too when he gets back.

thisistheshow

@erikthredd said:
We go add another solid player for the rotation but likely to lose Jaylen Brown for anywhere between 4-12 games with a facial laceration. He'll be in a facemask too when he gets back.

...
Nothing like guys playing in a facemask... 🤣