Kevin Durant Sweepstakes

[JM3]

I may be biased and irrational here but I don’t trust anyone who willingly associates themselves with Kanye. Jaylen is a smart dude but I could totally see Kanye Rich Paul’ing him. If this move happens, I think the Celtics’ brass might have similar concerns.

This is kind of where I'm at. I love Jaylen & if he's all in, & Tatum is all in on Jaylen being here, I think we roll with what we have.

Buuuut if he's doing Kanye things & wants to go do other things, turning him into Durant would be about the best possible transition.

KD is really good & basically a 4 at this point with the ability to play some 3 still. He put up an efficient 30/7/6 last year & playing pretty decent defense.

If we could do it for Jaylen/White/Grant, 2 1sts or something...

Smart
Brogdon
Tatum
Durant
TL

With...

Al
Gallo
PP
Ring chasing minimums...

Not bad.

 

[Buck Showalter]

A healthy Durant opposite Tatum in the playoffs makes the Celtics the odds on favorites in any series, no matter the opponent. Why in the world would any Celtic fan not want this? I'm honestly baffled by people who think this is a downgrade in any way.

Totally agree --- I'm doing this deal for Brown, White and draft picks (2 first rounders seems reasonable)

Not sure I want to give up anything more than this (other than maybe a future option for Brooklyn to switch draft-positions with Boston).

 

[EvilEmpire]

What does blowing it up accomplish? The Nets don’t own their own first-round draft pick outright until 2028. Houston gets all of the upside of being bad.

I don't think they want to blow things up. I think they want to convince KD that there isn't a good deal out there to a place he wants to go and that he's better off working things out for at least another year or so with Brooklyn.

But if that is untenable, tear it all down and get as many external picks as possible. Replenish what they don't have. They aren't going to accomplish much on a team built around Brown and Ben Simmons.

 

[JM3]

They have traded away their own pick so while at some point that is a sunk cost they shouldn't worry about, it does set the 'baseline' a lot more towards players, imo. A rebuild built exclusively on Boston picks is not a very attractive option----I do think they'd prefer to try the mid-stream reload (sort of like they did before) where they are competitive and seeking a second star to trying to build from scratch with what will be fairly limited "other team" draft assets.

Their choice is, in my view, wildly different than Utah's because of their own pick obligations. If you are Utah (or SA) part of the value of tanking is a shot at Wenbanyama or another star in the next year or two on your own picks. The Nets don't have that option

If Jaylen is close enough to Kyrie to make Kyrie not want to leave... the fit with those 2 & Simmons is actually pretty interesting in a 6-seed type of way.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

I think I might be leaning more to 2 at the moment, mostly because I don’t think many teams can beat that Celtics offer, but I am not positive.

So Shams is now saying the Suns are eliminated and the teams in the hunt are the C's, Heat and Raptors. Or maybe he said that before and other sites are just reporting it.

PHO is out for now because Ayton can't be traded until January 15 and even after then, can refuse a trade.

So long as BRK still has Simmons on its roster, most of the guys who BRK would want can't be on BRK's roster because of the designated rookie rule.

Of the players not on a designated rookie contract, the three best assets are probably JB, Ingram, and Barnes. TOR could make a huge push for KD by sending Barnes + Siakam + but when last I paid attention, TOR wasn't trading Barnes.

If BRK could get any value for Simmons, they would have other alternatives but good luck with that.

My guess is that KD begins the season playing for BRK.

 

[djbayko]

If Jaylen is close enough to Kyrie to make Kyrie not want to leave... the fit with those 2 & Simmons is actually pretty interesting in a 6-seed type of way.

But isn’t Kyrie the one who they really need to try and trade? He’s on the last year of his contract, and it’s not like Kyrie turned down a Nets max offer. It seems to me that the only reason they possibly hold on to him is to convince KD to stay and see where that takes them heading into the trade deadline.

 

[AlNipper49]

The reason this was leaked is because the Nets are trying to set the bar at Brown plus extra as the low water mark.

Even Jaylen Brown’s mother would pull the trigger on that trade

 

[Pablo's TB Lover]

It was leaked at a very late hour too…

My guesses are:

1. Leaked the offer to get other suitors to step their offer up.

2 leaked the offer to prove to KD they are trying to trade him but not getting what they want.

I think I might be leaning more to 2 at the moment, mostly because I don’t think many teams can beat that Celtics offer, but I am not positive.

All I know is that it seems like these talks are over (Woj outright says it, Windhorst said it, Shams hinted at it) and no deal was made.

It doesn't even have to be the Nets who leaked it. If Boston wouldn't be his first choice, KD's camp could also have incentive to leak the C's offer to try and nudge the other teams involved to submit their best/more valuable offer to the Nets. Conversely if he in fact has the Celtics as his first choice, KD could be applying some pressure to the Nets who may face some fan backlash if they take another team's more pick-heavy package rather than a sure thing in JB.

Edit: Admittedly with Woj as one of the rumor carriers, it is MORE likely a front office source than somebody's agent.

 

[JM3]

But isn’t Kyrie the one who they really need to try and trade? He’s on the last year of his contract, and it’s not like Kyrie turned down a Nets max offer.

Can they get positive value for Kyrie? I'm just talking basketball-wise. They compliment some of Jaylen's flaws as a creator nicely, & his game fills in a lot of the flaws with Simmons, & Simmons & Durant are both basically 4s. It would be a pretty fun team after the trade. Mix in Seth, too...

If they can flip Kyrie for something positive? Go for it, but his value isn't exactly at an all time high.

 

[Jimbodandy]

This is hard to accomplish oftentimes in the NBA. Where is Kevin Durant agreeing to go that can offer lots of tasty draft picks to Brooklyn? Oftentimes, it's best to just take the best assets you can get and turn THOSE into draft picks down the line if you can/need to.

Yeah maybe Brooklyn wants to be in play-in land indefinitely. Some teams do.

 

[djbayko]

Can they get positive value for Kyrie? I'm just talking basketball-wise. They compliment some of Jaylen's flaws as a creator nicely, & his game fills in a lot of the flaws with Simmons, & Simmons & Durant are both basically 4s. It would be a pretty fun team after the trade. Mix in Seth, too...

If they can flip Kyrie for something positive? Go for it, but his value isn't exactly at an all time high.

Right. Which is why I think they’d rather just have KD come back, and this might be part of that ploy.

 

[JM3]

Right. Which is why I think they’d rather just have KD come back, and this might be part of that ploy.

I don't really understand that angle...if you want KD to know you can't get enough for him in a trade so he should stay... why not just talk to him like a grown adult about the situation & what's on the table?

Also, KD, if he was a perfectly rational person (obviously a hypothetical) should want the trade package coming back for him to be as small as possible so that his new team can be as good as possible.

I think the bottom line is the Nets probably leaked it to put pressure on the Celtics to maximize their offer, which would also cause other teams to up their offers. ESPN carries water for the Nets.

But who knows? I think it's more fun to speculate about the on court fits than the rumor industry.

 

[JM3]

Yeah maybe Brooklyn wants to be in play-in land indefinitely. Some teams do.

When you don't own your own picks play-in land is better than give other teams your lottery pick land.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I don't really understand that angle...if you want KD to know you can't get enough for him in a trade so he should stay... why not just talk to him like a grown adult about the situation & what's on the table?

Also, KD, if he was a perfectly rational person (obviously a hypothetical) should want the trade package coming back for him to be as small as possible so that his new team can be as good as possible.

I think the bottom line is the Nets probably leaked it to put pressure on the Celtics to maximize their offer, which would also cause other teams to up their offers. ESPN carries water for the Nets.

But who knows? I think it's more fun to speculate about the on court fits than the rumor industry.

It makes sense if Durant doesn't want Boston.

 

[RorschachsMask]

View: https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1551606003367497728?s=20&t=oMnHXApt5cT-fZ1xeMAA8Q

 

[djbayko]

I don't really understand that angle...if you want KD to know you can't get enough for him in a trade so he should stay... why not just talk to him like a grown adult about the situation & what's on the table?

Also, KD, if he was a perfectly rational person (obviously a hypothetical) should want the trade package coming back for him to be as small as possible so that his new team can be as good as possible.

I think the bottom line is the Nets probably leaked it to put pressure on the Celtics to maximize their offer, which would also cause other teams to up their offers. ESPN carries water for the Nets.

But who knows? I think it's more fun to speculate about the on court fits than the rumor industry.

Who knows. Weren’t there reports earlier that Durant wasn’t talking to them? He can be a weird dude. Making it feel like there’s no other trade out there and Boston is a real possibility might be a good way to get him back to the table.

I agree that it’s more likely they’re trying to bump up trade offers but I don’t think that’s out of the question.

 

[JM3]

It makes sense if Durant doesn't want Boston.

Durant's camp can't really be leaking negotiation details unless they've involved his team in the actual negotiations which seems silly if he's not working in tandem with the Nets...to the point that he's leaking negotiation details they entrusted him with.

If he doesn't want to go to the Celtics he should announce "I don't want to go to the Celtics", either publicly or privately" & the Celtics offer goes away or gets much smaller.

ETA I think I may have misunderstood your post but I'm leaving the answer anyway lol

 

[JM3]

Who knows. Weren’t there reports earlier that Durant wasn’t talking to them? He can be a weird dude. Making it feel like there’s no other trade out there and Boston is a real possibility might be a good way to get him back to the table.

I agree that it’s more likely they’re trying to bump up trade offers but I don’t think that’s out of the question.

Even if KD isn't talking to them, his people should be.

But who knows? It's hard to judge the motives of potentially irrational individuals & entities.

 

[DJnVa]

When the poster you replied to brought up KD’s friendship with Kyrie as a potential reason for not wanting the Celtics, I assume they meant that Kyrie’s constant badmouthing of his time with Boston. Everyone knows KD requested a trade.

I get that, but that wasn't exactly my point. It's more of I don't think Kyrie's badmouthing of his time in Boston carries much weight with KD at this point because KD is apparently over Kyrie and his sage-burning antics. Hence, him requesting a trade the day after Kyrie said he was staying.

Either way, I doubt this drags on long...

 

[DJnVa]

Windhorst is saying this offer is probably a few weeks old.

Brian Windhorst Says The Celtics' Reported Offer For Kevin Durant Is Likely Weeks Old: "I Don't Think The Nets Are Involved In Active Talks Right Now." (msn.com)

 

[ifmanis5]

Windhorst is saying this offer is probably a few weeks old.

Brian Windhorst Says The Celtics' Reported Offer For Kevin Durant Is Likely Weeks Old: "I Don't Think The Nets Are Involved In Active Talks Right Now." (msn.com)

Windy is the new king, he's probably right.

Will Simmons break into his vacation with an emergency pod? Funny that he's missing this.

 

[JM3]

Windy is the new king, he's probably right.

Will Simmons break into his vacation with an emergency pod? Funny that he's missing this.

Doesn't his vacation involve sitting at home? I'm sure he'll hop on if a trade actually happens.

 

[ifmanis5]

Doesn't his vacation involve sitting at home? I'm sure he'll hop on if a trade actually happens.

He's in Sweden visiting Spotify HQ. Or so he said.

Jaylen's tweet today:
View: https://twitter.com/FCHWPO/status/1551581600973959168

Smh

 

[JCizzle]

He's in Sweden visiting Spotify HQ. Or so he said.

I was thinking about bumping his thread because - despite his flaws - it is a bummer losing that content for a month. He's clearly a passionate dude and it would be interesting to see him balance his love for the JT/JB duo against his love for KD.

 

[bosockboy]

He's in Sweden visiting Spotify HQ. Or so he said.

Jaylen's tweet today:
View: https://twitter.com/FCHWPO/status/1551581600973959168

Smh

Not sure when he left but there’s a new Rewatchables dropping tonight.

 

[ifmanis5]

Not sure when he left but there’s a new Rewatchables dropping tonight.

Yeah, he probably pre-taped a few eps. Those are evergreen.

 

[djbayko]

I get that, but that wasn't exactly my point. It's more of I don't think Kyrie's badmouthing of his time in Boston carries much weight with KD at this point because KD is apparently over Kyrie and his sage-burning antics. Hence, him requesting a trade the day after Kyrie said he was staying.

Either way, I doubt this drags on long...

I see. Hmmmm…I guess 8 always saw it more as KD being fed up with the organization than anything to do with Kyrie. In fact, he’s upset that they refused to extend Kyrie, so he knows their run is over pretty soon anyways.

 

[JM3]

Kind of surprised the Clippers haven't looked into ways to consolidate assets & get in on Durant, or at least a 3rd guy.

They pay so much money for such a crazy deep team. Seems suboptimal not to consolidate somehow.

 

[lovegtm]

Kind of surprised the Clippers haven't looked into ways to consolidate assets & get in on Durant, or at least a 3rd guy.

They pay so much money for such a crazy deep team. Seems suboptimal not to consolidate somehow.

Aren't they still missing a lot of picks/swaps to OKC?

 

[Scoops Bolling]

Aren't they still missing a lot of picks/swaps to OKC?

Looks like the first pick not either traded or covered in a swap is their 2027 1st. 2023-2026 are all traded/swaps.

 

[lovegtm]

Looks like the first pick not either traded or covered in a swap is their 2027 1st. 2023-2026 are all traded/swaps.

Yeah, makes it almost impossible to put together a package in that case (assuming they want to keep Kawhi/George).

 

[JM3]

Yeah, makes it almost impossible to put together a package in that case (assuming they want to keep Kawhi/George).

They have players that have equivalent value to 1sts. Durant is impossible to add as a 3rd star I agree - would have to be George in the trade. Just meant conceptually they should be making some big move or another, & haven't heard any rumors that anything is in the works. But almost definitely the wrong thread for that discussion.

 

[E5 Yaz]

They have players that have equivalent value to 1sts. Durant is impossible to add as a 3rd star I agree - would have to be George in the trade. Just meant conceptually they should be making some big move or another, & haven't heard any rumors that anything is in the works.

You mean, besides John Wall

 

[HomeRunBaker]

BetOnline odds on Durant being traded this summer:


Celtics -200
Warriors +350
Suns +600
Heat +750
Blazers +900
Raptors +950
Griz +1200
Clippers +1200
Knicks +1600
Hawks +1600
Lakers +1800
Thunder +2200
Bulls +2200

 

[BigSoxFan]

BetOnline odds on Durant being traded this summer:


Celtics -200
Warriors +350
Suns +600
Heat +750
Blazers +900
Raptors +950
Griz +1200
Clippers +1200
Knicks +1600
Hawks +1600
Lakers +1800
Thunder +2200
Bulls +2200

FWIW, Celtics title odds on DK went from +500 last night to +450

 

[HomeRunBaker]

FWIW, Celtics title odds on DK went from +500 last night to +450

Based on the odds I posted that is not nearly as large a correction as it should be. White is certainly movable with Brogdon but man I’d hate to have to move Smart in this deal. That would be the difference between a no-brainer and a shit.eye.don’t.want.to.do.that to me.

 

[djbayko]

BetOnline odds on Durant being traded this summer:


Celtics -200
Warriors +350
Suns +600
Heat +750
Blazers +900
Raptors +950
Griz +1200
Clippers +1200
Knicks +1600
Hawks +1600
Lakers +1800
Thunder +2200
Bulls +2200

This may be obvious to everyone, but to clarify, these odds are only valid if he's not on the Nets. So this can't be read as Durant being -200 to go to the Celtics. BetOnline used to include the player's current team in trade markets like this but in the past year they have not.

Based on the odds I posted that is not nearly as large a correction as it should be. White is certainly movable with Brogdon but man I’d hate to have to move Smart in this deal. That would be the difference between a no-brainer and a shit.eye.don’t.want.to.do.that to me.

You might be correct that the Celts championship overnight odds movement is not enough, but you can't draw a direct correlation between the two since these odds don't include the Nets.

 

[TripleOT]

I don’t think Brooklyn will do better than Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and two firsts, assuming KD would squawk so much that any trade to a non contender would not be possible.

I wouldn’t be surprised if JB’s new people are behind this news. What better way to raise the profile of your new client for your sneakers/lifestyle brand by linking his name in a trade to one of the best 15 NBA players of all time during the deadest time of year for sports in the country?

Last week during a dead sports news lull: hey look, there’s Jaylen Brown with Kyrie Irving and Kanye West.

Now this “breaking news” reported by Woj at 2:31 am, possibly by a source on the West Coast close to Kanye, (or Kanye).

 

[JM3]

I thought this KOC article was going to be interesting...but he never really comes to any sort of conclusion. Closest he gets is saying he would trade both Jaylen & Smart for Durant if necessary.

At What Price Should the Celtics Trade for Kevin Durant? - The Ringer

 

[HomeRunBaker]

This may be obvious to everyone, but to clarify, these odds are only valid if he's not on the Nets. So this can't be read as Durant being -200 to go to the Celtics. BetOnline used to include the player's current team in trade markets like this but in the past year they have not.


You might be correct that the Celts championship overnight odds movement is not enough, but you can't draw a direct correlation between the two since these odds don't include the Nets.

While this is true I do expect Durant to be traded…..certainly greater than a 40-50% chance from my seat. It’s clear the numbers don’t agree that Durant is likely to be traded.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

other thread.

 

[bosockboy]

Wow.

View: https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1556709715266134016?s=21&t=CXLscPHkPKILzt0EXJiA_w

 

[RedOctober3829]

In a face-to-face meeting with Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai over the weekend, All-NBA star Kevin Durant reiterated his trade request and informed Tsai that he needs to choose between Durant or the pairing of general manager Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash, sources tell The Athletic.

Durant stated he does not have faith in the team’s direction, sources said.

Durant and Tsai spoke in London on Saturday and sources described the discussion as transparent and professional. The meeting took place a year to the day that Durant agreed to a four-year, $198 million contract extension with the Nets and barely over a month after his initial trade request on June 30. He is now entering the first season of that extension.

The Nets have direct knowledge of the reasons behind Durant’s request, sources said, and understand that the 12-time All-Star will continue to be resolute in his stance. Durant is believed to want a change of scenery heading into his 16th season.

After Durant’s trade request on June 30, the Nets engaged in conversations with almost every team in the league, according to sources. But because the Nets have set a sky-high threshold for the return the franchise wants for Durant — a two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, a former league MVP and 12-time All-Star — teams have not yet been able to meet the asking price.

The Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat remain the most significant candidates to acquire Durant, sources said, with Boston’s package centering around All-Star forward Jaylen Brown seen as a viable deal. Tsai and the Nets have made clear privately that they will take every last asset from a team that trades for Durant, sources said.

Durant has grown close with Boston coach Ime Udoka in recent years after Udoka spent a year with Durant as an assistant in Brooklyn and later with Team USA for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

https://theathletic.com/3485297/2022/08/08/kevin-durant-nets-trade-steve-nash/

 

[JCizzle]

That Ime note is cryptic. Hard to tell if Shams included it for a purpose or just as a general note.

 

[tims4wins]

Doesn't like the team's direction? I thought he and Kyrie were playing co-GM? Guess that didn't work out as planned. I for one am shocked.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Wow.

If I'm the Celtics I'm out on Durant just for this. (I don't necessarily object to Durant saying this, but I also don't want to be 2 years dow the road having him campaign to get Ime fired).

 

[DJnVa]

Doesn't like the team's direction? I thought he and Kyrie were playing co-GM? Guess that didn't work out as planned. I for one am shocked.

I was told they signed off on Nash.

I said this earlier, I think he's over the Kyrie Experience.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Who would leak this and why? I can’t see a benefit for anyone to do so.

 

[DJnVa]

Who would leak this and why? I can’t see a benefit for anyone to do so.

KD must not like the relative quiet after the Boston stuff broke.

 

[bosockboy]

Who would leak this and why? I can’t see a benefit for anyone to do so.

Easily Durant’s camp to get this thing moving. He’s probably getting restless.