Kevin Durant Sweepstakes

Auger34

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I don't think an org can put out a statement like this and then have Woj report in a week that teams are reporting that KD is still on the block. There's a difference between a Shams report that "sources say KD is staying" and an official statement from the team.
Yeah, this is about as official as it gets.

I still maintain that the Nets were never going to trade him unless they just completely fleeced a team.
 

PedroKsBambino

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One very real possibility is that there was no offer for a location that KD wanted to go---so, illustratively, nets said "here's what we've seen" and it was offers from the Knicks, Memphis, and New Orleans (guessing for different reasons KD doesn't want any of them) and KD asked some questions about Miami, Phoenix etc where he wasa interested and they either explained no offer at all (easy to see from Phoenix) or not a realistic one for team (Miami seems likely to end up here), and they then agreed that the demand right now isn't sufficient anywhere he wants to go, and both sides are better off seeing what happens by the trade deadline. KD is losing goodwill by the day PR-wise, so there is some incentive for him to play nice, and I do believe he does not want to sit out...so he is probably going to want to clarify things in next few weeks regardless of where trade talks stand

I still do think a deal is possible pre-season---the spin would be "so and so popped up to our surprise and the offer met our needs as well as KD's best, so we did it" The number of guys in the league for whom the team is legit not even taking discussion calls is really short---GA, LBJ, etc. Even Tatum likely the Celts listen to the offer before saying "no chance". So I don't buy given the history and trade request that KD is in that first group anymore.
 

Ed Hillel

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One very real possibility is that there was no offer for a location that KD wanted to go.
That would be strange, because it seems his side has been leaking that Boston is somewhere he'd be interested and, unless all these reports are wrong, there was a legitimate trade offer there. My guess is they said nobody has offered enough, so our best move is to put out this statement as a hope people will increase their offers, otherwise you're stuck here. I still think he'll be on another team by the end of the trade deadline. It's just quite difficult to negotiate when a team thinks there's no real chance Brooklyn will keep KD and is being forced to trade him.
 

The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa

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That would be strange, because it seems his side has been leaking that Boston is somewhere he'd be interested and, unless all these reports are wrong, there was a legitimate trade offer there. My guess is they said nobody has offered enough, so our best move is to put out this statement as a hope people will increase their offers, otherwise you're stuck here. I still think he'll be on another team by the end of the trade deadline. It's just quite difficult to negotiate when a team thinks there's no real chance Brooklyn will keep KD and is being forced to trade him.
Rangers Say Alex Rodriguez Is Going to Stay in Texas

"It is time for the Texas Rangers to look forward to the 2004 season with Alex Rodriguez as our shortstop and team leader."
 

Smokey Joe

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That would be strange, because it seems his side has been leaking that Boston is somewhere he'd be interested and, unless all these reports are wrong, there was a legitimate trade offer there. My guess is they said nobody has offered enough, so our best move is to put out this statement as a hope people will increase their offers, otherwise you're stuck here. I still think he'll be on another team by the end of the trade deadline. It's just quite difficult to negotiate when a team thinks there's no real chance Brooklyn will keep KD and is being forced to trade him.
I have strong suspicions that the “trade offer” and the “interest” were there to prod other teams to make or improve their offer.
Thank God that crap is over with. Now we get to watch Danny play the Knicks like a fish.
 

benhogan

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Nice win for the Nets. Getting Ky on a 1yr make good deal and KD to return is better than blowing it up. Marks trade demands were absurd, but part of their strategy had to be to get Ky/KD/BS to return

Happy that Brad/IME are running back this group + Brog/Gallo

I imagine in his next interview PBS will say something to the effect:
1. The fervent NBA media interest was much greater than any actual conversations
2. Every NBA team would want a Jaylen Brown and we're happy he's with us
 

TripleOT

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Let’s see if there’s even a week with no Kevin Durant trade rumors among the NBA pundits.

Assuming that their big three can stay healthy and not act like lunatics, the Nets should be a pretty good team. They added two things that they desperately needed in the playoffs: a lockdown wing defender in Simmons, and a knockdown three-point shooter in Joe Harris. If TJ Warren can be half of Bubble TJ Warren, that’s also a good get, as is Royce O’Neale. They’re going to be a difficult playoff out, if healthy.
 

PedroKsBambino

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That would be strange, because it seems his side has been leaking that Boston is somewhere he'd be interested and, unless all these reports are wrong, there was a legitimate trade offer there. My guess is they said nobody has offered enough, so our best move is to put out this statement as a hope people will increase their offers, otherwise you're stuck here. I still think he'll be on another team by the end of the trade deadline. It's just quite difficult to negotiate when a team thinks there's no real chance Brooklyn will keep KD and is being forced to trade him.
I think "offer" is a much looser term than people hear it to be. As Zach Lowe (I think) said, it is not like there's an "offer" button that NBA GMs hit. What they do is discuss players, and until they call the deal into the league there is no real clarity on what's "offered" and how close something else.

It would be surprising, given the reporting, if the Celtics and Nets did not have a discussion or two that mentioned specific names of players. I do not think it requires the reporting to be wrong to believe that the teams never got past concepts like "well, if you put Jaylen, White, and a 1st in the deal we'd still say no" or "we wouldn't deal Smart under any scenario, but White/Jaylen/Picks are available in some combination" which is not really an offer.

I obviously have no idea, but I know from many years of following trade rumors closely and also reading books and interviews with execs after they leave the role that taking what we read in the media about trades as 'facts' is a very bad approach
 

RorschachsMask

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View: https://twitter.com/BrianTRobb/status/1562189530391728128?s=20&t=UTb6w0nuF-nLWJMtbTtmZw


Stevens added: ”We’re excited to move forward with our team and that’s really been our focus for a while. You say it’s been busy and there’s been a lot of talk but it hasn’t been from me. Hopefully, it gave everyone something to talk about. It’s been pretty quiet on our front for a while now.”

“Of course,” Stevens said of whether he’s been in contact with Brown. “Jaylen’s been through this from the standpoint of listening and the noise has been around him for a long time, big names over the years. I think one of the things you have to be able to do is ignore the noise and know what’s important. Also, be able to reach out and have candid and transparent communications with the people involved. We’ve had those and been very open from the get-go as all of this has been going on for any of our guys. I sat down with Jaylen last week in LA. He looked great and he will be back to Boston soon.”
 
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EvilEmpire

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Trading him? Because he seemed to be the stumbling block in a lot of KD trade scenarios.
Most likely, yeah. But first they've got to get him on the court. I think if Simmons plays at all, he's tradeable. And he does need to be traded for Brooklyn to have the widest range of trade options.

But what if Simmons plays and is great? If his issues really are behind him, he balls out, and the fit on the court with KD and Kyrie is awesome, maybe the Nets keep him, give Kyrie an extension, and KD is content to stay right where he is at. OK, I couldn't type that last bit with a straight face. But yeah, I think the widest range of possible outcomes for Brooklyn as a team (not just trade options) might depend on Ben Simmons. What he can or can't do and what that looks like on the court (or off) with Kyrie and KD.

Brooklyn needs time to figure that out, and now I think they have it.
 

nighthob

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SO for the Betters how do I bet AGAINST Brooklyn at 15/2....like if talk to a loan shark, give him my wife and kids as Collateral (all of whom I love) and ask for 1 million.....how can I bet it that Brooklyn wont win a championship.
Watching Ben Simmons deal with the Kyvin Irvrant locker room is going to be the best part of the ‘23 season. I’d be looking for the Vegas odds on BS going full frontal wackadoodle by the All Star Break.
 

snowmanny

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I’m going to assume this is only partial wackadoodle so I am curious as to what full frontal looks like:

1A0EAC7D-C4D7-4916-93F7-498279FB9B4F.jpeg
 

Jimbodandy

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I think "offer" is a much looser term than people hear it to be. As Zach Lowe (I think) said, it is not like there's an "offer" button that NBA GMs hit. What they do is discuss players, and until they call the deal into the league there is no real clarity on what's "offered" and how close something else.

It would be surprising, given the reporting, if the Celtics and Nets did not have a discussion or two that mentioned specific names of players. I do not think it requires the reporting to be wrong to believe that the teams never got past concepts like "well, if you put Jaylen, White, and a 1st in the deal we'd still say no" or "we wouldn't deal Smart under any scenario, but White/Jaylen/Picks are available in some combination" which is not really an offer.

I obviously have no idea, but I know from many years of following trade rumors closely and also reading books and interviews with execs after they leave the role that taking what we read in the media about trades as 'facts' is a very bad approach
Yeah I'd bet a lot that this is how it went. Guys don't fax offers like they're buying a 3 bedroom colonial. It's a conversation. If they talked at all (and they almost certainly did), then Jaylen's name came up. That doesn't mean that Brad had Marks on a zoom call with the ESPN trade machine on his second monitor.

I'm glad that we're rolling this team out there and hopeful that Brad can still make an improvement here and there (legit, cheap backup big who won't kill you) before the playoffs.
 

Jimbodandy

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RorschachsMask

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I’ll believe them all playing together when I see it, but in theory, this lineup is fascinating as hell.

Kyrie/Harris/Warren/KD/Simmons

Or with Seth at the 2, with Harris at the 3.
 

Smokey Joe

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During this KD episode, both Shams and Woj have shown themselves to be unreliable reporters. They are way too eager to carry water for the teams and the stars and way too eager to generate clicks.
 

Swedgin

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Agreed on both counts.

Assuming Simmons plays, being on the court with four shooters could be huge.
Defense will be the challenge. To date Simmons has not shown himself to be a capable rim protector or post defender - though maybe when the game' really matter KD is functionally the 5 on defense.
 

Jimbodandy

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Defense will be the challenge. To date Simmons has not shown himself to be a capable rim protector or post defender - though maybe when the game' really matter KD is functionally the 5 on defense.
That's totally fair. Against a center with old school skills, the BRK death lineups would not work in late and close situations. Against Philly for example, you probably don't run that lineup in January games much, let alone in the playoffs. But most teams in 2022, the C is either just a tall wing or not a guy that you want to hump the low post or both.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Defense will be the challenge. To date Simmons has not shown himself to be a capable rim protector or post defender - though maybe when the game' really matter KD is functionally the 5 on defense.
Warren wasn't a great defender (in general - not talking about him in the context of who defends the "five" for the Nets) even before he went on the shelf. You have to imagine coming back from a foot injury at age 29 isn't ideal for him playing his best D.

Back to their bigs defense, maybe we are all thinking about this wrong and Kyrie really is the best BKNY defender in the post.
 

Jimbodandy

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Warren wasn't a great defender (in general - not talking about him in the context of who defends the "five" for the Nets) even before the injury. You have to imagine coming back from a foot injury at age 29 isn't ideal.

Back to their bigs defense, maybe we are all thinking about this wrong and Kyrie really is the best BKNY defender in the post.
You have to expand your thinking. There isn't just one reality, there are many. And defense isn't an individual thing. It's a collective consciousness. One mind, like a hive mind. And Kyrie is the queen bee.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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You have to expand your thinking. There isn't just one reality, there are many. And defense isn't an individual thing. It's a collective consciousness. One mind, like a hive mind. And Kyrie is the queen bee.
Bang!

I still think the C's failed to give him a legitimate shot to defend Giannis. Perhaps we need to redefine what we mean by "defend" too.

But in all seriousness, on paper that Nets rotation looks like a sieve, even accounting for Simmons and Durant. They will likely need all of their respective wing-spans, foot-speed etc. They will probably be fun to watch though because they can keep up with anyone offensively.
 

Euclis20

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People have been talking about using Simmons as a point center forever, but it seems to both waste his greatest strength defensively (bothering guards and matching up with big wings as well as any defender in the league) while simultaneously forcing him to bang under the rim all the time, which seems like a bad idea for a guy whose missed 2 of the last 3 postseasons with back injuries. Playing Durant extended minutes at center is a bad idea as well considering his recent injury history. They're going to have to give lots of center minutes to a 3rd guy (Claxton?) who like Simmons, will be unable to score outside of the paint. It's 2022, any offense that is forced to play two complete non-shooters at the same time is going to have some spacing issues, even if the other 3 guys are some of the best scorers and shooters in the league.
 

benhogan

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People have been talking about using Simmons as a point center forever, but it seems to both waste his greatest strength defensively (bothering guards and matching up with big wings as well as any defender in the league) while simultaneously forcing him to bang under the rim all the time, which seems like a bad idea for a guy whose missed 2 of the last 3 postseasons with back injuries. Playing Durant extended minutes at center is a bad idea as well considering his recent injury history. They're going to have to give lots of center minutes to a 3rd guy (Claxton?) who like Simmons, will be unable to score outside of the paint. It's 2022, any offense that is forced to play two complete non-shooters at the same time is going to have some spacing issues, even if the other 3 guys are some of the best scorers and shooters in the league.
It's about time for the Net PR machine to start posting videos of Mills, Simmons, Curry, Harris all hitting 3s together in practice ;)

Simmons as a point center has only been discussed as small-ball option against 2nd units in the past

A starting lineup of Simmons, Kyrie, Durant, Curry and Claxton will score plenty. BUT could also see them using BS as a small-ball Center against 2nd units. Would not expect them to subject KD to any excessive pounding inside as a 5
 

Auger34

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It's about time for the Net PR machine to start posting videos of Mills, Simmons, Curry, Harris all hitting 3s together in practice ;)

Simmons as a point center has only been discussed as small-ball option against 2nd units in the past

A starting lineup of Simmons, Kyrie, Durant, Curry and Claxton will score plenty. BUT could also see them using BS as a small-ball Center against 2nd units. Would not expect them to subject KD to any excessive pounding inside as a 5
That would be a really fun line up to watch. They would score a ton and they also couldn’t defend a good college team. Lots of 140-135 games
 

benhogan

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That would be a really fun line up to watch. They would score a ton and they also couldn’t defend a good college team. Lots of 140-135 games
Vegas has the Nets as 4th highest odds of winning the Championship (higher than MIL). The Nets definitely have implosion/injury potential but there is also a world where they put it all together.

It's the same with Harden, he looked pretty toasty at the end of last season, but still keeping a somewhat curious eye on the 76ers.

The NBA package will get major usage with lots of storylines this season.
 

Ed Hillel

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A cynic would ask how many games they will both be healthy and active....10? 20? We'll see
Well, that's true, though it sure would make for great TV when they were suddenly both healthy (maybe not in Simmons's case) for the playoffs and had to share a court when the stakes got biggest. Assuming they make the playoffs.