Phoenix Suns expect to part ways with Kevin Durant this offseason. Could the Spurs be a good landing place?

[scott]

Plot twist, he has been here all along!

There are some people's who recent stanning for him would make a lot more sense in that context

[scott]

If we get KD, will be fun to reconcile the excitement over having him with the "why are Castle/Harper only getting 8 shots a game!?!?!?" posts.

[vy65]

You got me. I'm Kevin Durant.

[spurraider21]

You got me. I'm Kevin Durant.

i knew it, crayola

[vy65]

i knew it, crayola

Was it my platform of bluster that gave it away?

[Frenchfred]

If we get KD, will be fun to reconcile the excitement over having him with the "why are Castle/Harper only getting 8 shots a game!?!?!?" posts.

Vassel and Keldon are taking 24 shots combined. Chris Paul 7 shots so that's 31 shots between KD and Harper; I think that it should be fine, no?

[Manu&Duncan fan]

Jollins will never even approach Durant’s level, come on.

It's funny people cling to an empty name - Kevin Durant, instead of the real one - 38-year old, injury-prone guy.

He is not Lebron, His level of play will fall off cliff in no time.

So, don't look at his stats from last season. We need to look for the next 3 years.

John Collins will be far better than Durant for the next 3 years.

[objective]

One other way to look at KD trade, which would have to include Vassell to make the numbers work:

Vassell is the Spurs shooting specialist, who has never shot 39.0% or better in his 5 year career

Durant has shot 40.0% or better from three for 8 seasons, including 4 of the last 5. Plus one more season of 39.1, for a total of 9 seasons hitting the three better than Vassell ever has. EVER.

A bet on KD isn't just a bet on KD, it's a bet against Vassell who just gets worse and worse on defense. And Vassell's opportunities WILL shrink whether he likes it or not further decreasing his value, same thing we've witnessed with Keldon.

Fox is going to assert himself. Castle is the ROY. Harper wants to play and win. Any supposed power forward traded for that doesn't send out Vassell like John Collins or PJ takes usage from Vassell.

And you're stuck paying Vassell anyway. What happens when he finishes his contract, the Spurs have no space and no leverage to replace him, and despite diminished value and play he wants even more? Going to be stuck paying him again? Can't afford to replace him.

Sure, the Spurs may be super young .... But look at OKC, about to wipe their ass with the east team and win a le with a 2nd year Chet and 3rd year J-Will and contributors up and down the rotation with youth and little playoff experience.

It's a new world

[Manu&Duncan fan]

If we get KD, will be fun to reconcile the excitement over having him with the "why are Castle/Harper only getting 8 shots a game!?!?!?" posts.

That's why I said Durant doesn't work for us unless he agrees to be our 5th option - only takes open shots.

[Manu&Duncan fan]

Another reason Durant is bad fit is that Spurs will likely want to play faster with our 3 fast guards and fast Alien.

Durant is too slow to fit into that style unless he plays maximum 25 minutes or so.

To be clear, I love Durant. No hatred or disrespect at all.

[exstatic]

Another reason Durant is bad fit is that Spurs will likely want to play faster with our 3 fast guards and fast Alien.

Durant is too slow to fit into that style unless he plays maximum 25 minutes or so.

To be clear, I love Durant. No hatred or disrespect at all.

It’s quite clear that you do hate him, but its a quiet hatred.

[objective]

Maybe, it also could mean he'll be great for trailing threes in early offense as the last guy coming up

[Manu&Duncan fan]

It’s quite clear that you do hate him, but its a quiet hatred.

Not sure your definition of hatred.

I love Curry too. Does that mean I want to trade for him at this age into this spurs team?

I enjoy watching them! But their time is coming to an end. Sometime in a sudden and sad way.

Look at Curry's Hamstring injury in this playoff. Is it hard to imagine Durant has similar injury at the most important time? The chance is high!

[scott]

Not sure the your definition of hatred.

I love Curry too. Does that mean I want to trade for him at this age into this spurs team?

I enjoy watching them! But their time is coming to an end. Sometime in a sudden and sad way.

Look at Curry's Hamstring injury in this playoff. Is it hard to imagine Durant has similar injury at the most important time? The chance is high!

Saying KD would be the 5th option behind Castle and Harper is the talk of an absolutely insane person, tbh.

[spurraider21]

*whispers*

kevin durant averaged 26.6ppg last year (6th in the league) on 53/43/84 splits

[Mnky]

wow a 15 game sample size. I can do the same thing the other was around:

Spurs also had the 6th best offense in March. So what does Mitch need KD for? Matter of fact, he doesn't even need Wemby, since Wemby didn't play in march.


If we get KD we still need complementary pieces who can rebound the damn ball and play defense. It ain't rocket science. And one in line up is not playing the entire 48 minutes.

I'm not even against aquiring KD. As long as he's ok with a 2-year extension for 30 million per year. But if that's the case put the Dallas swap and 3-4 second rounders up to add on to that. Sign a Jake LaRavia or trade for PJ Washington to get you some 3-and-D help to pair KD with in the front court.

Not at all the same. With Wemby, the Spurs were regularly a top 10 team defensive lineup with a 40 yr old Chris Paul and keldon Johnson playing the 4.

KD was in talks for defensive player of the year when he was with GS. He averages a couple blocks a game. The dude is a legit defensive playmaker and Fox is one of the best in the leage at steals. Those two would be a huge upgrade to a top 10 defensive lineup.

[spurraider21]

Not at all the same. With Wemby, the Spurs were regularly a top 10 team defensive lineup with a 40 yr old Chris Paul and keldon Johnson playing the 4.

KD was in talks for defensive player of the year when he was with GS. He averages a couple blocks a game. The dude is a legit defensive playmaker and Fox is one of the best in the leage at steals. Those two would be a huge upgrade to a top 10 defensive lineup.

there was 1 year with GSW where durant ranked 9th in DPOY voting. never cracked top 10 other than that one time.

but yes he is generally a good defender and the suns were relying on him as their top rim protector for much of last year. but like you said, he's a defensive playmaker much like Fox, even if he's not necessarily some possession to possession lockdown defender. we've already seen how wemby can make an otherwise ty defense look good with his elite play. tack on some event-creators like Fox/Durant/Castle and you are cooking. this is why i'm also quite high on both Fleming and Bryant at 14

[Mnky]

This is it for me, as well. Truly the tipping point that makes the whole thing worth it, price tag and age be damned.

Good vet presences, especially those who reached the peak of basketball heights, are invaluable to a young and learning team. I don't care if Durant's body doesn't hold as well as it did 10 years ago - his experience, wisdom, training regime, even his training drills are all extremely valuable for the Spurs' young players to learn from.

I don't think Durant's value is only expressed in his on-the-court production..... And he's a very productive player. That's saying something.

Chris Paul was huge in helping these youngins learn accountability and reality. Durant would play a similar role with the added benefit of being the MAN on his teams. He has so much to offer Wemby experience wise.

[Mnky]

there was 1 year with GSW where durant ranked 9th in DPOY voting. never cracked top 10 other than that one time.

but yes he is generally a good defender and the suns were relying on him as their top rim protector for much of last year. but like you said, he's a defensive playmaker much like Fox, even if he's not necessarily some possession to possession lockdown defender.

He's been the best offensive player in the league quite a bit of his career. When he was asked to be a defender too, he become DPOY candidate. Dude is just a baller.

[Manu&Duncan fan]

Chris Paul was huge in helping these youngins learn accountability and reality. Durant would play a similar role with the added benefit of being the MAN on his teams. He has so much to offer Wemby experience wise.

I totally agree, if he play similar role and takes similar money as Chris Paul.

[Manu&Duncan fan]

Saying KD would be the 5th option behind Castle and Harper is the talk of an absolutely insane person, tbh.

I meant 5th option average for the next 3 years.

Say, 2026 3rd option; 2027 5th; 2028 8th option.

FAIR Salary wise, 2026 $40 million; 2027 $20; 2028 $10 Million.

Similar to $53, MLE; MLE.

Am I still insane?

[Manu&Duncan fan]

*whispers*

kevin durant averaged 26.6ppg last year (6th in the league) on 53/43/84 splits

Talk to me again May 2027, after 2nd round of playoff, if he lasts that long.

[TD 21]

Durant is still an All-Star (some might argue All-NBA) caliber player, who is aging about as well as possible all things considered. He's not taking a massive pay cut or playing some tertiary role offensively and they're not getting him for flotsam and jetsam.

Interesting comment here 2025 NBA draft big board rankings: Top 100 prospects - ESPN about Jakucionis and Spurs being a potential lading spot before moving up, as well as a comment here NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Top prospects returned to college, but plenty of talent remains. Here's our latest look at every pick - Yahoo Sports about not being convinced taking Harper as plan A.

If Jakucionis was (is?) a target, then I wonder if my fake trade has legs. Disclaimer: not advocating for or suggesting Spurs would do this, just guessing that it'd have to be something like the following to consummate: 2, Vassell, K. Johnson to Nets; Claxton, C. Johnson and 19 to Suns; Durant and 8 to Spurs.

Durant would allow Wemby to play his game tbh. I think you would see the huge difference of how he is allowed to be guarded if Durant is in lineup with him. If you put role players at your forward spot it would be the same coverage for him.

Yeah, hide the C on and have him roam off Sochan would be kaput and while they'd just move them to Castle, the Spurs could pivot to utilizing the latter like the Celtics did Holiday, which is to say basically as a C: Short role play making, dunker spot, cutter.

Durant would also significantly upgrade the secondary rim protection/defensive rebounding from Barnes (who'd have to defend more 3) and Vassell. He could also pair with Sochan and if re-signed Mamukelashvili as 4/5 combos in small ball lineups.

[Ignazzz]

The Phoenix Suns are significantly above the NBA salary cap and luxury tax threshold, resulting in a high payroll and large luxury tax payments. Their high spending, driven by the acquisition of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, means they face substantial penalties for exceeding the salary cap. The Suns are currently projected to have a $219.9 million payroll and a $184.2 million luxury tax penalty, according to ThirdApron.com.

[tbdog]

what kind of playoff run? None of our players have ever been to the playoffs except Barnes. Fox has been to the first round once. They don't know anything about playoff basketball. Adding Durant won't change that.

This is a process and people somehow want to skip steps to go from lottery team to championship. When has this ever happened in NBA history?

Mate the thunder team had one playoff run before this one. And they just dismantled a veteran team.