Marc Stein: Spurs want in on Durant hunt, too

[DPG21920]

I love free agency, the draft & trade deadlines. However, not as much as playoff basketball. I give not two f*cks about anything other than destroying OKC right now. I'm not even remotely excited at the thought of Durant on SA because I don't care about anything other than SA destroying them tonight.

Game day, Bala.

[nowitzkikopf]

Zach Lowe, check
Marc Stein, check
Bleacher Report, check
Sports Illustrated, check
Real GM, check

This is a real thing. Offseason is gonna be exciting tbh

tony gives some of the most charming interviews out there tbqh

[Kawhitstorm]

People are making too much of wondering what Kawhi thinks about this. If this were like KG and Duncan, we'd know by now. While I do think Leonard would care about touches, I don't think he'd be upset with being the third option behind two great scorers. And he'd instantly be the best two-guard in the game. Only issue I think that would occur is that his rebounding would go down with him playing more on the perimeter.

I think Kawhi would be fine playing the KG role w/ LMA/KD being Allen/Pierce. That's the role he's most comfortable in right now anyways it's just that the Spurs don't have a third 20ppg scorer on the roster.

I don't see how anyone could defend Parker over Green. I can certainly see trading Danny with Durant in the fold, but with such limited roster space, you simply can't have Tony taking up that much room for being a fourth option who doesn't play defense and is a reluctant shooter. Move him for a package like Calderon and O'Quinn to get something like this:

Calderon, Mills, Pick
Leonard, $4-Million guard, Simmons
Durant, Anderson, Bertans
Aldridge, Diaw, LJC
O'Quinn, Boban, Lalanne

Calderon/Mills would be a disastrous backcourt as far as defense is concerned & Porker isn't the type of PG that Phil Jackson wants running the triangle. It's not like the Knicks have any young legit PGs that Porker could mentor & Melo/Porker/Porzingis are on different timelines.

Jeff Teague is DEFINITELY going to be moved over the summer so if PATFO also want to move Danny to create cap space then they can package Porker/Danny/Diaw(won't be much of a need w/ KD) for Teague/Tiago/Thabo(insurance on D). (Hawks should have plenty of cap space considering Horford is going to be a FA)

Porker goes back to the system he flourished in & can mentor Schroder while Danny will replace the declining Korver. If they lose Horford then they can sign a legit big & use Diaw for small-ball which Bud adores otherwise they can dump his partially guaranteed contract.

Tiago is a gamble but he would have to pass the physical & Boban/West would have to be retained. Considering that KD/Kawhi can play the 4 they would mitigate the lack of depth as far as starting Bigs are concerned.

Teague/Patty/GP II
Kawhi/Thabo/Simmons
KD/Fat Head/Bertans
LMA/West/Leuer
Tiago/Boban/?

[TheDoctor]

but..but..but...Splitter's D/screens ...dude in ing street clothes while his team getting torn a new one by the Cavs.. ...

[apalisoc_9]

People are making too much of wondering what Kawhi thinks about this. If this were like KG and Duncan, we'd know by now. While I do think Leonard would care about touches, I don't think he'd be upset with being the third option behind two great scorers. And he'd instantly be the best two-guard in the game. Only issue I think that would occur is that his rebounding would go down with him playing more on the perimeter.

I don't see how anyone could defend Parker over Green. I can certainly see trading Danny with Durant in the fold, but with such limited roster space, you simply can't have Tony taking up that much room for being a fourth option who doesn't play defense and is a reluctant shooter. Move him for a package like Calderon and O'Quinn to get something like this:

Calderon, Mills, Pick
Leonard, $4-Million guard, Simmons
Durant, Anderson, Bertans
Aldridge, Diaw, LJC
O'Quinn, Boban, Lalanne

As good as your offseason offebsive prediction last year

Danny Green 15ppg

[SAGirl]

So does everyone assume Danny is the odd one out?

His position is the one to be replaced and he's not a bench player. His defense gets wasted in the bench and he's not a 6th man type. His contract is also easier to move.

[baseline bum]

All of this Durant speculations, if true, does it mean that PATFO isn't confident about KL's offense? I mean even GS only has one or two players break out every game offensively.

I think it means the Spurs would love to add a first ballot hall of famer in his prime, like every other team in the league would.

[baseline bum]

I mean that wouldn't suck to have two of Leonard, Durant, and Aldridge on the floor at all times.

[sexinthatsx]

PATFO doing Kawhi dirty

"This is your team now Kawhi"

*proceeds to recruit two alphas to take his touches away

He's going to spend his prime as a third option

Smart move by PATFO tbh

So you think Manu and Tony Parker took touches away from Duncan? Did you think Duncan was going to win championships without Tony and Manu?
I can guarantee you that any objection from Kawhi over Durant whatsoever will result in Durant not coming to the Spurs.

[InRareForm]

we have a in playoff series to play... wtf with this

[YGWHI]

The only issue would be if Parker is kept, as he doesn't fit that lineup....I don't see how anyone could defend Parker over Green. I can certainly see trading Danny with Durant in the fold, but with such limited roster space, you simply can't have Tony taking up that much room for being a fourth option who doesn't play defense and is a reluctant shooter. Move him for a package like Calderon and O'Quinn

Unrealistic.

The Spurs won't trade Parker, that won't happen.

Pop's loyalty to the Big 3 will give him what he wants, and he said he wants to retire as a Spur.

Can't imagine a scenario where they trade Parker.

[random21]

BEAT HIM, THEN SIGN HIM IN JULY...........

[dabom]

As good as your offseason offebsive prediction last year

Danny Green 15ppg

[MI21]

I mean that wouldn't suck to have two of Leonard, Durant, and Aldridge on the floor at all times.

Nah man, rest them all to start the 4th

[tholdren]

KD is a got tbh. But at the end of the day I think the Spurs are finally getting the recognition and respect that they deserve. If Durant signs here then the Spurs earned every bit of future success that KD will bring.

[Cklbmk]

i dont see why we couldn't just small ball it against most teams with a lineup like

Mills-Green-Kawhi-Durant-Aldridge.

Rotate in a Boban when needed. Or maybe just run Kyle Anderson at PG and let Green/Kawhi take the harder assignments. They all have great length

[TheGreatYacht]

^ Vending Machine Head will be gone for a bag of chips.

[TheDoctor]

Pop sleuthed. KD to Spurs confirmed tbh.

You can say the same about Kevin Durant,
he's a heck of a player

Basically, he puts KL and KD as equals. Elite tier. Very clever use of words Pop.

[Stabula]

It's like catching a Pokemon. You have to defeat it in battle before you capture it for your own.

[Mnky]

It's like catching a Pokemon. You have to defeat it in battle before you capture it for your own.

[TheDoctor]

It's like catching a Pokemon. You have to defeat it in battle before you capture it for your own.

"Pokemon! Gotta chatch'em all"

[dbreiden83080]

BEAT HIM, THEN SIGN HIM IN JULY...........

A player of his caliber going Ring hunting for a better situation is pathetic.. He needs to stay put and make it work in his original city with his original team.

[Stabula]

I don't even want Durant. I mean yeah he's a gifted scorer but idk just too goty

[TheDoctor]

A player of his caliber going Ring hunting for a better situation is pathetic.. He needs to stay put and make it work in his original city with his original team.

Hmm, there are rules for what a player wants to do with his life/work or are you just expressing your opinion?

[BillMc]

Pop sleuthed. KD to Spurs confirmed tbh.

Basically, he puts KL and KD as equals. Elite tier. Very clever use of words Pop.

Thanks for posting this.