Knicks · Lets talk about Kevin Durant (page 2)
There is no doubt in my mind that swapping KAT for Durant will immediately skyrocket our title odds for the next 2 seasons.
I personally would love KD and that love comes with major concerns about his injury.
If he avoids major injury I think he has 3 good years (I'm good with extension) and he's still a top 5 or top 10 scorer in this league.
How many times did ball find Mikal or OG and a big brick followed -- KD is a different animal.
Looking at roughly 15 minute 2024/25 highlight clip and the man (37 in Sep) is still moving beautifully.
Some concerns he's no longer attacking the basket but ~5.5 free throws per game last year --- compare that to Mikal's ~0.5.
Rookie wrote:I mean I don't really hate it. He played 62 games averaging 52.7 from the field, 43.0 from 3, 6 Reb, 4 ast, 1.2 blocks, 26.6 points at 36.5 minutes last season. If we can do something at a realistic cost I'm in. The numbers for a Durant/KAT swap work out. I f we could basically turn Randle/Divo and Detroits 1st rd pick into the Slim Reaper, that's a deal I wouldn't walk away from.Also, KD is guaranteed to get moved. The Freak, I don't think it happens. Pho would get an AS player in his prime in return. Who else is offering that?
Let's say we get KD and are able to keep Jalen/Kat as well --- the 3 of these guys will allow us to always have a go to guy on the court -- sometimes 2 and sometimes all 3.
Resting each at various times also provides more shots for the other 2 and a chance for us to develop our bench.
Depending on the price I think KD would be GREAT.
If it in fact were including Kat -- I think Knicks deserve additional pieces coming back simply because of the 7 year age differential.
VDesai wrote:There's like a non-quantifiable team chemistry effect that has lingered over his last two stops. Age and durability are massive issues...
I go back to how he fit in at both GS and Brooklyn.
Hell watching him in Brooklyn - the ball was moving and he was floating around simply killing people. Brooklyn broke down when Harden went down and Kyrie went loco.
With Durant his head clearly has to be in the right place and if he indeed wants NY I would take my chances.
I will say that someone like Kat with his casual D and mind-blowing mental errors is someone who probably could set Durant off. I think Durant is mostly all business and part of me thinks Kat would not mesh well with him because Kat just doesn't fully lock in.
Bridges / Hart
OG /
Durant /
Robinson /
Hmm. I’m emotionally against the trade but swapping Towns for Durant basically erases 3 years of Towns extension for Durant’s 37 year old season. He’s about as fundamentally sound of a player as has ever existed. He’s can play SF or PF - a fundamental mismatch at either position. His usage is not as high as Giannis (or Brunson) but it begs the question whether he would come in here as a gunslinging rental or would want his own team.
You would need to focus any remaining assets to obtain both a backup PF and a C - hard to rely on either Durant or Robinson being healthy for more than 60+ games.
You risk losing Durant after this season which puts the team core at Brunson/OG, since Bridges is also a potential free agent after this year.
I’d be worried they approach a “starphuch” situation to make the most of KD’s season (also worried that they extend him, though players do seem to last longer now then they used to.
Fundamentally, I think the starting 5 would be more productive on paper with KD instead of KAT. I just don’t really like the team’s competitive window with this move.
I wouldn’t run screaming like I thought I would. It just messes the timeline up a bit
EwingsGlass wrote:Brunson / Deuce
Bridges / Hart
OG /
Durant /
Robinson /Hmm. I’m emotionally against the trade but swapping Towns for Durant basically erases 3 years of Towns extension for Durant’s 37 year old season. He’s about as fundamentally sound of a player as has ever existed. He’s can play SF or PF - a fundamental mismatch at either position. His usage is not as high as Giannis (or Brunson) but it begs the question whether he would come in here as a gunslinging rental or would want his own team.
You would need to focus any remaining assets to obtain both a backup PF and a C - hard to rely on either Durant or Robinson being healthy for more than 60+ games.
You risk losing Durant after this season which puts the team core at Brunson/OG, since Bridges is also a potential free agent after this year.
I’d be worried they approach a “starphuch” situation to make the most of KD’s season (also worried that they extend him, though players do seem to last longer now then they used to.
Fundamentally, I think the starting 5 would be more productive on paper with KD instead of KAT. I just don’t really like the team’s competitive window with this move.
I wouldn’t run screaming like I thought I would. It just messes the timeline up a bit
For me, if you are lining up a KAT-KD swap, you need to already establish and have a KD extension ready to be signed for an additional 2 years, that would be my assumption. As well, you would need to have a pretty good idea on another C back up, like Al Horford or Steven Adams.
Leon would cover it like that I'd assume.
Plus Suns can get more in theory if team he goes to is getting him for 3 years vs uncertain 1 year.
martin wrote:EwingsGlass wrote:Brunson / Deuce
Bridges / Hart
OG /
Durant /
Robinson /Hmm. I’m emotionally against the trade but swapping Towns for Durant basically erases 3 years of Towns extension for Durant’s 37 year old season. He’s about as fundamentally sound of a player as has ever existed. He’s can play SF or PF - a fundamental mismatch at either position. His usage is not as high as Giannis (or Brunson) but it begs the question whether he would come in here as a gunslinging rental or would want his own team.
You would need to focus any remaining assets to obtain both a backup PF and a C - hard to rely on either Durant or Robinson being healthy for more than 60+ games.
You risk losing Durant after this season which puts the team core at Brunson/OG, since Bridges is also a potential free agent after this year.
I’d be worried they approach a “starphuch” situation to make the most of KD’s season (also worried that they extend him, though players do seem to last longer now then they used to.
Fundamentally, I think the starting 5 would be more productive on paper with KD instead of KAT. I just don’t really like the team’s competitive window with this move.
I wouldn’t run screaming like I thought I would. It just messes the timeline up a bit
For me, if you are lining up a KAT-KD swap, you need to already establish and have a KD extension ready to be signed for an additional 2 years, that would be my assumption. As well, you would need to have a pretty good idea on another C back up, like Al Horford or Steven Adams.
Leon would cover it like that I'd assume.
Don't love KD, but I would stomach this move. KD one of the few players that represent a true offensive upgrade on KAT, but you likely move back to having a traditional 5 in the lineup under this configuration - Mitch+whomever else.
Think a move like that puts even more pressure on next year being the year. KD at 36 can still put up 27 in his sleep, but with all the severe injuries he's had in his in last 8 or seasons, I'm not sure what his remaining shelf life is.
VDesai wrote:martin wrote:EwingsGlass wrote:Brunson / Deuce
Bridges / Hart
OG /
Durant /
Robinson /Hmm. I’m emotionally against the trade but swapping Towns for Durant basically erases 3 years of Towns extension for Durant’s 37 year old season. He’s about as fundamentally sound of a player as has ever existed. He’s can play SF or PF - a fundamental mismatch at either position. His usage is not as high as Giannis (or Brunson) but it begs the question whether he would come in here as a gunslinging rental or would want his own team.
You would need to focus any remaining assets to obtain both a backup PF and a C - hard to rely on either Durant or Robinson being healthy for more than 60+ games.
You risk losing Durant after this season which puts the team core at Brunson/OG, since Bridges is also a potential free agent after this year.
I’d be worried they approach a “starphuch” situation to make the most of KD’s season (also worried that they extend him, though players do seem to last longer now then they used to.
Fundamentally, I think the starting 5 would be more productive on paper with KD instead of KAT. I just don’t really like the team’s competitive window with this move.
I wouldn’t run screaming like I thought I would. It just messes the timeline up a bit
For me, if you are lining up a KAT-KD swap, you need to already establish and have a KD extension ready to be signed for an additional 2 years, that would be my assumption. As well, you would need to have a pretty good idea on another C back up, like Al Horford or Steven Adams.
Leon would cover it like that I'd assume.
Don't love KD, but I would stomach this move. KD one of the few players that represent a true offensive upgrade on KAT, but you likely move back to having a traditional 5 in the lineup under this configuration - Mitch+whomever else.
Think a move like that puts even more pressure on next year being the year. KD at 36 can still put up 27 in his sleep, but with all the severe injuries he's had in his in last 8 or seasons, I'm not sure what his remaining shelf life is.
Yeah I'm the same, don't love it but could almost understand it.
It's a solid 2-3 year window. It gives you another elite ball handler. Forces something a bit more traditional at the C position but that could be a strength with something like Horford, Mitch, Huk for first year.
Brunson Mikal OG Durant Mitch
Kolek Deuce McCullar Hart Dadiet Huk Horford
vet min PG, vet min shooter
It's not horrible.
martin wrote:VDesai wrote:martin wrote:EwingsGlass wrote:Brunson / Deuce
Bridges / Hart
OG /
Durant /
Robinson /Hmm. I’m emotionally against the trade but swapping Towns for Durant basically erases 3 years of Towns extension for Durant’s 37 year old season. He’s about as fundamentally sound of a player as has ever existed. He’s can play SF or PF - a fundamental mismatch at either position. His usage is not as high as Giannis (or Brunson) but it begs the question whether he would come in here as a gunslinging rental or would want his own team.
You would need to focus any remaining assets to obtain both a backup PF and a C - hard to rely on either Durant or Robinson being healthy for more than 60+ games.
You risk losing Durant after this season which puts the team core at Brunson/OG, since Bridges is also a potential free agent after this year.
I’d be worried they approach a “starphuch” situation to make the most of KD’s season (also worried that they extend him, though players do seem to last longer now then they used to.
Fundamentally, I think the starting 5 would be more productive on paper with KD instead of KAT. I just don’t really like the team’s competitive window with this move.
I wouldn’t run screaming like I thought I would. It just messes the timeline up a bit
For me, if you are lining up a KAT-KD swap, you need to already establish and have a KD extension ready to be signed for an additional 2 years, that would be my assumption. As well, you would need to have a pretty good idea on another C back up, like Al Horford or Steven Adams.
Leon would cover it like that I'd assume.
Don't love KD, but I would stomach this move. KD one of the few players that represent a true offensive upgrade on KAT, but you likely move back to having a traditional 5 in the lineup under this configuration - Mitch+whomever else.
Think a move like that puts even more pressure on next year being the year. KD at 36 can still put up 27 in his sleep, but with all the severe injuries he's had in his in last 8 or seasons, I'm not sure what his remaining shelf life is.
Yeah I'm the same, don't love it but could almost understand it.
It's a solid 2-3 year window. It gives you another elite ball handler. Forces something a bit more traditional at the C position but that could be a strength with something like Horford, Mitch, Huk for first year.
Brunson Mikal OG Durant Mitch
Kolek Deuce McCullar Hart Dadiet Huk Horford
vet min PG, vet min shooterIt's not horrible.
Far from horrible, if you land a Brogdon/Horford bench to add to Deuce and Hart, that's a top notch rotation.
Rookie wrote:Even though many of you don't like KD for whatever personal reasons, he would be the most talented player to wear a Knicks uniform since Ewing
Who will be 37 start of next season
Mitch in starter minutes would not help his injury prospects nor his fouling. On offense he is a liability and on the FT line a disaster.
Kat for all his warts was the second leading rebounder in the NBA.
Im more open with a KAT-KD-Brunson trio even if its at the expense of OG whom I absolutely love as a knick. Or a KAT-Giannis-Brunson core. These are low probability scenarios but remain conceptual until otherwise noted.
There are many things to consider including KD at 37 and prospects that few can sustain this level of output and be healthy. Lebron roided or not is a true freak of nature. Not even the Goat of Goats Jordan could string together as many seasons and output at this age. MJ had some time off along the way. At 39 he did put one really good season together in his swan song season but side by side games played, pts, minutes as a whole pales. Durant had just one bad tear that cost him a season but for the most part has been mostly durable.
Perhaps if he did not make over 50mil he'd have a fit. but he does.
If Leon wants out from Kats contract then there is a longer play here im not considering.
Im trying to keep my mind open.
LivingLegend wrote:Right - I think assumption is Durant will require 2+ year extension for team he is going to or he'll just communicate he won't re-sign with said team.Plus Suns can get more in theory if team he goes to is getting him for 3 years vs uncertain 1 year.
Wait so we get to trade KAT who is 29 and got us within 2 games of the Finals for Durant who is 37 and has only won as a second fiddle to Steph Curry? And we have to pay Durant MAX money and cap room through the age of 41?
Think I’ll pass.
VDesai wrote:martin wrote:VDesai wrote:martin wrote:EwingsGlass wrote:Brunson / Deuce
Bridges / Hart
OG /
Durant /
Robinson /Hmm. I’m emotionally against the trade but swapping Towns for Durant basically erases 3 years of Towns extension for Durant’s 37 year old season. He’s about as fundamentally sound of a player as has ever existed. He’s can play SF or PF - a fundamental mismatch at either position. His usage is not as high as Giannis (or Brunson) but it begs the question whether he would come in here as a gunslinging rental or would want his own team.
You would need to focus any remaining assets to obtain both a backup PF and a C - hard to rely on either Durant or Robinson being healthy for more than 60+ games.
You risk losing Durant after this season which puts the team core at Brunson/OG, since Bridges is also a potential free agent after this year.
I’d be worried they approach a “starphuch” situation to make the most of KD’s season (also worried that they extend him, though players do seem to last longer now then they used to.
Fundamentally, I think the starting 5 would be more productive on paper with KD instead of KAT. I just don’t really like the team’s competitive window with this move.
I wouldn’t run screaming like I thought I would. It just messes the timeline up a bit
For me, if you are lining up a KAT-KD swap, you need to already establish and have a KD extension ready to be signed for an additional 2 years, that would be my assumption. As well, you would need to have a pretty good idea on another C back up, like Al Horford or Steven Adams.
Leon would cover it like that I'd assume.
Don't love KD, but I would stomach this move. KD one of the few players that represent a true offensive upgrade on KAT, but you likely move back to having a traditional 5 in the lineup under this configuration - Mitch+whomever else.
Think a move like that puts even more pressure on next year being the year. KD at 36 can still put up 27 in his sleep, but with all the severe injuries he's had in his in last 8 or seasons, I'm not sure what his remaining shelf life is.
Yeah I'm the same, don't love it but could almost understand it.
It's a solid 2-3 year window. It gives you another elite ball handler. Forces something a bit more traditional at the C position but that could be a strength with something like Horford, Mitch, Huk for first year.
Brunson Mikal OG Durant Mitch
Kolek Deuce McCullar Hart Dadiet Huk Horford
vet min PG, vet min shooterIt's not horrible.
Far from horrible, if you land a Brogdon/Horford bench to add to Deuce and Hart, that's a top notch rotation.
Yeah, I do like Brogdon. I do wonder if you are contemplating a KAT-Durant type swap, do you also need to have pretty good assurances that Horford or Steve Adams are super solid about signing, cause I don't think you can do one without the other
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There is literally zero difference between this and KAT's contract on the ability to stay under the apron
KAT
25/26 53.1M
26/27 57.0M
27/28 61.0M
Philc1 wrote:Rookie wrote:Even though many of you don't like KD for whatever personal reasons, he would be the most talented player to wear a Knicks uniform since EwingWho will be 37 start of next season
I don't know what to make of the 37yo thing.
GS was AOK giving both Steph and Bulter the same contract.
Boston was AOK with trading for KP knowing his deal. Tatum and Brown also broke down this year and they only in their 20's. Horford was a key player on their team last year and this year and just turned 39 and played ~30mpg.
LeBron at 40 is ageless unicorn.
VDesai wrote:There's like a non-quantifiable team chemistry effect that has lingered over his last two stops. Age and durability are massive issues...
his last two gigs were quantifiable underperforming shit shows
it could be every one else's fault, but under paper the teams had talent
ToddTT wrote:Do we all just root for orange and blue?I have zero desire to see KD wearing it, and would not take much pride in seeing us win a championship with him.
I'd say that pure starphuckery was the reason, but I think I'd feel different about say, Giannis in a Knicks jersey.
this is how I feel too
this will not be good chemistry. Yes winning cures a lot of things, but if we start losing it can get ugly fast