NBA Season 2024-25

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Apparently Turner has a respiratory illness. Limiting in games as well as practice.  Able to play but lacking some stamina.  Likely explains his inconsistent play and effort from game 3.

When was the last time he matched up with Zinger?

[Redz]

The Phoenix Suns star Durant is expected to be traded away by next week, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reported on Wednesday. Appearing on the Burns & Gambo show, Gambadoro added that it could be sooner but that his formal prediction is that Durant will be traded at some point next week. I expect Kevin Durant will be traded from the Phoenix Suns next week, said Gambadoro. There?s a lot of stuff out there. Some of it?s accurate, a lot of it is not accurate. We?ve said it all along that he will be traded by the draft. Outside shot that something happens sooner. But I?m gonna say that next week, my expectations are Kevin Durant is traded.via Larry Brown Sports

He's had an odd career.  I wonder how many more stops he'll make before hanging it up.  He still puts uo numbers but doesn't seem to contribute a ton to winning.  Carmelo hung around forever.

[Who]

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook will decline his $3.4 million player option for next season and will opt for free agency. Westbrook signed a two-year, veteran minimum contract with the Nuggets last season, which included a player option for the 2025-26 season.

In 75 games (36 starts), the veteran point guard averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Hard to imagine Westbrook finding a better fit than he had in Denver.

[johnnygreen]

Durant has been essentially a net negative asset since leaving Golden State. He puts up great numbers, but it doesn't translate to winning.

I believe someone on X brought this up recently and Durant responded. Durant mentioned his stats and winning gold medals. I think he fails to recognize that he is just another player on a loaded Olympic team. On an NBA team, he is the #1 option, and that's when it doesn't translate to winning.

I absolutely wanted KD in the summer of free agency before he ultimately went to Golden State. Now, I wouldn't want to give up the assets to trade for him.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Durant has been essentially a net negative asset since leaving Golden State. He puts up great numbers, but it doesn't translate to winning.

I believe someone on X brought this up recently and Durant responded. Durant mentioned his stats and winning gold medals. I think he fails to recognize that he is just another player on a loaded Olympic team. On an NBA team, he is the #1 option, and that's when it doesn't translate to winning.

I absolutely wanted KD in the summer of free agency before he ultimately went to Golden State. Now, I wouldn't want to give up the assets to trade for him.

I want to disagree with you a little. During the Tokyo Olympics, Durant was the difference-maker for Team USA. While the teams (especially 2024) were stacked to the gills, two performances stick out to me that say this guy can still impact winning.

The gold medal game against France in 2020(1), when he had a scoring explosion late in the 4th, combined with acouple of stops to drag the USA clear, and a group game against Serbia in 2024 when he came off the bech midway through the first half and went 10-10 (I think) to blow the game completely wide open.

[slamtheking]

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook will decline his $3.4 million player option for next season and will opt for free agency. Westbrook signed a two-year, veteran minimum contract with the Nuggets last season, which included a player option for the 2025-26 season.

In 75 games (36 starts), the veteran point guard averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Hard to imagine Westbrook finding a better fit than he had in Denver.

all about the $

[Birdman]

Doubt he gotta get a better contract somewhere else with his age

[Goldstar88]

Durant has been essentially a net negative asset since leaving Golden State. He puts up great numbers, but it doesn't translate to winning.

I believe someone on X brought this up recently and Durant responded. Durant mentioned his stats and winning gold medals. I think he fails to recognize that he is just another player on a loaded Olympic team. On an NBA team, he is the #1 option, and that's when it doesn't translate to winning.

I absolutely wanted KD in the summer of free agency before he ultimately went to Golden State. Now, I wouldn't want to give up the assets to trade for him.

If KD goes to Minnesota, he won?t have to be the #1 option. If he?s trying to win, that would be a good place for him to go.

[Who]

Durant has been essentially a net negative asset since leaving Golden State. He puts up great numbers, but it doesn't translate to winning.

I believe someone on X brought this up recently and Durant responded. Durant mentioned his stats and winning gold medals. I think he fails to recognize that he is just another player on a loaded Olympic team. On an NBA team, he is the #1 option, and that's when it doesn't translate to winning.

I absolutely wanted KD in the summer of free agency before he ultimately went to Golden State. Now, I wouldn't want to give up the assets to trade for him.

If KD goes to Minnesota, he won?t have to be the #1 option. If he?s trying to win, that would be a good place for him to go.

I don't understand what Minnesota is meant to give up to get Durant. Randle is a free agent.

[Goldstar88]

Durant has been essentially a net negative asset since leaving Golden State. He puts up great numbers, but it doesn't translate to winning.

I believe someone on X brought this up recently and Durant responded. Durant mentioned his stats and winning gold medals. I think he fails to recognize that he is just another player on a loaded Olympic team. On an NBA team, he is the #1 option, and that's when it doesn't translate to winning.

I absolutely wanted KD in the summer of free agency before he ultimately went to Golden State. Now, I wouldn't want to give up the assets to trade for him.

If KD goes to Minnesota, he won?t have to be the #1 option. If he?s trying to win, that would be a good place for him to go.

I don't understand what Minnesota is meant to give up to get Durant. Randle is a free agent.

Would be the main piece. Maybe Dillingham and another role player. A first round pick.

[Who]

Durant has been essentially a net negative asset since leaving Golden State. He puts up great numbers, but it doesn't translate to winning.

I believe someone on X brought this up recently and Durant responded. Durant mentioned his stats and winning gold medals. I think he fails to recognize that he is just another player on a loaded Olympic team. On an NBA team, he is the #1 option, and that's when it doesn't translate to winning.

I absolutely wanted KD in the summer of free agency before he ultimately went to Golden State. Now, I wouldn't want to give up the assets to trade for him.

If KD goes to Minnesota, he won?t have to be the #1 option. If he?s trying to win, that would be a good place for him to go.

I don't understand what Minnesota is meant to give up to get Durant. Randle is a free agent.

Would be the main piece. Maybe Dillingham and another role player. A first round pick.

With Naz Reid replacing Gobert as starting center?

[keevsnick]

Durant has been essentially a net negative asset since leaving Golden State. He puts up great numbers, but it doesn't translate to winning.

I believe someone on X brought this up recently and Durant responded. Durant mentioned his stats and winning gold medals. I think he fails to recognize that he is just another player on a loaded Olympic team. On an NBA team, he is the #1 option, and that's when it doesn't translate to winning.

I absolutely wanted KD in the summer of free agency before he ultimately went to Golden State. Now, I wouldn't want to give up the assets to trade for him.

If KD goes to Minnesota, he won?t have to be the #1 option. If he?s trying to win, that would be a good place for him to go.

I don't understand what Minnesota is meant to give up to get Durant. Randle is a free agent.

The obvious option is including Gobert as part of the deal, but he doesn't HAVE TO be a part of a deal.

Another possibility would be Randle opting in to his deal with the understanding he'd receive an extension once traded to the Suns. Opting in and extending might actually be his best way to get paid, given that only Brk has more than the non-tax mid-level to spend on free agents this offseason.

The Wolves could fill out an offer with some combination of #17 and #31 this year, Rob Dillingham who was #8 last draft, Terrence Shannon who was #27 last draft, a solid rotation player like DiVincenzo making 2/22, an expiring contract like Mike Conley on 1/10.

They have a lot the Suns would probably be interested in, some young pieces and some more established guys if Suns want to stay competitive.

[tazzmaniac]

Durant has been essentially a net negative asset since leaving Golden State. He puts up great numbers, but it doesn't translate to winning.

I believe someone on X brought this up recently and Durant responded. Durant mentioned his stats and winning gold medals. I think he fails to recognize that he is just another player on a loaded Olympic team. On an NBA team, he is the #1 option, and that's when it doesn't translate to winning.

I absolutely wanted KD in the summer of free agency before he ultimately went to Golden State. Now, I wouldn't want to give up the assets to trade for him.

If KD goes to Minnesota, he won?t have to be the #1 option. If he?s trying to win, that would be a good place for him to go.

I don't understand what Minnesota is meant to give up to get Durant. Randle is a free agent.

Would be the main piece. Maybe Dillingham and another role player. A first round pick.

The salary matching between the two teams is very hard.  Finally got a success with KD for Gobert, Conley, Dillingham and Garza.   

[keevsnick]

Durant has been essentially a net negative asset since leaving Golden State. He puts up great numbers, but it doesn't translate to winning.

I believe someone on X brought this up recently and Durant responded. Durant mentioned his stats and winning gold medals. I think he fails to recognize that he is just another player on a loaded Olympic team. On an NBA team, he is the #1 option, and that's when it doesn't translate to winning.

I absolutely wanted KD in the summer of free agency before he ultimately went to Golden State. Now, I wouldn't want to give up the assets to trade for him.

If KD goes to Minnesota, he won?t have to be the #1 option. If he?s trying to win, that would be a good place for him to go.

I don't understand what Minnesota is meant to give up to get Durant. Randle is a free agent.

Would be the main piece. Maybe Dillingham and another role player. A first-round pick.

The salary matching between the two teams is very hard.  Finally got a success with KD for Gobert, Conley, Dillingham and Garza.

The deal becomes a lot easier if Randle opts in. Then he becomes the central contract of the deal and gets an extension with Suns and the Suns get a borderline all-star kind of guy who can keep them competitive alongside Booker.

It just depedns on what the Suns actually want. Randle may the bets RIGHT NOW player they can get for Durant, but maybe they prefer young gusy and draft picks in which case Houston probably has a better offer. Also depends on where Durant WANTS to go. Minnesota made back to back WCF with KAT and Randle as #2's, got to figure Durant thinks he can improve on them.

[Who]

My first reaction to trading Gobert for Durant is that it won't improve Minnesota. It will be fixing one problem by creating another. That if Minnesota lose Gobert's interior defense, they will no longer be a high level defensive team. They fix their offense with Durant but capsize their defense by losing Gobert.

Randle is the guy I would want to trade.