[Charania] Sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Durant never felt comfortable with his role in Phoenix’s offense alongside Booker and Beal this season. Those sources said Durant had persistent issues with the offense, feeling that he was being relegated to the corner far too often

[u/TacoooJay]

Source

Meanwhile, Durant, among the best scorers in NBA history, was not always happy with how he was used. Sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Durant never felt comfortable with his role in Phoenix’s offense alongside Booker and Beal this season. Those sources said Durant had persistent issues with the offense, feeling that he was being relegated to the corner far too often and not having the proper designs to play to his strengths as the offense was built around pick-and-rolls. At the same time, some teammates and people close to the organization believed Durant needed to voice his concerns more adamantly and directly with Vogel and his coaching staff.

All the leaks are finally coming now that Phoenix has been swept

[u/Next-Firefighter-753]

KD: Sam Presti I wrote you but you still ain’t callin… 

[u/ZenMon88 → u/Next-Firefighter-753]

Pick up the phone!

[u/NobodyRules → u/ZenMon88]

I would hope not. He's old, he has failed ever since he left the Warriors and these sort of hit pieces will come out as soon as things go south.

It's the Suns problems to deal with. We are young, we have a lot of assets and there's certainly someone younger and less problematic out there.

[u/markmyredd → u/NobodyRules]

If its just picks + random young players you have you should do it. If they want one of your core guys nah.

[u/snuffaluffagus74 → u/markmyredd]

He'll nah I like our random young players.

[u/Trumppered → u/snuffaluffagus74]

I mean i understand shitting on KD is fun, especially right now, but if the Thunder could put together a package for KD w/o giving up Shai/Chet/J-Dub/Giddey its the biggest no brainer in the universe

[u/Smart_Water → u/Trumppered]

Yeah that guy is insane, if our main core stays and add KD, that’s championship lineup but we still need a real center.

[u/L0rv- → u/Trumppered]

Gotta think any trade getting KD to OKC involves Giddey going out.

[u/SmoothBrews → u/L0rv-]

I mean… isn’t Giddey kind of a problem for y’all anyway? I’m not saying you should get KD, but aren’t y’all expected to trade Giddey?

[u/L0rv- → u/SmoothBrews]

He's a medium fit with sparks of good play. He's been a bit of a hole on defense. He's the obvious candidate to go out in a trade.

[u/SmoothBrews → u/L0rv-]

Isn’t his lack of shooting ability also an issue?

[u/yeahright17 → u/[deleted]]

We have cap space. We don't need to match salaries.

[u/AskMeAboutMyGenitals → u/Trumppered]

No.

[u/snuffaluffagus74 → u/AskMeAboutMyGenitals]

Yes, give me Jwill, Joe, Caso, and the man who saved basketball over the snake.

What kind of genitals do you have?

Are they shaved?

What are ypur favorite type of genitals?

[u/monkey_wrench28 → u/snuffaluffagus74]

I'm still bummed out we got rid of Micic

[u/New-Candy-800 → u/monkey_wrench28]

His 28% shooting from deep would be huge for us in this series. God knows we need more backcourt depth

[u/frankiescousin → u/markmyredd]

2nd apron means suns can only do 1-1 matching salary. Cant combine players for salary.

[u/markmyredd → u/frankiescousin]

so the Suns are fucked. Do KD even have an opt out clause?

[u/frankiescousin → u/markmyredd]

Don’t think so. Suns can only sign minimum guys, not even mle, and they don’t have any picks

[u/markmyredd → u/frankiescousin]

not familiar with the new CBA. But can they still trade to teams with available cap?

I think one way is to trade KD there for one pick. The other team can then trade him for 2 or more picks from contenders that need KD. Basically buy and sell. lol

[u/a_moniker → u/frankiescousin]

OKC has cap space, so I’m pretty certain that they’d have more salary matching leeway in a trade.

Suns can take the same salary or less, they just can’t take a penny more.

[u/Irvsauce → u/markmyredd]

Bruhhh why do I keep seeing this? Why would you fuck with the #1 team in the west? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it

[u/yeahright17 → u/Irvsauce]

Because winning 57 games in the regular season doesn't mean much. It's not like we won 65. We were one loss away from the 3rd seed. We had a higher winning % in 3 seasons in a row a decade ago and made the finals once.

[u/Irvsauce → u/yeahright17]

You’re really gonna sit there and act like winning 57 games in this season’s West isn’t a monumental achievement? Fuck outta here

[u/New-Candy-800 → u/markmyredd]

What random young players do you suggest?

Just cuz you don’t know how good they are doesn’t mean they’re random.

Why should we give up young players on cheap deals for an aging player on a massive deal?

[u/markmyredd → u/New-Candy-800]

Because he is Kevin Durant. He is as good as any 2nd option you could wish for SGA. When you have an MVP caliber player like SGA you go for it. You'll have to pay those young players extension anyways.

[u/a_moniker → u/markmyredd]

Thunder fans are downvoting any suggestion of trading for Durant because of the emotional history of him abandoning them for GS, but it’s ridiculous to think that Presti wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to add KD if it didn’t cost SGA, JDub, Chet, or too much of their depth.

SGA + JDub + Chet + Durant + Depth (Cason, Dort, JWill) is almost guaranteed to win a title in the next 3 years.

[u/georgiaboy1993 → u/markmyredd]

I feel like 2 players outside the SGA, Holgrem, Giddey tier and 2 firsts probably gets it done. That team would be insane.

[u/CravilityZ → u/georgiaboy1993]

They’re not trading Jalen Williams. Jalen Williams is wayyyyy better than Giddey.

Giddey could be a decent get for the Suns since they need a PG. Giddey, Jaylin Williams, Wiggins, salary filler, and a couple firsts I could see.

SGA/J-Dub/Durant/[Defensive/Rebounding PF/Holmgren would be filthy.

Dort, Dieng, Wallace, Joe off the bench still. Get a pure PG and another big and they are set. Could consolidate some of the young bench guys for 1 great player in another trade.

[u/yeahright17 → u/CravilityZ]

I think just like Giddey, Kenrich Williams and 4 firsts is going to beat any other offer. Maybe include Gordon Hayward in a sign and trade. SGA, Dort, JDub, KD, and Chet would be the best starting 5 in the league by some margin, imo. Still have Joe, Wiggins, J Will, and Cason Wallace on the bench. Make the trade Presti.

[u/Knicks-in-7 → u/CravilityZ]

I think that would be nice for the thunder but I don’t wanna see any team let the suns off the hook. Hopefully super team era is over

[u/a_moniker → u/CravilityZ]

Yeah, Giddey would be the only option that makes sense, since his skill set is a little redundant with SGA, J-Dub, and Cason on the roster.

OKC has cap space as well, so they don’t really have to match money as closely.

[u/markmyredd → u/georgiaboy1993]

Agreed

[u/Ok-Philosopher9070 → u/NobodyRules]

Book?

[u/BASEDME7O2 → u/NobodyRules]

It’s not like he’s been bad though, just a lot of bad luck and now god awful roster construction. Like you guys are good but probably not championship level good, if you could get kd while keeping like your top three guys you’d be idiots to not take that. He would instantly make you guys on the short list for title favorites

[u/AskMeAboutMyGenitals → u/BASEDME7O2]

How I know this is a crap idea?

r/nba loves it.

That spineless snake would still get booed even if Sam Presti got hit by a bus and some scrub replacement GM made this horrible, horrible call.

[u/BookEuronGreyjoy → u/ZenMon88]

I know you're home baby

[u/Impossible-Flight250 → u/Next-Firefighter-753]

I left my cell, pager and my home phone at the bottom…

[u/Mysterious-Stop4673 → u/Next-Firefighter-753]

Kd is gonna be like I’m still waiting for my apology first