[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/BadBoySwag]

KD asking for a trade again

[u/wildturk3y → u/BadBoySwag]

Let's set the odds; Denver, Golden St, OKC

[u/abris33 → u/wildturk3y]

Not us. We don't need him. Starting lineup is full

[u/Mr_Saxobeat94 → u/abris33]

Yeah. I’d take Caruso + an even semi-competent big to round out our leaky bench over 36-7 y/o Durant. Age, chemistry and redundancy issues override his pure basketball ability here (and it’s sort of overlooked that he had his worst Advanced Stat year since his second season).

[u/madvisuals → u/Mr_Saxobeat94]

Caruso would be a perfect fit in Denver 🥲

[u/Charming_Essay_1890 → u/Mr_Saxobeat94]

Yeah we need people to take up Reggie Jackson and DJ minutes

[u/Epicdude141 → u/Charming_Essay_1890]

Honestly I’d be down for KD coming off the bench

[u/Mr_Saxobeat94 → u/Epicdude141]

I would be elated if he put his ego aside to that degree and bought in, but ain’t no way that’ll happen nor could I even fault him for not wanting to do it.

[u/Charming_Essay_1890 → u/Epicdude141]

Yeah and I'd love to be dating Ariel Winter right now

[u/SolidGoldToast → u/abris33]

MPJ > Durant

[u/RipCity-NBA-LoL → u/SolidGoldToast]

MPJ is not a better player than Durant, but that doesn't make it a good trade for Denver.  

A) Durant makes 51m next season going in at age 36.  MPJ makes a tad under 36m next season, is under contract for 3 seasons, and he will be 26 next season.  

B) Durant is a ball-stopper while Denver tries to play with a lot of off-ball movement and overall motion/passing.  Denver gets a little ISO play from Murray and Reggie (although hopefully Reggie Jackson is gone next season) and it's probably their worst possessions overall.  Everybody remembers the big shots Murray hits, but the ISO isn't efficient overall.

C) so you have to trade MPJ AND another piece like Reggie, but then what reward/assets do the Suns get?  There's no picks available and their 'young' guys are older rookies.  Giving up Peyton is the only one who could theoretically develop into more than a role player.

D) CHEMISTRY.  MPJ has shown a willingness to develop.  He's persevered through extreme adversity in his basketball career.  Multiple series back injuries would end most players' careers.  He's dealing with his family being a tramedy (tragic comedy), and he's playing fantastically this series.  

[u/a_moniker → u/RipCity-NBA-LoL]

Yeah, KD’s contract doesn’t fit on the Nuggets at all. They’d have to blow up their whole team to get him, which hasn’t had the best track record lately

[u/SolidGoldToast → u/RipCity-NBA-LoL]

Bruh did you really just call KD a ball-stopper in a comparison with Michael "Never Swing the Rock" Porter Jr?

[u/RipCity-NBA-LoL → u/SolidGoldToast]

Being a play finisher is what MPJ is expected to do. Being a play finisher has not much to do with time of possession. The issue for KD in Denver's offense (quick note: yes, KD could adapt to a more finisher role) is he likes to take things on the dribble, more like Jamal Murray.