Kansas Crimson

A team that went to the finals with a 25 and 24 year old leading the way.
And who just acquired 2 pretty significant depth pieces.

BasketballJayhawk wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 7:27 am Didn't KD just call Boston fans racist?

Seems like a great fit/move. Let's break up the team that just went to the finals for a guy who is never happy.

No. KD didn't just call the Boston fans racist.



This is KD.



This is LeBron James.




Two different people.

If the Celtics fuck their core up for KD I will be disappointed.

Are you a Celtics fan? KD is a better basketball player than JB (and DW) - who may be gone in 2 seasons.
Now if they threw in Smart, then I probably wouldn't like that trade.

KD is better than a lot of people I'd rather have on my team than him.

Team chemistry is a thing.
Durant is a top 5 player in the world, easy.
Nets rumored to have wanted Jaylen, Smart and 3 1st round draft picks.

Nah.

And while Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a 1st is more fair ( because of Durant's age and injury history ), I just don't know if i'd do that. The Celtics already addressed one of their bigger issues - their bench ( Brogdon and Gallinari ). Robert Williams will hopefully be healthy. Tatum and Jaylen another year to learn but now with the grasp of what a Finals is like.

They don't need Durant to be a favorite.

BasketballJayhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 7:59 am KD is better than a lot of people I'd rather have on my team than him.

"a lot"? Can/will you name 5 players you would you rather have on YOUR team today than him?

If i'm starting completely from scratch, no.
But contracts, trade assets and team chemistry exist.
If you told me who i'd rather have for the next 5 years, my answer would not include Durant.

It would include Embiid, Giannis, Luka, Morant and Tatum.

I 100% agree with you that contracts, trade assets, and team chemistry exist - and are huge factors when deciding what players you want playing for your team.

The problem some/many GMs face is that they have to build/keep a foundation and plan for the future - and yet tomorrow is promised to no one.

Im torn. If I am Brad Stevens and company what do I do? Trade a few guys (and draft pick/s?) to hopefully make my team better today, or hold on to those guys because I feel my team may be better off in the future if I do? I lean towards getting Durant and dealing with today, and worrying about the future in the future, but that's why I am not an NBA GM.

If I had to choose 5 players I would rather have on my team TODAY (this up coming season) than Kevin Durant, I would be very hard pressed to do it. Despite my probably being one of the only people on Earth who feels Durant is overvalued as a Basketball player.

RainbowsandUnicorns wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 8:15 am

BasketballJayhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 7:59 am KD is better than a lot of people I'd rather have on my team than him.

"a lot"? Can/will you name 5 players you would you rather have on YOUR team today than him?

Comparing individually, no. But when it's name a group of 5 - which seem to be what the Nets are asking for - or Durant, give me the young core group of 5 still in tact. Getting the best player in the trade doesn't automatically make it a good trade.

RainbowsandUnicorns wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 8:15 am

BasketballJayhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 7:59 am KD is better than a lot of people I'd rather have on my team than him.

"a lot"? Can/will you name 5 players you would you rather have on YOUR team today than him?

I can name probably 20. Most aren't "better" at basketball than him. But it doesn't matter.

I don't like KD.

BasketballJayhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 4:21 pm

RainbowsandUnicorns wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 8:15 am

BasketballJayhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 7:59 am KD is better than a lot of people I'd rather have on my team than him.

"a lot"? Can/will you name 5 players you would you rather have on YOUR team today than him?

I can name probably 20. Most aren't "better" at basketball than him. But it doesn't matter.

I don't like KD.

Ok, if we are talking personalities and who we "like" and don't "like", then I probably would pick 20 guys I would rather have than KD.
If we are talking being an owner and GM trying to win a title, I probably couldn't name 5 individual guys who I feel would give me a better chance of doing it than KD.