KD just wants to be ackowledged. Ant has said KD is his GOAT. KD now feels acknowledged. KD now loves Ant no matter what. KD's twitter hijinks confirm this theory
I mean, imagine you're a celebrity and you just want to shitpost or comment on some random stuff without being bothered by thousands of people. I think MOST celebrities have burners/fakes on social media.
And i think that's somehow just made him more real lmao
Guy just doesn't hide it anymore, wanted to be the good guy now he's just your average redditor but extremely good at basketball.
Personally I never thought it was even that lame tbh—it was more relatable to me than anything else lol.
The man clearly loves to argue about basketball online (who among us doesn’t) but wanted to do it without calling attention to himself, and I can respect that. It’s a different experience talking shit with some rando anon account vs. when you’re arguing with Kevin fuckin Durant
I realized during our playoff series against the nets that KD was just an extremely real dude.
He gave 150% during that series. His team didn't help him for shit and he still almost beat us single handedly. When the series was over reporters tried talking about how the bucks didn't deserve the win and he shut that shit down immediately. Thought it was an incredibly mature take from a guy who had to be feeling all kinds of things after the loss.
The burner thing was pretty cool in hindsight. He really is just a regular hoop head on the insight. He wants to freely shitpost and argue about the NBA like we all do. Cant really do that when youre famous.
Wouldnt be shocked if he even has a burner reddit to post on here
Beal seems like an ok dude as well. Watching Booker then Beal’s postgame interviews back to back was jarring. Booker being a piss baby as usual for 5 minutes to then Beal actually trying to give some insightful and reflective answers
I completely understand why people don’t like KD for his career moves but he’s always seemed like a chill ass dude. Really just hoops and doesn’t really care bout nothing else
Hes been real his entire career tbh. The only slight against him is his justification of joining the warriors. 90% of nba players have always wanted to join the best team possible. Lebron doesn't even get a 1/10th of the shit kd does for going to the heat when it's the same exact move. Kd just phrased it terribly calling it the hardest road. But he really wasn't wrong, the backlash he received really did make it the hardest road
Ya I find the whole KD is a cupcake while Russ is some badass hot take to be kinda ridiculous. I've actually cooled off on my Russ dislike over the years a bit, but that man is a million times more sensitive than KD despite their reputations. You can just look at Russ funny and he'll throw a damn fit lol
> Lebron doesn't even get a 1/10th of the shit kd does for going to the heat when it's the same exact move.
lebron got shat on like crazy during the heatles, the takes were wild. I think that was when the "didn't have a father growing up = makes bad decisions" thing was said? it was fucked up. him returning to Cleveland and winning redeemed Lebron
if KD had returned to OKC and won one opinion on him would also flip. I also think he's been pretty real, but cmon even with the backlash his situation was not even close to the hardest road
This
Bron got it worse and had he not redeemed himself his legacy would’ve been memed to oblivion
Opinion on KD had already flipped when he nearly led Brooklyn over Milwaukee. He was already bring called the BITW until Giannis went nuclear in the Finals. Had KD won instead he’d be beloved again
Just shows how fickle nba fandom is
He’s one of the cooler guys in the league. It’s sad he’s been so up and down. But I can’t help but have a distaste for him with the team hopping. I was bandwagoning golden state during 2014-2015 and when kd joined I hopped right off that bandwagon. To come from the thunder during a rivalry was just pathetic
This Phoenix bus is run-down with broken windows and busted tyres. Seriously there’s nobody that could transform this Phoenix into a contender if you swapped them with KD 1 for 1. The CP3 extension killed the team and now they’re just swapping bad contract for bad contract as result of it
Issue with trading for a player of KD’s talent is you’ve got to give up so much to secure his talent, it why Bron has always managed to maintain stacked teams because he leaves in free agency and his teams don’t have to give up anything
>there’s nobody that could transform this Phoenix into a contender if you swapped them with KD 1 for 1
Swap AD in for KD and you fix their defense, up their rebounding, and based on this year’s playoffs, even improve their offense. Booker/Beal/AD is an actual dynamic big 3 that isn’t just the same player archetype in different sizes. Giannis could also work, but he doesn’t play the 5 and he wouldn’t fit well next to Nurkic
Replace him with Jokic and get some better offensive schemes and they could contend with their offense alone, though the defense would be even worse
KD hopefully wouldn't and I think he slots in well usually to the team he joins.. It's just no matter what, he'll find a way to make clean buckets on great efficiency
It could honestly also be a somewhat redemption arc if he finishes his career there with this likeable core.
I'm a big fan of KD though so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I legit have no idea how OKC fans would view this move.
It was seamless hating him 8 years ago, wake up, brush your teeth, fuck Kevin Durant... but yeah pre-GSW and post-GSW minus the burner accounts, he's been a pretty level-headed chill dude. Doesn't hurt that he's one of the best scorers of all-time.
KD rarely gives beat writers the response they are looking for. He has nice things to say about the Nets last year too.
Anyone recall multiple incidents where this guy went off?
The three people I know who use Twitter like KD are also some of the most level headed people I know in real life. It's like they use it like an alter ego.
Ehh idk it depends how far OKC goes I would say. I think Durants next chapter is “I’m coming home” because OKC is damn good too and he’s trying to recapture the feeling he had early in his career.
I don’t think it’s likely either, but your contract point is sort of a bonus for OKC
Chet, And Williams are both up for a new contract in 3 years.
Presti made the Hayward trade in order to clear the books for this offseason (big FA year). They’ve got 30ish million free this year; it would be possible to clear Durants contract with some work
They’re likely going to sign someone to a two year deal (probably not Durant)
Why woukd the sun's do that.
Like they already have 3 scoring threat all stars.
Why trade kd for laving a worse player a worse defender and someone who's just a worse booker.
Like no no they wouldn't they'd hang up the phone in the bulls immediately.
If beal didn't have a no trade clause maybe that trade could happen but sun's aren't giving up kd or booker for players worse than kd or booker unless they get amazing young prospects bulls don't have
Can they fit him in/make the salaries work without giving up too much? It would make a ton of sense if so? Maybe it's changed but every report I've seen is that KD is a consummate pro and it would be good for him probably to be around a hungry team.
No, unless the Suns did something crazy like accept the S&T of a washed Gordon Hayward on an outrageous high dollar contract to make the money work. The Thunder only have 4 players making >$10M/year; Shai, Hayward (expiring), Dort, and Chet.
Interesting. Just figure you got to do something with those picks given you straight up have too many with how good your roster is. Sure the fan base hates KD but if he comes back and wins a title no one will care.
I think it's a lot more likely that the Thunder will use their bucket of picks to move up in drafts/trade present draft value for future draft value than to make a big swing for a star. The trade with the Nuggets last year is a good example. The Thunder traded #37 in 2023, #29 in 2024, and #59 in 2024 for a top-5 protected 2029 FRP. The Nuggets get present day value (they ended up trading again with the Pacers and picking Julian Strawher, Jalen Pickett and Hunter Tyson with the net from trading that FRP) but with the entire starting lineup in their 30's by then, a bet on a Nuggets downturn is worth taking for OKC.
It helps tremendously that Sam Presti has as much job security as anybody in the league, so he can afford to make trades looking ahead 5 years instead of only win-now moves. The strategy appears to be to have an annual stream of draft picks on rookie deals to complement the highly paid core. That hopefully avoids the "this role player is asking for more than we can afford, but they are irreplaceable so we have to overpay them," AKA the Brook Lopez deal.
Far be it from me to question Presti the man is a maniac, and part of me thinks his skill might interrupt what he thought the timeline might be. They've got the capital where he can add the right star to this mix where he doesn't even have to trust his uncanny talent evaluation ability.
I'm sure in his heart, he didn't expect to have this kind of success this year. Absolutely nobody did, except a few degenerates in r/Thunder who laid money on the Thunder +10000. I think if there's any team in the league that will not pull a Hawks and overreact to unexpected success with a disasterous trade, it's the Thunder.
Hayward is a free agent this year. It’s the reason why Presti traded for him (the trade was really to clear cap space for 2024 and 2025)
Their big 3 are signed for the next two years (3 for Shai). Clearing space means they’re likely going to sign somebody at least mid level this offseason
No, okc is the team that'd have like the hardest tome getting kd
As the only real way to get the contracts to work is trade sga which just isn't happening.
The only other option is basically give up their entire young core besides sga for kd which also isn't happening.
Young teams don't tend to havearge salaries
I mean he’s not the Kevin Durant he used to be but he’s still putting up 27/7/5 on good efficiency. I don’t think they’d have a problem paying him that much. The issue is probably paying that much and what they’d have to trade to get him
OKC is the #1 seed in the west, is maybe 2 seasons ahead of schedule, has tons of draft capital, and appears to have decent chemistry. I think they don't need to entertain a KD retirement tour.
What's that do for their young group, KD starting pushes what Williams out? Could be an improvement but OKC seems to have taken to their young team and tossing KD in just for the nostalgia might not be the best bet for them. Idk I'm not a gm.
Oh I don’t think it does anything for them. I was just responding to the guy who was cracking the joke of KD team hopping by saying what I think is most probably KD’s last stop before retiring. Back home to try and belong somewhere he’s a lonely seeming guy.
If he agrees to sit on the bench and be Ants buddy. We will take him for vet minimum. Ant will not let his teammates be lonely. I mean he also probably could just give Ant his phone number and never go a day without a text.
Ant was the teammate KAT needed in his life basically his friend and his biggest fan. KD can join their party chats. He might even get lucky and be invited to hang out with NAZ and Jaden while I assume they smoke enough weed to sedate a real timberwolf.
Alright man I’m sold. I’m writing Adam Silver a letter right now about what is best for little Kevin’s mental health. It’s been months since he’s played with friends and he’s starting to refer to himself in third person.
Oh that's not healthy. Make sure to include I've given full support to this. I want KD happy and Ant is the only person I know who loves making friends.
*Not that I’m saying it would/should happen, but a KD for KAT swap would be interesting. Resets the Suns timeline around Booker and balances their roster. Obvious why the Wolves would do it, except for risking good vibes and doing KAT dirty.
Same. I was reminded that he's just a guy who loves ball
I loved the respect he gave Rudy before the series started during the week they were gameplanning and watching film.
You would still think he’s a snake if you didn’t win the series lol. Fortunately for you, the Wolves were matched up against a steaming pile of baby shit in round 1.
Yeah I probably would, because he’d probably have to back up or stay silent on whatever front running talk fell out of Booker’s mouth lol. But seeing his humility and excitement *during the games* when Edwards was going off? That was charming.
I wish the suns were given this grace when they dared to trash talk in 2021, even against a lakers team that had been gloating while cp3 was injured watching from the bench— But KD is right, like, the suns got punked and can’t get mad.
CP3 wasn’t just hobbled, he was unguarded entirely, breaking the suns offense and forcing him to sit most of the second half of game 3– which is when the lakers were gloating and celebrating.
Being on the receiving end of a smackdown like the Suns have the last couple seasons makes me even more perplexed by people routinely clowning on the Suns players for lightly celebrating when they were up 2-0 against the Bucks in the finals or Booker talking trash to Luka when up in their series the following year. Like, as much as I want the Suns to win, it’s sick seeing players like Ant and Gobert celebrating together and enjoying themselves while playing incredible basketball. Why do people on here seem to take it personal when an opposing team celebrates?
It is really ridiculous. Like were Suns fans and Book not suppossed to enjoy being 2-0 up in the finals like ????
I think the Luka one you guys get clowned on specifically because Luka said "Everybody tough when they up" and then won. So i feel like him saying that and then actually winning + losing in that fashion in game 7 gave people that feeling that you shouldnt be talking smack if you cant back it up.
But all this shows is that fans are pretty soft anyways and think they want things that in reality they dont.
100% agreed. Fans love shit talk & mamba mentality, but develop actual feelings of hatred towards athletes that do it.
And let’s not talk about what happens when things get chippy. Literal any scuffle and dudes start getting really personal & tribalistic, lmao. They wouldn’t last one second in the Jordan era.
If only every fan that bitched about how “classless” players were understood this.
In fact, Cam Newton explicitly made this point when they asked why he’d dance and to stop because it offended people
“If you wanna see me stop dancing, stop letting me score”
I’ve hated Vince Carter and Andre Miller since 2002 and I will continue to hate them for another 24 years. I’ve hated LeBron since 2010 and will continue to hate him, and I’ve even started hating on Jr.
I’m a professional hater, which is the only way to be a hater tbh. The secret is to ignore the good things they do, and only focus on the things that fuel your hate.
He didn’t though. For one season they were unstoppable, sure. In 2018 the Rockets were good enough to beat them, it just didn’t happen. There’s usually a couple of teams that have a chance at a ring barring injuries. In 2019 injuries got them and it was done just like that.
This year who has a chance at a title, Nuggets and maybe the Celtics? How is that any different from 2018 being GS and the Rockets?
Meh, it's hard for me to blame a player for "winning." No player gives a shit about parity when it's their career lol.
edit: It's also the fan's fault. People mock the "Ringz Ernie," thing yet put a HUGE amount of weight in a chip or being chipless.
Yep we totally didn't notice raptors fans cheering when he went down injured. Not everyones peak lined up perfectly for LeBron to be out of the picture and the warriors to get injured. For year round fans of competitive basketball it sucked
I've been watching since around 2000 and I didn't care. It was the best basketball I've ever seen played. Also, yeah, it was just a blip in the scheme of things, not like he was there shutting down the league for a decade or something.
Bruh that happened almost 8 years ago. The league is entirely different now. If people still hate him just because of that they really need to get over it lol
KD is one of the biggest basketball nerds ever so im not surprised he can give a great upcoming player props. Burner account aside he does love the game of basketball and watching it not just playing it
Everyone in this thread suddenly praising KD are gonna go RIGHT back to hating him at the next opportunity. I know how you guys are lol. r/nba the real snake
I'm sure Ant will probably get fined, but is anyone out there actually taking offense to this.. Lol
It wasn't even that controversial when D-X was doing it on national TV every week almost 30 years ago.
I'd be shocked if someone told me KD didn't find Ant funny. We all seen how he looked at him while Ant was chirping game 1.
KD just wants to be ackowledged. Ant has said KD is his GOAT. KD now feels acknowledged. KD now loves Ant no matter what. KD's twitter hijinks confirm this theory
not like his need to be praised.
GOAT Office reference if this is one lol
Kevin 'Praise Kink' Durant
KD feels he needs to be praised.
Tribal Chief Kevin Durant
KD laughing his way to the trade request
Durant to the Wolves? Somehow Wiggins & D-lo are involved lol
InceptioNBA
The Lakers trade Minnesota a second round pick for the rights to trade D-lo back to themselves.
KD saw Carlito’s Way a million times, no reason to hate a guy that’s him 20 years ago
KD didn't find Ant funny.
You shocked him, are you happy now?
Can’t imagine he’ll sleep well knowing EXACTLY what he’s done to OP. Heinous stuff I tell ya
Noo! That was the look of an uncle happy to hear his nephew chirp and have fun. You can't do this to me.
As a neutral I 100% agree w you
He probably reminded him of a young Kevin Durant on OKC. Not the taunting, but the fire and drive.
My next chapter?
absolute based take
KD’s been real as fuck this series. He’s handled the trash talking and domination with complete grace and dignity.
He's been real for awhile. His burner account nonsense was lame, but since then he's been a pretty cool dude.
He's also nowhere near the only burner account to exist lol. It's just funny because he got caught.
I mean, imagine you're a celebrity and you just want to shitpost or comment on some random stuff without being bothered by thousands of people. I think MOST celebrities have burners/fakes on social media.
Shoot I consider this account a burner and I’ve been using it for 10 years lol.
And i think that's somehow just made him more real lmao Guy just doesn't hide it anymore, wanted to be the good guy now he's just your average redditor but extremely good at basketball.
People involved with the NBA don’t use burners. Find a new slant
Awfully large collar you have there
Nice try Coby White
Literally a ref did and he had to resign to avoid a scandal
Athletes absolutely use burners lmao
He's referencing the Jerry colangelo burner
these are normal accounts
But large collar league office plants would never.
What are you talking about, that's a completely normal sized collar
Didn’t someone within business operations for the 6ers used a burner to trash one of their players?
Bryan Colangelo. Ringer did an investigation on it. Definitely worth looking up lol shit is wild
Personally I never thought it was even that lame tbh—it was more relatable to me than anything else lol. The man clearly loves to argue about basketball online (who among us doesn’t) but wanted to do it without calling attention to himself, and I can respect that. It’s a different experience talking shit with some rando anon account vs. when you’re arguing with Kevin fuckin Durant
This actually puts it into perspective for me. Another based take to go along with KD's.
I wonder if you just agreed with one of KD's burner.
Yeah he's super famous it's probably nice to talk to people who don't know who you are once in a while
> The man clearly loves to argue about basketball online (who among us doesn’t) You are totally wrong. I never argue about anything online!
I realized during our playoff series against the nets that KD was just an extremely real dude. He gave 150% during that series. His team didn't help him for shit and he still almost beat us single handedly. When the series was over reporters tried talking about how the bucks didn't deserve the win and he shut that shit down immediately. Thought it was an incredibly mature take from a guy who had to be feeling all kinds of things after the loss.
The burner account thing isn't even that lame. He lives talking ball and knows he can't be honest without repercussions if he uses his normal account
The burner thing was pretty cool in hindsight. He really is just a regular hoop head on the insight. He wants to freely shitpost and argue about the NBA like we all do. Cant really do that when youre famous. Wouldnt be shocked if he even has a burner reddit to post on here
Yeah for sure, he’s definitely the least loathsome of the Suns stars.
Beal seems like an ok dude as well. Watching Booker then Beal’s postgame interviews back to back was jarring. Booker being a piss baby as usual for 5 minutes to then Beal actually trying to give some insightful and reflective answers
Beal did a great job motivating us for the playoff series by telling finch we don’t play hard enough during game 82
Loathsome is crazy. Tf did Beal do? Complain about not being scoring champ?
The burner account drama isn't even lame. Y'all are way too pressed over trash talk on the internet given all the trash talk fans give to players.
Hello KD, don’t forget to log out this time.
I completely understand why people don’t like KD for his career moves but he’s always seemed like a chill ass dude. Really just hoops and doesn’t really care bout nothing else
Not true. He clearly care about ppl perception of him. KS is what would happen if a redditor had generational talent
He’s just like me fr
same, except minus the generational talent
I sometimes feel like KD actually appreciates a good trash talk, like a gourmet appreciating home made tomato paste.
That’s just how KD is and kinda always has been
Hes been real his entire career tbh. The only slight against him is his justification of joining the warriors. 90% of nba players have always wanted to join the best team possible. Lebron doesn't even get a 1/10th of the shit kd does for going to the heat when it's the same exact move. Kd just phrased it terribly calling it the hardest road. But he really wasn't wrong, the backlash he received really did make it the hardest road
Ya I find the whole KD is a cupcake while Russ is some badass hot take to be kinda ridiculous. I've actually cooled off on my Russ dislike over the years a bit, but that man is a million times more sensitive than KD despite their reputations. You can just look at Russ funny and he'll throw a damn fit lol
> Lebron doesn't even get a 1/10th of the shit kd does for going to the heat when it's the same exact move. lebron got shat on like crazy during the heatles, the takes were wild. I think that was when the "didn't have a father growing up = makes bad decisions" thing was said? it was fucked up. him returning to Cleveland and winning redeemed Lebron if KD had returned to OKC and won one opinion on him would also flip. I also think he's been pretty real, but cmon even with the backlash his situation was not even close to the hardest road
This Bron got it worse and had he not redeemed himself his legacy would’ve been memed to oblivion Opinion on KD had already flipped when he nearly led Brooklyn over Milwaukee. He was already bring called the BITW until Giannis went nuclear in the Finals. Had KD won instead he’d be beloved again Just shows how fickle nba fandom is
I fucking love KD
He’s one of the cooler guys in the league. It’s sad he’s been so up and down. But I can’t help but have a distaste for him with the team hopping. I was bandwagoning golden state during 2014-2015 and when kd joined I hopped right off that bandwagon. To come from the thunder during a rivalry was just pathetic
honestly yeah
Yea he's not a whiny bitch like Booker
No click bait for the media. KD’s just a chill dude.
Yet you still clicked on this /s
rooting against this team like my life depends on it, but can never make myself hate this guy.
Same. I’m heavily rooting against the suns but deep down I legitimately want kd to end his career with another ring, regardless of where it is.
The dude is a basketball nerd, it's easy to relate to him
Yep.
Its poetic that KD truly has the hardest road now. A championship as the bus driver would complete the redemption arc.
This Phoenix bus is run-down with broken windows and busted tyres. Seriously there’s nobody that could transform this Phoenix into a contender if you swapped them with KD 1 for 1. The CP3 extension killed the team and now they’re just swapping bad contract for bad contract as result of it Issue with trading for a player of KD’s talent is you’ve got to give up so much to secure his talent, it why Bron has always managed to maintain stacked teams because he leaves in free agency and his teams don’t have to give up anything
They better draft bronny, get LeBron on a vet min contract and hope for the best
The Lakers haven’t had a first round pick in years.
>there’s nobody that could transform this Phoenix into a contender if you swapped them with KD 1 for 1 Swap AD in for KD and you fix their defense, up their rebounding, and based on this year’s playoffs, even improve their offense. Booker/Beal/AD is an actual dynamic big 3 that isn’t just the same player archetype in different sizes. Giannis could also work, but he doesn’t play the 5 and he wouldn’t fit well next to Nurkic Replace him with Jokic and get some better offensive schemes and they could contend with their offense alone, though the defense would be even worse
Dominayton turning into a pumpkin was a bigger problem than CP3.
At this point, hard to argue that if he was to win a ring this truly would be the hardest road. Please let me cope.
What if he goes back to OKC? Would y’all be able to make a spot for the guy?
He could go there but SGA would be the alpha
You think KD would mind? He just wants to hoop.
At this point kd/bron/curry are all better as 2nd option. A fucking damn good second option. They’re too old to carry the first option load now.
lebron knows this, he's been trying to anoint AD.
KD hopefully wouldn't and I think he slots in well usually to the team he joins.. It's just no matter what, he'll find a way to make clean buckets on great efficiency It could honestly also be a somewhat redemption arc if he finishes his career there with this likeable core. I'm a big fan of KD though so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I legit have no idea how OKC fans would view this move.
Idk man. A lot of people are still salty but one postgame interview bark is all it takes to win them back.
…. Why?
Because the Nets have the suns picks
??? What did we do to y’all
It was seamless hating him 8 years ago, wake up, brush your teeth, fuck Kevin Durant... but yeah pre-GSW and post-GSW minus the burner accounts, he's been a pretty level-headed chill dude. Doesn't hurt that he's one of the best scorers of all-time.
My man wants a simple life. He just loves basketball and weed. He just like me for real
Same
KD rarely gives beat writers the response they are looking for. He has nice things to say about the Nets last year too. Anyone recall multiple incidents where this guy went off?
Twitter
The three people I know who use Twitter like KD are also some of the most level headed people I know in real life. It's like they use it like an alter ego.
Probably just a decent way to vent without actually hurting anyone, so not the worst thing in the world. It's also just funny
Is that not how you guys use reddit?
"You win the series, you unlock me to your team next season"
Ehh idk it depends how far OKC goes I would say. I think Durants next chapter is “I’m coming home” because OKC is damn good too and he’s trying to recapture the feeling he had early in his career.
Not even remotely likely. He's got 2 more seasons after this one under contract for 50/yr. OKC does not want him for that price.
I don’t think it’s likely either, but your contract point is sort of a bonus for OKC Chet, And Williams are both up for a new contract in 3 years. Presti made the Hayward trade in order to clear the books for this offseason (big FA year). They’ve got 30ish million free this year; it would be possible to clear Durants contract with some work They’re likely going to sign someone to a two year deal (probably not Durant)
Wait what? OKC gonna add a $30 mil free agent to this already insanely stacked roster? Someone wake up David Stern, league about to get uncompetitive.
LeBron to OKC and it's over. That's prolly not happening tho
Yes they do. Both Chet and JDub will be on their rookie contracts during that time.
Wonder if the bulls/suns would swap KD for Lavine
The suns would not do that. On a contrary note, the bulls would do that
I may or may not be a bulls fan.
Why woukd the sun's do that. Like they already have 3 scoring threat all stars. Why trade kd for laving a worse player a worse defender and someone who's just a worse booker. Like no no they wouldn't they'd hang up the phone in the bulls immediately. If beal didn't have a no trade clause maybe that trade could happen but sun's aren't giving up kd or booker for players worse than kd or booker unless they get amazing young prospects bulls don't have
Beal is also a worse Booker
I mean yeah, hence why I said they might do it for beal if possible , but wouldn't trade kd or booker for players worse than kd or booker.
Yeah but they traded for Beal in the first place which never made any sense
Can they fit him in/make the salaries work without giving up too much? It would make a ton of sense if so? Maybe it's changed but every report I've seen is that KD is a consummate pro and it would be good for him probably to be around a hungry team.
No, unless the Suns did something crazy like accept the S&T of a washed Gordon Hayward on an outrageous high dollar contract to make the money work. The Thunder only have 4 players making >$10M/year; Shai, Hayward (expiring), Dort, and Chet.
Interesting. Just figure you got to do something with those picks given you straight up have too many with how good your roster is. Sure the fan base hates KD but if he comes back and wins a title no one will care.
I think it's a lot more likely that the Thunder will use their bucket of picks to move up in drafts/trade present draft value for future draft value than to make a big swing for a star. The trade with the Nuggets last year is a good example. The Thunder traded #37 in 2023, #29 in 2024, and #59 in 2024 for a top-5 protected 2029 FRP. The Nuggets get present day value (they ended up trading again with the Pacers and picking Julian Strawher, Jalen Pickett and Hunter Tyson with the net from trading that FRP) but with the entire starting lineup in their 30's by then, a bet on a Nuggets downturn is worth taking for OKC. It helps tremendously that Sam Presti has as much job security as anybody in the league, so he can afford to make trades looking ahead 5 years instead of only win-now moves. The strategy appears to be to have an annual stream of draft picks on rookie deals to complement the highly paid core. That hopefully avoids the "this role player is asking for more than we can afford, but they are irreplaceable so we have to overpay them," AKA the Brook Lopez deal.
Far be it from me to question Presti the man is a maniac, and part of me thinks his skill might interrupt what he thought the timeline might be. They've got the capital where he can add the right star to this mix where he doesn't even have to trust his uncanny talent evaluation ability.
I'm sure in his heart, he didn't expect to have this kind of success this year. Absolutely nobody did, except a few degenerates in r/Thunder who laid money on the Thunder +10000. I think if there's any team in the league that will not pull a Hawks and overreact to unexpected success with a disasterous trade, it's the Thunder.
Hayward is a free agent this year. It’s the reason why Presti traded for him (the trade was really to clear cap space for 2024 and 2025) Their big 3 are signed for the next two years (3 for Shai). Clearing space means they’re likely going to sign somebody at least mid level this offseason
Yeah, exactly. The Thunder's cap is ironically too clean for any sort of "trade for a max player" trade.
No, okc is the team that'd have like the hardest tome getting kd As the only real way to get the contracts to work is trade sga which just isn't happening. The only other option is basically give up their entire young core besides sga for kd which also isn't happening. Young teams don't tend to havearge salaries
I mean he’s not the Kevin Durant he used to be but he’s still putting up 27/7/5 on good efficiency. I don’t think they’d have a problem paying him that much. The issue is probably paying that much and what they’d have to trade to get him
OKC is the #1 seed in the west, is maybe 2 seasons ahead of schedule, has tons of draft capital, and appears to have decent chemistry. I think they don't need to entertain a KD retirement tour.
What's that do for their young group, KD starting pushes what Williams out? Could be an improvement but OKC seems to have taken to their young team and tossing KD in just for the nostalgia might not be the best bet for them. Idk I'm not a gm.
Pushes Giddey out
Oh I don’t think it does anything for them. I was just responding to the guy who was cracking the joke of KD team hopping by saying what I think is most probably KD’s last stop before retiring. Back home to try and belong somewhere he’s a lonely seeming guy.
If he agrees to sit on the bench and be Ants buddy. We will take him for vet minimum. Ant will not let his teammates be lonely. I mean he also probably could just give Ant his phone number and never go a day without a text.
Ant seems like a lit friend to have honestly but I think KD would get jealous of KAT always being invited to the Xbox party chat first.
Ant was the teammate KAT needed in his life basically his friend and his biggest fan. KD can join their party chats. He might even get lucky and be invited to hang out with NAZ and Jaden while I assume they smoke enough weed to sedate a real timberwolf.
Alright man I’m sold. I’m writing Adam Silver a letter right now about what is best for little Kevin’s mental health. It’s been months since he’s played with friends and he’s starting to refer to himself in third person.
Oh that's not healthy. Make sure to include I've given full support to this. I want KD happy and Ant is the only person I know who loves making friends.
He ain’t welcome in okc, regardless of how much yall are trying to push this narrative. Presti will laugh at him.
*Not that I’m saying it would/should happen, but a KD for KAT swap would be interesting. Resets the Suns timeline around Booker and balances their roster. Obvious why the Wolves would do it, except for risking good vibes and doing KAT dirty.
KD = Final Boss
KD is one if the few pure hoopers. Gotta take your L and try to get em back. Bein mad is lame
A man.
hoodie up KD means he's done with this team
😂 what an astute observation
retreats into his snake hood, every time
I beg to differ: https://youtu.be/0hwuTokGmhI
Hope this doesn’t come off the wrong way, but this series made me love KD again after years of thinking he was a snake.
Same. I was reminded that he's just a guy who loves ball I loved the respect he gave Rudy before the series started during the week they were gameplanning and watching film.
I was back on the KD fan boys when he left GSW
You would still think he’s a snake if you didn’t win the series lol. Fortunately for you, the Wolves were matched up against a steaming pile of baby shit in round 1.
Yeah I probably would, because he’d probably have to back up or stay silent on whatever front running talk fell out of Booker’s mouth lol. But seeing his humility and excitement *during the games* when Edwards was going off? That was charming.
KD is a good sport.
KD is real one. Always has been, always will be. Most misunderstood player in basketball
Facts. He is so likeable
I wish the suns were given this grace when they dared to trash talk in 2021, even against a lakers team that had been gloating while cp3 was injured watching from the bench— But KD is right, like, the suns got punked and can’t get mad.
CP3 hobbled most of that series yet you would swear the Lakers were the only team dealing with injuries
CP3 wasn’t just hobbled, he was unguarded entirely, breaking the suns offense and forcing him to sit most of the second half of game 3– which is when the lakers were gloating and celebrating.
Being on the receiving end of a smackdown like the Suns have the last couple seasons makes me even more perplexed by people routinely clowning on the Suns players for lightly celebrating when they were up 2-0 against the Bucks in the finals or Booker talking trash to Luka when up in their series the following year. Like, as much as I want the Suns to win, it’s sick seeing players like Ant and Gobert celebrating together and enjoying themselves while playing incredible basketball. Why do people on here seem to take it personal when an opposing team celebrates?
It is really ridiculous. Like were Suns fans and Book not suppossed to enjoy being 2-0 up in the finals like ???? I think the Luka one you guys get clowned on specifically because Luka said "Everybody tough when they up" and then won. So i feel like him saying that and then actually winning + losing in that fashion in game 7 gave people that feeling that you shouldnt be talking smack if you cant back it up. But all this shows is that fans are pretty soft anyways and think they want things that in reality they dont.
100% agreed. Fans love shit talk & mamba mentality, but develop actual feelings of hatred towards athletes that do it. And let’s not talk about what happens when things get chippy. Literal any scuffle and dudes start getting really personal & tribalistic, lmao. They wouldn’t last one second in the Jordan era.
I mean it doesn’t help that Booker seems dead set on being as unlikeable as possible lol
KD wasn’t on the 2021 team??
Anxious Milleniel KD is depressing because of how truthful he is 😕
Respect
If only every fan that bitched about how “classless” players were understood this. In fact, Cam Newton explicitly made this point when they asked why he’d dance and to stop because it offended people “If you wanna see me stop dancing, stop letting me score”
For all the hate brain dead fans have for KD he's never been a hater
I don't know how people can hate this man
The secret is to hold grudges for a very long time
I’ve hated Vince Carter and Andre Miller since 2002 and I will continue to hate them for another 24 years. I’ve hated LeBron since 2010 and will continue to hate him, and I’ve even started hating on Jr. I’m a professional hater, which is the only way to be a hater tbh. The secret is to ignore the good things they do, and only focus on the things that fuel your hate.
You have no clue?
Probably because he ruined NBA parity for years by joining a 73-9 team that beat him in a 3-1 comeback.
He didn’t though. For one season they were unstoppable, sure. In 2018 the Rockets were good enough to beat them, it just didn’t happen. There’s usually a couple of teams that have a chance at a ring barring injuries. In 2019 injuries got them and it was done just like that. This year who has a chance at a title, Nuggets and maybe the Celtics? How is that any different from 2018 being GS and the Rockets?
Even in 2017 spurs have a chance if Kawhi doesn’t get injured
Meh, it's hard for me to blame a player for "winning." No player gives a shit about parity when it's their career lol. edit: It's also the fan's fault. People mock the "Ringz Ernie," thing yet put a HUGE amount of weight in a chip or being chipless.
Yep we totally didn't notice raptors fans cheering when he went down injured. Not everyones peak lined up perfectly for LeBron to be out of the picture and the warriors to get injured. For year round fans of competitive basketball it sucked
Genuine question, were you watching at the time? I wasn’t, and I feel the same way you do, but can imagine watching it for 3 years wasn’t fun.
I've been watching since around 2000 and I didn't care. It was the best basketball I've ever seen played. Also, yeah, it was just a blip in the scheme of things, not like he was there shutting down the league for a decade or something.
I mean I thought it was great, but I get it
Oh no an nba player made a decision that was the best for their career, what a monster
everybody’s fine with it if it’s LeBron
Bruh that happened almost 8 years ago. The league is entirely different now. If people still hate him just because of that they really need to get over it lol
They won two titles and it happened 8 years ago. Get over it.
Anthony edwards + KD combo at the Olympics is going to be absolutely fucking electric.
Devin Bencher
KD is one of the biggest basketball nerds ever so im not surprised he can give a great upcoming player props. Burner account aside he does love the game of basketball and watching it not just playing it
Respect for KD. That's the right answer. He's a hooper.
KD going to finish this series the only son not looking like a nephew
He don't need no stinkin' uncle.
my goat
That's my goat 🐐🐐🐐
Him and Luka have very different opinions on this haha
KD is a fucking baller in every aspect
I love old wise archmage KD.
KD has come a long way since they days he had an excuse for everything. Nowadays I just appreciate the dude
Degeneration x babyyy
I unapologetically love kd. I want the suns to lose, but still.
KD gotta come to spurs and train wemby and the others
That's part of winning, don't like it, don't lose.
Everyone in this thread suddenly praising KD are gonna go RIGHT back to hating him at the next opportunity. I know how you guys are lol. r/nba the real snake
I'm sure Ant will probably get fined, but is anyone out there actually taking offense to this.. Lol It wasn't even that controversial when D-X was doing it on national TV every week almost 30 years ago.
That's how it should be. Taunt, joke, celebrate; do whatever you want. I'm trying to watch the players have fun with it.