Suns trade Kevin Durant to the Rockets

[Phrazbit]

So this isn’t true. I get that some of you love to play the hyperbole card here, but there are some posters that likely believe you know what you’re talking about when you say this stuff. The swaps WILL end up with us having worse picks, but they won’t be literally end of the round unless we have swaps with a team that wins the championship - unlikely. Conditioned in us getting under the threshold.

I feel like whenever I get accused of hyperbole here my forecast comes out correct.

Those picks are swapped 4 ways, with us getting the last bite, odds are they are going to be late picks.

Also, if our primary goal is just to get under the 2nd apron then we could have just let KD expire next year.

 

[Phrazbit]

Considering books’ net ratings in his first four seasons were worse than greens, there’s hope. He’s also much more athletic than Booker.

Bookers net rating:

Season	Net Rating (NetRTG)
2015-16	-1.2
2016-17	-2.2
2017-18	-8.7
2018-19	-9.1

Booker was playing on a horrendous roster, Green managed to pull that number while playing on a team that won 50 games, he was a dead weight on that team.

 

[FB94]

Why am I the only person pleased to have Dillon Brooks? If he's a strong defender I want him; and if he's a thug I want him playing for the Suns, not an opponent.

I'm also learning that he's said to be an intense, vocal and emotional leader. Exactly what Booker isn't.

Long list of needs for this team and right up there is a pair of balls.

 

[Phrazbit]

Oof

2024-2025 Around the NBA Thread

It looks like Monty Williams will be coaching high school basketball, where his son is a student. This should be a good fit and where he will be happy. Good for him. He is a good coach and may find he works best with teenagers versus rich 20 and 30 somethings. It seems his issues stem from...

www.arizonasportsfans.com

 

[Cheesebeef]

Suns need to get back to team basketball. They lost it somewhere along the way.

The Suns built around Booker once. Maybe they can do it again.

No. They were built around CP3. Any team built around Booker has either been one of the worst teams in the league or one of the most disappointing.

And even if you want to argue we built
Around Booker for a meager two year run, we did so having control of all of our own lottery picks to add talent and Booker wasn’t even close to his prime. We literally have none of that and by the time we do, Booker will be out of his prime. Ignoring content, timing and the reality that our only success came with CP3 running the show will only doom however long this walk in the desert already will be.

 

[Hoop Head]

Oof

2024-2025 Around the NBA Thread

It looks like Monty Williams will be coaching high school basketball, where his son is a student. This should be a good fit and where he will be happy. Good for him. He is a good coach and may find he works best with teenagers versus rich 20 and 30 somethings. It seems his issues stem from...

www.arizonasportsfans.com

Someone needs to make sure he's not still looking for a son-in-law.

 

[Phrazbit]

Someone needs to make sure he's not still looking for a son-in-law.

Click on the link, I those were my thoughts on Green's future a year ago.

 

[Hoop Head]

Click on the link, I those were my thoughts on Green's future a year ago.

My bad. I just read the description on the hyperlink and it talks about Monty working as a high school coach with his son.


I agree with you on Green as a player but hold a little more optimism based on his age. You've been more right than wrong these last few years though so I can see your take and understand the dread.

 

[Mainstreet]

No. They were built around CP3. Any team built around Booker has either been one of the worst teams in the league or one of the most disappointing.

And even if you want to argue we built
Around Booker for a meager two year run, we did so having control of all of our own lottery picks to add talent and Booker wasn’t even close to his prime. We literally have none of that and by the time we do, Booker will be out of his prime. Ignoring content, timing and the reality that our only success came with CP3 running the show will only doom however long this walk in the desert already will be.

Why do you think Chris Paul even came here?

 

[GatorAZ]

I listened to the Hoop Collective pod and they didn’t rank any of Green, Brooks or #10 as one of Houston’s top-5 assets before the trade. Tough.

KD and Rich Kleiman made sure that a team not on his preferred trade list not pull the trigger.

 

[Mainstreet]

It sounds like it came down to the Rockets and Heat at the end listening to Shams Charania in this video snippet.

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[Russ Smith]

He can be streaky but he is very talented, young, and years away from his prime...
He has a chance to thrive here IMO and gives us something to work with that parallels the true timeline of what it will take to fully undo recent transgressions.

I also think that Book will be traded at some point and will be the main catalyst of the rebuild.

The thing on Green is despite being 23 he seems like he might be somewhat close to his ceiling? His stats this year were just marginally better than at 21 2 years ago in year 2. He's a better player for sure but marginally higher 2 and 3 point percentage. Shot selection improved. Defense is not bad but not great.

The Warriors figured out he's not very good on the left side especially going left. They also figured out he doesn't play well off the ball. That's what makes Thompson so intriguing he's an elite defender, rebounds, and he has an innate feel for moving without the ball that's so unusal for a kid that young. Green has always played on the ball in HS, G league and early in Houston. He got better with Van Vleet etc but I just don't think he gets how important off the ball is and that's what's holding him back.

 

[GatorAZ]

The thing on Green is despite being 23 he seems like he might be somewhat close to his ceiling? His stats this year were just marginally better than at 21 2 years ago in year 2. He's a better player for sure but marginally higher 2 and 3 point percentage. Shot selection improved. Defense is not bad but not great.

The Warriors figured out he's not very good on the left side especially going left. They also figured out he doesn't play well off the ball. That's what makes Thompson so intriguing he's an elite defender, rebounds, and he has an innate feel for moving without the ball that's so unusal for a kid that young. Green has always played on the ball in HS, G league and early in Houston. He got better with Van Vleet etc but I just don't think he gets how important off the ball is and that's what's holding him back.

He’s a worse shooting Zach Lavine. Nobody else wanted him.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Not that it's a big difference, he was measured at 6'3" with bare feet. I just can't see a PG with both Green and Booker on the floor at the same time. I am assuming if we keep Green, we want him to start. The quotes say they want him playing with Booker. I still think this was a pick by someone who doesn't follow the Suns. The Suns themselves have leaked they are looking for bigs.

If they are really dead set on repeating the stupidity of starting two SG in the backcourt they deserve the disaster they are going to get. I also think they’re now in reset mode. They need to get the best talent they can get.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I feel like whenever I get accused of hyperbole here my forecast comes out correct.

Those picks are swapped 4 ways, with us getting the last bite, odds are they are going to be late picks.

Also, if our primary goal is just to get under the 2nd apron then we could have just let KD expire next year.

I will bet you hard cash if they get under the apron or whatever rule it is that requires the pick to drop to the end that they will not get “the last pick” that you predict.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Booker was playing on a horrendous roster, Green managed to pull that number while playing on a team that won 50 games, he was a dead weight on that team.

I get that you want to be big mad at the suns. But this kid was the leading scorer on a young playoff team this year. He’s not the complete disaster you make him out to be.

Could he be Zach Lavine? Yes. Could he be a more athletic Devin Booker? Also yes.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Click on the link, I those were my thoughts on Green's future a year ago.

You have definitely been consistent in your view of him.

 

[Phrazbit]

I will bet you hard cash if they get under the apron or whatever rule it is that requires the pick to drop to the end that they will not get “the last pick” that you predict.

I am not disputing that.

What I am saying is that it won't really matter because those picks will all end up towards the back of the draft anyway. I'd be surprised if any of them end up better than like... 24th.

If the idea of trading KD was to get under the apron then this is a dumb trade... well, it is a dumb trade regardless because we need to be compiling assets and the only real asset we got is the 10th pick.

We'd have to bribe someone to take Brooks or Green off our hands.

 

[GatorAZ]

I get that you want to be big mad at the suns. But this kid was the leading scorer on a young playoff team this year. He’s not the complete disaster you make him out to be.

Could he be Zach Lavine? Yes. Could he be a more athletic Devin Booker? Also yes.

A smart team trading their leading scorer for someone 15 years older? I’d say that says all we need to know regarding Green. Unless Brian Gregory and Jordan Ott are a lot smarter than Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He’s a worse shooting Zach Lavine. Nobody else wanted him.

This is definitely the worst case scenario.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I am not disputing that.

What I am saying is that it won't really matter because those picks will all end up towards the back of the draft anyway. I'd be surprised if any of them end up better than like... 24th.

If the idea of trading KD was to get under the apron then this is a dumb trade... well, it is a dumb trade regardless because we need to be compiling assets and the only real asset we got is the 10th pick.

We'd have to bribe someone to take Brooks or Green off our hands.

I think you’re undervaluing both players.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

A smart team trading their leading scorer for someone 15 years older? I’d say that says all we need to know regarding Green. Unless Brian Gregory and Jordan Ott are a lot smarter than Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka.

Well a smart team trading their leading scorer for a hall of fame scorer who is coming off a great season and is likely a better fit for winning a championship RIGHT NOW.

 

[Covert Rain]

So this isn’t true. I get that some of you love to play the hyperbole card here, but there are some posters that likely believe you know what you’re talking about when you say this stuff. The swaps WILL end up with us having worse picks, but they won’t be literally end of the round unless we have swaps with a team that wins the championship - unlikely. Conditioned in us getting under the threshold.

I stated this above but it also hog ties the Suns. If the Suns stay over the 2nd Apron they cannot use existing assets to move up in the draft since we would end up sliding to the end of the round. I think the Suns would like that option should the opportunity present itself this draft or next.

 

[GatorAZ]

Well a smart team trading their leading scorer for a hall of fame scorer who is coming off a great season and is likely a better fit for winning a championship RIGHT NOW.

I could buy that if Jalen Green was coming off his rookie season instead of entering year 5.

 

[sdscard4]

Hasn't Green averaged over 20 ppg all his 4 yrs? I get it everyone wanted a haul. But for an older KD I'm liking the entire package. Especially if that 10 turns good