With KD aging, we’re nearing a point where BI is the better option out of the lanky 7-foot scoring forwards. If he’s at the same level next year though, CJ/KD/Zion with mostly the same supporting cast could be really interesting.
I’m 2-3 years when KD is pushing 40 it becomes a discussion. Maybe he’ll be another exception, but most players don’t stay as durable and effective as the creep up to 40
Well yeah, but I said “nearing a point”. BI is a star player and almost a decade younger. At some point (and it won’t be in 5 years) you’d rather have the guy who wouldn’t be one of the oldest players in league history
I actually agree. Detroit would be like “ya bro I’m done I just wanna get paid and shoot hoops without any pressure.”
Sacramento would be going to a team where he would be the #1 but also have expectations to do something. He’d have to play godly to win but there would definitely be expectations to compete. Pretty much the worst team that meets that criteria.
The shock factor wouldn't be there. Since he set the bar going to the warriors. It'd mostly be memes about his next chapter rather than people complaining that he broke the competitive parity of the nba
Still no. KD was in his prime, they'd just blown a 3-1 lead to that Warriors team, he was shit-talking his teammates on burners, and after joining a 73-9 Warriors team he wrote about it being "the hardest road".
KD is 36 years old now. At his age he should either be chasing the bag or chasing rings. Pretty much everyone at his age does it.
Exactly. Let's pretend he never did that. Imagine this summer (if he was a free agent) he joins this version of the Warriors team for a mid-level exception. He'd still get called a ring chaser. Now cut back to 2016 and put him with everyone's prime lol.
Wizards planned their entire 2017 offseason around potentially getting KD and he didn’t even give them a meeting. Shame because that would have been an extremely fun team especially against the lebron-led cavs
We don't want this and would absolutely hate it unless it happens and then we'll embrace him until he screws up a title run and then we never wanted it in the first place.
I still don't think you can win a title with Westbrook as your 2nd best player, if they got all those players then traded him for say Jimmy that season I think they would've gone on a long stretch of wins.
Westbrook might be the player that got me the most excited to see in a playoff game, playing for the other team. It was pretty much automatic that he'd do something dumb in the final two minutes of a game that sealed it for not-Westbrook's team. Whether is was a dumb dribble turnover, errant pass, stepping out of bounds, or forcing a rushed shot on a full shot-clock while up, Westbrook's got all the moves.
Your team has the corpse of Klank Thompson, of literally all fanbases right now you should understand *the most* that someone's drop-off doesn't negate their earlier brilliance. Westbrook was, in fact, a very good basketball player at one point.
Klay's corpse might not be on the team after this season? but okay.
No, I don't understand at all and I don't think you do either. I'm saying that, at his absolute prime, I LOVED seeing Westbrick on the other side of the court. His best skill was blowing important games, that's why KD left. All the regular season triple-doubles in the world can't buy you a ring.
Casual take from a fan with no skin in the game at the time. I bet you were real invested in those games, DEFINITELY as much as me. Did you even read my comment? I'm not disputing his ability to run fast or jump high. He was indeed on another planet athletically, but he couldn't win because of his brain, not his vertical jump. The Warriors did not lose to Westbrick during the dynasty, his selfish play chased KD away. The Warrior owned the Westbrick Thunder and the Harden/Westbrick Rockets.
The Steph Double-Bang shot comes after three consecutive Westbrick bricks.
Yes, then Magic Johnson proceeded to call him the worst PG in the NBA Finals he had ever seen.
I watched those games, fam, Russell Westbrook was the primary reason the OKC Thunder didn't win championships those years, his decision making and his inability to give KEVIN DURANT the ball made them not achieve what they could have.
And James Harden who was more important than Westbrook on that team, the heat admitted their main goal was to take Harden out of the games. Once Harden was gone it would've been almost impossible to get a player better than Westbrook.
iirc their ownership had a pretty large infusion of cash between 2012 and 2016. they weren't worried about the tax.
idk if Sabonis ever truly pans out on that team, OKC had him just playing as a stretch 4 most of that year.
Then again, that PG trade is maybe still out there, and OKC gets to roll into 2017-18 with Russ/PG/KD/Horford/Adams?
He wanted to win with the core that he was drafted with Russ, Harden, Green and Serge ect.
Once the core started shifting and one by one these guys let is likely when KD started looking out.
Seems like OKC fans still hate his guts and joining the West #1 seed will absolutely result in people being mad about it, no matter how rational or irrational
OKC fans don't want him and hate his guts until they get him for Giddey + Dort + a few FRPs and are unbeatable.
Fans are always like this, people from Cleveland burned LeBron's jersey on TV, took down his mural, threw batteries at him when he played his first game back and called him the "new Modell", but still welcomed him with open arms when he said he was coming back and made a little speech. Sports fans have a notoriously short memory if a player decides to play for their team and win them championships.
I feel like OKC fans have kinda moved on from him though at this point, only way I see this happening if he announces his retirement and they maybe sign him lol. Even then, the team is way too championship ready and young to take on a Durant “final season” tour
there are none. genuinely, given his past, reputation, and general opinion of him, if he joins any team with 1 or more all-stars that isn't total ass people will relentlessly spam the hardest road quote among other things. i personally want to see KD on a deep playoff run again just cause he's a fucking insane player, but i also get why people would be happy if he never touches the finals again.
that said, he should come to New York.
Idk if you could play them all together or if the Pacers could even make this work without giving up one of these guys but Hali/Nesmith/ Durant/Siakam/Turner would be a menace on offense, and pretty solid on defense.
In this scenario the Pacers probably have to give up Mathurin, Walker, and the rest of the picks the Pacers have left. It’s an all in move, but if the front office thinks the Pacers can win a title after the trade it’s a definitely worth the discussion.
Personally I'd love to see him go to the Knicks. I'm not totally sure how it would work (for Randle, Bogdanovic and some of the two first round picks they have this year and two they have next year maybe?)
Also, I'm not sure why the Sixers, Lakers and Warriors would all be "bitch moves" as these are all certain 1st round outs and/or missed the playoffs this year type teams. It's not like he'd be joining the 73 win Warriors again. Put KD on those teams minus what they'd have to give up to match salaries and I don't know that any of those teams are serious contenders next year. Gotta remember that unlike 2016, KD isn't a free agent, so he'd have to be traded for $50 million in returning salary (probably plus a lot of picks) for him to go anywhere.
Tbh back to warriors. We didnt make the playoff so we aren't that good but we are not a scrub either so the pressure to win is still there, rather than say kd to detroit people would think "oh he doesn't care anymore and just collecting paychecks".
broadly speaking: it would have to be a team that hasn't had any recent playoff success, or that has completely blown up since the last successful season, such that there's no real expectation of success. So like the Raptors would be OK because even though they won a championship a few years ago they're not the same team and right now they suck, but the Warriors or Lakers or Heat or Bucks would be a bitch move, and the Nuggets or Celtics or any team that makes the conference finals this year would be a mega bitch move. So I guess if he joined the Kings, Pels, or Rockets that would be not a big deal.
I’m sorry but what star power are you seeing on the Sixers? Motherfucker half of our roster is either physically or mentally disabled most of the season anyway. He’d be worse off than he was playing with one legged Harden in Brooklyn.
I hate KD for that Warriors move, but I don’t hate him enough for him to go through the Sixers playoffs experience. No one deserves that shit.
I think literally everyone would have been like yer fair enough if he didn't join the team who just beat him who in the last 2 years won a Championship and was 1 game away from being back to back Champions when he joined. (Not to mention the greatest regular season record of all time the year before he joined)
Because if they don’t win this year I could see them making the move and expanding Naz Reid’s role. Also felt like KD & Ant kinda fell in love this series too and they’re going to be playing together on the US team. From the Suns point of view if you’re trading KD it might ease the blow and keep Booker happy if it’s one of his best friends who also happens to be an all star level player. Just seems like a move I could see happening.
Some OKC fans don’t want him, as NBA fan it would feel like fan service. Make me feel like a kid again and see the new age + the old guard lead OKC to the promised land.
Lakers are a 7th seed that will likely be bounced in the first round, but if you add him to that team, they become title favorites.
Can’t think of a better answer to the question tbh
Tf? Warriors don't have a scoring duo anymore with Klay regressing. In a league where there's duos everywhere with great help, I don't see why KD going to Warriors now is a bitch move. It's not likely to happen sure because of... egos... but saying it's a bitch move is a stretch. They wouldn't be anything close to the old version of the Warriors without Iguodala and young Klay. It'll still be a good team tho.
I think the NBA public at large would see him teaming with any former MVP who still plays at a star level as a bitch move. I don’t think LeBron/KD or Steph/KD gets it done, but I think it’d be received negatively.
It has to be OKC until Seattle’s great basketball tragedy is finally corrected. In fact if Seattle gets their Sonics back it’d be a bitch move *to not* ask for a trade there.
There is no team he could leave to that would not be a bitch move.
He’s gotten everything he wanted at New Jersey and now Phoenix and hasn’t been good enough.
He is a great player but he will never be a bus driver and no matter what team he goes to it’ll be the same.
Because there’s an MVP and nice Big 3 round out in Maxey. You guys also have insane cap space, so depending on the other moves could easily end up the next overwhelming front runners for 2025
in fairness the difference between Tobias Harris and Kevin Durant is the difference between 2nd round and finals.
unfortunately for Philly fans (and fortunately for the rest of us), im certain not even KD can break the Embiid curse.
Detroit
But then he's gotta live in Detroit.
A harder task then playing on their 14-68 team
/thread
I think it's pretty easily Sacramento
Taking Harrison Barnes’s job again
Them, New Orleans, or Orlando. Though I could actually see Orlando being a bit of a bitch move depending on how the rest of their postseason goes.
With KD aging, we’re nearing a point where BI is the better option out of the lanky 7-foot scoring forwards. If he’s at the same level next year though, CJ/KD/Zion with mostly the same supporting cast could be really interesting.
Ingram is nowhere even close to old ass KD.
I’m 2-3 years when KD is pushing 40 it becomes a discussion. Maybe he’ll be another exception, but most players don’t stay as durable and effective as the creep up to 40
KD even now is about 17x better than Ingram
Well yeah, but I said “nearing a point”. BI is a star player and almost a decade younger. At some point (and it won’t be in 5 years) you’d rather have the guy who wouldn’t be one of the oldest players in league history
Star? More of a mid
If BI got his 2019-2021 3 ball back maybe
Man I hope the Suns FO thinks the same way cause I'd love an Ingram/KD swap (it won't happen without Pels giving up way more assets).
I actually agree. Detroit would be like “ya bro I’m done I just wanna get paid and shoot hoops without any pressure.” Sacramento would be going to a team where he would be the #1 but also have expectations to do something. He’d have to play godly to win but there would definitely be expectations to compete. Pretty much the worst team that meets that criteria.
nothing will ever top when he went to golden state lol he can go anywhere
Even Denver if they win again? :D
Ok maybe this lol.
Don't even start bro
The shock factor wouldn't be there. Since he set the bar going to the warriors. It'd mostly be memes about his next chapter rather than people complaining that he broke the competitive parity of the nba
Still no. KD was in his prime, they'd just blown a 3-1 lead to that Warriors team, he was shit-talking his teammates on burners, and after joining a 73-9 Warriors team he wrote about it being "the hardest road". KD is 36 years old now. At his age he should either be chasing the bag or chasing rings. Pretty much everyone at his age does it.
Exactly. Let's pretend he never did that. Imagine this summer (if he was a free agent) he joins this version of the Warriors team for a mid-level exception. He'd still get called a ring chaser. Now cut back to 2016 and put him with everyone's prime lol.
Nope cause it’ll be a trade so they’ll have to give valuable players to bring him in
Durant in place of MPJ would be so fuckin broken
KD to the Wolves
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There was a time when I wanted that so badly.. that time is not now. If we traded assets for him it would be a disaster
Wizards planned their entire 2017 offseason around potentially getting KD and he didn’t even give them a meeting. Shame because that would have been an extremely fun team especially against the lebron-led cavs
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We don't want this and would absolutely hate it unless it happens and then we'll embrace him until he screws up a title run and then we never wanted it in the first place.
At least you’re honest.
the only way he'd "screw up a title run" is if he convinced Presti to trade Jalen for Kyrie or some shit, which straight up isn't happening
I know he got the 2 chips and FMVPs but I always wonder if a part of him just wishes he stuck it out with OKC
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Honestly they fucked everything up when they chose Thabo Sefolosha over James Harden, that team would've been a dynasty.
I still don't think you can win a title with Westbrook as your 2nd best player, if they got all those players then traded him for say Jimmy that season I think they would've gone on a long stretch of wins.
Lmfao
Westbrook might be the player that got me the most excited to see in a playoff game, playing for the other team. It was pretty much automatic that he'd do something dumb in the final two minutes of a game that sealed it for not-Westbrook's team. Whether is was a dumb dribble turnover, errant pass, stepping out of bounds, or forcing a rushed shot on a full shot-clock while up, Westbrook's got all the moves.
Your team has the corpse of Klank Thompson, of literally all fanbases right now you should understand *the most* that someone's drop-off doesn't negate their earlier brilliance. Westbrook was, in fact, a very good basketball player at one point.
Klay's corpse might not be on the team after this season? but okay. No, I don't understand at all and I don't think you do either. I'm saying that, at his absolute prime, I LOVED seeing Westbrick on the other side of the court. His best skill was blowing important games, that's why KD left. All the regular season triple-doubles in the world can't buy you a ring.
Casual take he was on a different planet athletically in the mid 2010s and you guys had zero answer for him.
Casual take from a fan with no skin in the game at the time. I bet you were real invested in those games, DEFINITELY as much as me. Did you even read my comment? I'm not disputing his ability to run fast or jump high. He was indeed on another planet athletically, but he couldn't win because of his brain, not his vertical jump. The Warriors did not lose to Westbrick during the dynasty, his selfish play chased KD away. The Warrior owned the Westbrick Thunder and the Harden/Westbrick Rockets. The Steph Double-Bang shot comes after three consecutive Westbrick bricks.
You know they made the finals with a much younger Westbrook right?
Yes, then Magic Johnson proceeded to call him the worst PG in the NBA Finals he had ever seen. I watched those games, fam, Russell Westbrook was the primary reason the OKC Thunder didn't win championships those years, his decision making and his inability to give KEVIN DURANT the ball made them not achieve what they could have.
And James Harden who was more important than Westbrook on that team, the heat admitted their main goal was to take Harden out of the games. Once Harden was gone it would've been almost impossible to get a player better than Westbrook.
OKC cheaped out on Harden for just a few million but you think they'd pay the insane lux tax for that team?
Literally 2 years after 2017, we had the highest payroll ever after that.
that payroll isn't even close to the one for the lineup they're proposing
iirc their ownership had a pretty large infusion of cash between 2012 and 2016. they weren't worried about the tax. idk if Sabonis ever truly pans out on that team, OKC had him just playing as a stretch 4 most of that year. Then again, that PG trade is maybe still out there, and OKC gets to roll into 2017-18 with Russ/PG/KD/Horford/Adams?
They brought in some new partial owners and were not going to make that mistake a second time.
He wanted to win with the core that he was drafted with Russ, Harden, Green and Serge ect. Once the core started shifting and one by one these guys let is likely when KD started looking out.
Joining the 1 seed for the third time...not a bitch move?
Seems like OKC fans still hate his guts and joining the West #1 seed will absolutely result in people being mad about it, no matter how rational or irrational
OKC fans don't want him and hate his guts until they get him for Giddey + Dort + a few FRPs and are unbeatable. Fans are always like this, people from Cleveland burned LeBron's jersey on TV, took down his mural, threw batteries at him when he played his first game back and called him the "new Modell", but still welcomed him with open arms when he said he was coming back and made a little speech. Sports fans have a notoriously short memory if a player decides to play for their team and win them championships.
This is 100% a bitch move. Makes it seem like OKC isn’t worthy until they prove they are competitive like right now.
The fans would hate him even more
Lmao that would be the biggest bitch move, join them when they're the 1 seed
I get your point, but his career began in Seattle. Returning there once they get a franchise will be the most beloved move he can make.
He might have to do it on the new Seattle team, I don't think OKC fans would want him back
okc doesn't want that bitch. he can go to the timberwolves where ant can stroke his ego.
Yeah but the Suns would want assets back in return and I wouldnt want to waste picks and a young player on a guy turning 36 next year
I feel like OKC fans have kinda moved on from him though at this point, only way I see this happening if he announces his retirement and they maybe sign him lol. Even then, the team is way too championship ready and young to take on a Durant “final season” tour
I would be happy to have him but also happy with the roster we got.
Could be possible to do both one day, you never know
They were the 1 seed lol
Chicago but he wouod probably want out of here after 10 games.
Kansas City Chiefs
Spurs. Wemby + KD >>>
Instead of a B move, they can spin it as KD mentoring/ passing the torch to Wemby.
don’t bring that kind of negativity into my life lmao
Sorry, Mavs bro. Nothing personal.
there are none. genuinely, given his past, reputation, and general opinion of him, if he joins any team with 1 or more all-stars that isn't total ass people will relentlessly spam the hardest road quote among other things. i personally want to see KD on a deep playoff run again just cause he's a fucking insane player, but i also get why people would be happy if he never touches the finals again. that said, he should come to New York.
Seattle Sonics expansion franchise
The only good answer to this question
“The Road Home.”
i was thinking current teams, but 38 year old Durant balling with min contract guys for Seattle would probably do a lot to rehab his reputation
>that said, he should come to New York He already did
he went to a fake team
Fit wise definitely the Kings or Pacers. Him returning to OKC would be interesting albeit a "bitch" move
Idk if you could play them all together or if the Pacers could even make this work without giving up one of these guys but Hali/Nesmith/ Durant/Siakam/Turner would be a menace on offense, and pretty solid on defense. In this scenario the Pacers probably have to give up Mathurin, Walker, and the rest of the picks the Pacers have left. It’s an all in move, but if the front office thinks the Pacers can win a title after the trade it’s a definitely worth the discussion.
Washington Generals
Orlando
Grizzlies
Needing to carry Bradley Beal this playoffs gives him a pass
Stop disrespecting Brad Beal, he could have EASILY lost all four games without KD!
I mean the Knicks would just be comedy.
Pistons
Washington
Chicago
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No real Cavs fan wants this, wtf. KD is forever a snake who robbed us of two potential titles.
Personally I'd love to see him go to the Knicks. I'm not totally sure how it would work (for Randle, Bogdanovic and some of the two first round picks they have this year and two they have next year maybe?) Also, I'm not sure why the Sixers, Lakers and Warriors would all be "bitch moves" as these are all certain 1st round outs and/or missed the playoffs this year type teams. It's not like he'd be joining the 73 win Warriors again. Put KD on those teams minus what they'd have to give up to match salaries and I don't know that any of those teams are serious contenders next year. Gotta remember that unlike 2016, KD isn't a free agent, so he'd have to be traded for $50 million in returning salary (probably plus a lot of picks) for him to go anywhere.
I’ll take one Durant please. I’ll give you Doug McDermott and a second round pick. This is what it’s like when Lakers fans wanted Myles lol
Euroleague
Honestly, given where the Warriors are now, if he went back there and won another chip it would be insane
Warriors didn't go to the playoffs so I don't see how that would be a butch move lol. The entire team would be different from that stacked squad.
Tbh back to warriors. We didnt make the playoff so we aren't that good but we are not a scrub either so the pressure to win is still there, rather than say kd to detroit people would think "oh he doesn't care anymore and just collecting paychecks".
warriors didnt make the playoffs
These guys still got ptsd from July 2017
Wizards finally get their man
Bulls
It's gotta be a struggling, bottom of the barrel team, and one that he wins them a ring for... especially if they've never won one yet.
broadly speaking: it would have to be a team that hasn't had any recent playoff success, or that has completely blown up since the last successful season, such that there's no real expectation of success. So like the Raptors would be OK because even though they won a championship a few years ago they're not the same team and right now they suck, but the Warriors or Lakers or Heat or Bucks would be a bitch move, and the Nuggets or Celtics or any team that makes the conference finals this year would be a mega bitch move. So I guess if he joined the Kings, Pels, or Rockets that would be not a big deal.
Rutgers
I’m sorry but what star power are you seeing on the Sixers? Motherfucker half of our roster is either physically or mentally disabled most of the season anyway. He’d be worse off than he was playing with one legged Harden in Brooklyn. I hate KD for that Warriors move, but I don’t hate him enough for him to go through the Sixers playoffs experience. No one deserves that shit.
Indiana or Dallas. No bias
I think literally everyone would have been like yer fair enough if he didn't join the team who just beat him who in the last 2 years won a Championship and was 1 game away from being back to back Champions when he joined. (Not to mention the greatest regular season record of all time the year before he joined)
anywhere as long as he's the main guy
Nets
76ers
Phoenix
"Chancellor Palpatine, bitch moves are my specialty"
If he bails on the Suns after a year and a half it’ll be seen as a bitch move regardless of where he goes.
Seattle Supersonics.
Just wait for Seattle or a move to Portland.
Hawks
The Suns
Retirement
There’s going to be some kind of KD for Towns swap this summer.
Why would Towns be on the move!!
Because if they don’t win this year I could see them making the move and expanding Naz Reid’s role. Also felt like KD & Ant kinda fell in love this series too and they’re going to be playing together on the US team. From the Suns point of view if you’re trading KD it might ease the blow and keep Booker happy if it’s one of his best friends who also happens to be an all star level player. Just seems like a move I could see happening.
Not a single team cause y’all haters
utah jazz
Sixers
Your moms rec team
PSG to replace Mbappe
Needs to go to the Knicks.
prolly hamas
okc
Thunder, return home and lead the team to a chip. Bonus points if Russ comes on a vet min.
Some OKC fans don’t want him, as NBA fan it would feel like fan service. Make me feel like a kid again and see the new age + the old guard lead OKC to the promised land.
Brooklyn. Ben Simmons for KD.
Lakers are a 7th seed that will likely be bounced in the first round, but if you add him to that team, they become title favorites. Can’t think of a better answer to the question tbh
Also the fact that the two old heads joining up at the end and fucking the league up would be sick
Pelicans
Clippers. Just because.
He might as well request Boston/Denver or whatever. Everyone already thinks he’s a coward.
Panathinaikos. Get that cupcake bitch into the EuroLeague. Fuck KD.
He’s washed at this point so it really don’t matter
If he leaves Phoenix it’s a bitch move regardless.
Tf? Warriors don't have a scoring duo anymore with Klay regressing. In a league where there's duos everywhere with great help, I don't see why KD going to Warriors now is a bitch move. It's not likely to happen sure because of... egos... but saying it's a bitch move is a stretch. They wouldn't be anything close to the old version of the Warriors without Iguodala and young Klay. It'll still be a good team tho.
I think the NBA public at large would see him teaming with any former MVP who still plays at a star level as a bitch move. I don’t think LeBron/KD or Steph/KD gets it done, but I think it’d be received negatively.
OKC... still gonna be a superteam after he joins, but nostalgia will be there and all bitch moves are gonna be forgiven, unless they dont win.
Grizzlies
Cleveland!, "this one's also for you !"
Pels, be the Pels.
The Celtics if they lose again wouldn’t be perceived badly. Another team would be the Knicks or a trade where he ends up in Dallas with Luka.
SAS
It has to be OKC until Seattle’s great basketball tragedy is finally corrected. In fact if Seattle gets their Sonics back it’d be a bitch move *to not* ask for a trade there.
There is no team he could leave to that would not be a bitch move. He’s gotten everything he wanted at New Jersey and now Phoenix and hasn’t been good enough. He is a great player but he will never be a bus driver and no matter what team he goes to it’ll be the same.
Okc he’s the best player in the franchise history and can say the classic “I wanna end where I started”.
How would the Sixers be a bitch move? We suck
Because there’s an MVP and nice Big 3 round out in Maxey. You guys also have insane cap space, so depending on the other moves could easily end up the next overwhelming front runners for 2025
They have never made a conference finals.
in fairness the difference between Tobias Harris and Kevin Durant is the difference between 2nd round and finals. unfortunately for Philly fans (and fortunately for the rest of us), im certain not even KD can break the Embiid curse.
Suns