Kevin Durant Draft, Day II
All eyes are on Phoenix when it comes to Durant, the Nets star believed to be targeting the Suns as his next preferred destination. But while I wrote at length Thursday about how a deal centered around restricted free agent center Deandre Ayton and small forward Mikal Bridges could work for both sides, the initial feeling is that it would take more than that. Or, to be more specific, something different. As Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News pointed out in the wake of the Rudy Gobert-to-Minnesota hit that went down Friday, the Nets’ asking price for Durant — two All-Stars, we’ve been told — may have just gone up. There’s no way the Suns will trade Devin Booker, who just agreed to a four-year, $224 million extension. Cam Johnson is worth watching as a potential mover for the Nets. But truth be told, it’s too early to tell if Durant will get his Valley-of-the-Sun wish here. While we wait, let’s explore the more macro question: Why Durant seems focused on Phoenix as the best place to continue his storied career? There are probably a lot of factors at play here – the opportunity to fight again, the proximity of Los Angeles, his relationship with Booker and respect for Chris Paul. However, in terms of personal dynamics, his close relationship with Suns coach Monty Williams might top the list. The two were together for one season in Oklahoma City, that 2015-16 season, when Williams was an associate coach under Scott Brooks and Durant was in his final days with the Thunder before heading to Golden State in free agency . The two men had already grown close during that season, but the bond grew even deeper after the tragic death of Williams’ wife and mother of their five children, Ingrid, in a car accident on February 9, 2016. A quick story i will never forget since… During All Star weekend in Toronto that year, I had planned to stop in Oklahoma City for an interview with Durant on my way west (I’m near Sacramento). But before the news of Ingrid’s death broke, Durant’s longtime business manager Rich Kleiman called to let me know the interview had been called off. Of course, I asked why. He shared the awful news of what had happened and described Durant — like so many others close to Williams — as devastated. All these years later, people who lived through that situation with Williams say Durant’s respect for him grew enormously as he watched the graceful way he handled all that pain. (If you’ve never watched Williams’ incredible speech at Ingrid’s funeral, please do.) Not long after Durant made his controversial decision to join the Warriors, he was back with Williams again on the USA team that won Olympic gold in Rio with Durant as the leading scorer. They have remained close ever since. Does that mean he’s bound for Phoenix? Not at all. But it might help people understand some of his motivations right now. As for the possibility of Miami also appearing to be in play, I’m told there’s a major hurdle on that front. Durant, it seems, would only want to play on a Heat team that includes Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry. So even if the Heat were willing to move forward with a deal for Butler to satisfy the Nets’ (reasonably expensive) asking price, doing so would leave Durant unhappy from the get-go. As others have pointed out, Adebayo comes with a complication of his own, even beyond the fact that Durant likely wants to stay. Since teams are not allowed to have two players on designated rookie-max extensions that came their way via trade, Brooklyn would have to trade Ben Simmons to get Adebayo. If the Heat’s best offering is centered around Tyler Herro, I just don’t see how that ever gains any traction. And as far as Durant’s preferred destinations go, that’s why it looks like the Suns might have a chance to do some magic here.
On Gary Payton II in Portland and the Damian Lillard ripple effect
Payton’s deal with Portland — three years, $28 million, per Shams Charania — has all kinds of layers. First, the Golden State side. While the Warriors’ luxury tax concerns are understandable, considering every dollar spent was multiplied by seven, the prospect of this loss will be tough on owner Joe Lacob and his team. Not only was Peyton an important part of their elite defense, very good on offense and an absolute game-changer in the NBA Finals following his momentum from his broken elbow, but he was also a fan favorite. These are unprecedented problems for a fan who has seen his team dominate for the better part of the last decade, but a problem nonetheless. A source with knowledge of the Payton-Warriors talks said Golden State offered the taxpayer a mid-level exemption for two years (starting at $6.4 million per year). According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Payton’s deal with Portland includes a player option. Additionally, sources say that Steph Curry and Draymond Green were part of the process with Payton, but clearly failed to convince him to stay. Add in the fact that the Warriors lost Otto Porter Jr. from Toronto on Friday and Nemanja Bjelica decided to play for Turkish champions Fenerbahce and it was a tough 12 hours in the Bay. As the rebounding moves go — in more ways than one — the re-signing of free agent/fellow Warrior-favorite Kevon Looney to a three-year, $25.5 million deal on Friday was absolutely necessary. Now for the Portland corner. While it has been widely assumed that Lillard will accept the two-year extension offer worth more than $100 million expected to come his way, sources say the Trail Blazers still needed to have a strong offseason to convince Lillard to sign by 2026-27 campaign (when he will be 36). The deadline here isn’t until the start of the regular season, and I’m told that’s still not certain. The addition of Jerami Grant (via trade with Detroit) this offseason was a major step in the right direction on that front, as Lillard’s desire to play with the 28-year-old forward has been no secret. They’ve flourished as teammates in the past, of course, winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Team USA. Grant’s defense is also sorely needed, as Portland finished 27th, 29th and 29th in defensive rating the last three seasons, respectively. The draft was much more of a question mark, as Blazers general manager Joe Cronin’s choice to take the enigmatic Shaydon Sharp out of Kentucky with the seventh pick was a long play. The Anfernee Simons deal is still a positive, though the price was strangely high (four years, $100 million) for the quarterback who had a year of not much meaningful basketball in Portland (Lillard, of course, played only 29 games due to his abdominal surgery and Portland went 27-55). Big Jusuf Nurkic also returns, agreeing to a four-year, $70 million deal that keeps his beloved Lillard in town. However, when it comes to Payton, this is the kind of move that is sure to make Lillard smile. Not only does he desperately need elite defensive wings on his side, but Lillard is close with Peyton’s father, Gary Payton, a Hall of Fame point guard and fellow Oakland, Calif. native, who has helped guide him for years. now. In addition, Payton II, his father and Lillard have been repped by the same agent, Aaron Goodwin of Goodwin Sports Management. There’s also the Northwest tie for Payton II, as he was beloved in his two years at Oregon State (2014-16). The Warriors’ loss, in other words, is the Trail Blazers’ gain as they try to keep the Lillard era alive.
Progress (playoffs) for the Kings?
I like the Kings’ offseason so far — imperfect as it is. First-year coach Mike Brown will certainly struggle to get this group to defend at a high level, and that could mean their ceiling is low enough to continue the league’s longest playoff drought. Especially considering the number of quality teams in the West (like, say, the Timberwolves!). But the additions of Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray are substantial solutions to their shooting woes, and they have very reasonable contracts (two years, $19 million for Monk in free agency; four years, $50.5 million for Huerter via trades with Atlanta). Franchise centerpiece De’Aaron Fox has everything to do with these moves, as the Kings just had to find a way to give him the kind of supporting cast that will help take his game to a new level while helping for Domantas Sabonis to thrive as well (remember, the 26-All-Star forward is free in the summer of 2024). Fox’s Kentucky history with Monk makes this move all the more meaningful and potentially impactful. Monk (career-high 13.8 points, 39.1 percent from deep on 5.1 attempts per game) has been a rare bright spot in the Lakers’ otherwise terrible 2021-22 campaign. Additionally, the Monks’ move unofficially vindicates the Kings’ choice to let Donte DiVincenzo walk in restricted free agency. Their choice to draft Murray over Jaden Ivey with the fourth pick will be debated and analyzed for years, but the Iowa product is widely viewed as a special young player who could help right away. There could certainly be more to come, with the Kings having been in on-again, off-again talks with Atlanta for John Collins (in a Harrison Barnes-centric deal) for months. There could also be opportunities around Durant’s situation, with teams like the Kings potentially able to take advantage in a third-team role. You don’t have to agree with the approach, but this is a team in win-now mode. Again. And considering the pressure this front office is under, with general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox working the final years of their respective…
