The Kevin Durant sweepstakes are officially underway, and the Suns are open for business. Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Suns and KD’s team are working together to find a trade that works for everyone, with interested teams including the Rockets, Spurs, Timberwolves, Heat, and Knicks.
He went on to say that there could be “wild card” teams that get involved as well, and stated that things are moving fast and a deal could be done soon, especially with the NBA Draft looming later this month.
It’s still unclear which team may end up winning the KD sweepstakes, but one thing is clear: there are plenty of teams looking to make a run at the future Hall of Famer. But there is only one Kevin Durant, so that means there will be several disappointed teams that are quickly looking to pivot.
Teams losing out on KD could trade for MPJ
There may not be another tall scoring dynamo like KD available, but there is a 6’10” elite movement shooter who is 10 years younger than Durant and makes significantly less money: Michael Porter Jr.
MPJ is obviously nowhere close to the player that Durant is, but the cost to acquire him would also be much lower. Right now, teams are imagining what it would be like to add Durant to their lineup and how he would slot in and fill a role.
Inevitably, most of those teams won’t acquire KD, but may still want to add a big wing shooter. Changing course and going for MPJ could make some sense as his salary is lower, and he’s still just 26 years old.
He’s not a star that can swing the title like Durant, but he’s a solid role player who can score close to 20 points a game, and was a key starter for a championship team just two seasons ago. Teams can get desperate and likely convince themselves that there is more meat left on the bone, and Porter Jr. can still take a leap with a change of scenery.
This would be dream come true for Denver
This would basically be the ideal outcome for the Nuggets. They need a minor miracle to upgrade the roster significantly this offseason, but a team that loses out on Durant and needs to change direction may be just what the doctor ordered.
Ultimately, it only takes one team to bite, but that one team could change the Nuggets’ fortune for next season and beyond. Porter Jr. still has plenty of flaws, and his contract and injury history aren’t exactly working in his favor either. But at the end of the day, the available talent will dry up quickly, and teams may start acting irrationally. That’s the hope in Denver, and maybe a team will step up and overpay in a way that drastically changes the Nuggets’ outlook.