Enzo The Baker said:

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Dang. We were just +120 two days ago. Something could be brewing.

---

Lots of smoke from supposed sources ranging from SA is his preferred choice to he has demanded to go to SA only. IMO it seems like it's "done" in the loosest terms. He's agreed to come to SA, and basics are agreed to, just working with 3rd/4th teams to make it where all parties are content. Keep seeing Utah mentioned. Danny Ainge can't sit still in the trade market and seemingly wants out of a few contracts on their books ( Lauri, John Collins, et al)

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

---

Enzo The Baker said:

---

Dang. We were just +120 two days ago. Something could be brewing.

---

Lots of smoke from supposed sources ranging from SA is his preferred choice to he has demanded to go to SA only. IMO it seems like it's "done" in the loosest terms. He's agreed to come to SA, and basics are agreed to, just working with 3rd/4th teams to make it where all parties are content. Keep seeing Utah mentioned. Danny Ainge can't sit still in the trade market and seemingly wants out of a few contracts on their books ( Lauri, John Collins, et al)

---

The problem is Durant's extension.

I wouldn't guarantee him more than 15-20% of the cap for 27 and 28, but he likely wants the 2 year max like Butler just got.

You can't give Durant that much while also losing team building blocks in Vassell and 14

Trading 14/vassell/Barnes for a 1y rental of Durant is idiotic

The Spurs won't trade all that for a 1 year rental. Obviously there will be some sort of an agreement beforehand with KD. The Spurs also wont do it if KD wants too much $$.

Not sure how much of a building block Vassell is. I think we've pretty much seen what he is. I would honestly rather keep 14 then Vassell at this point. Sochan is interesting also. I lean towards wanting him to stay at the right price but if his camp is already indicating behind the scenes that he won't re-sign for less than $25mm+ per year then he shouldn't be off the table.

Guitarsoup said:

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HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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Enzo The Baker said:

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Dang. We were just +120 two days ago. Something could be brewing.

---

Lots of smoke from supposed sources ranging from SA is his preferred choice to he has demanded to go to SA only. IMO it seems like it's "done" in the loosest terms. He's agreed to come to SA, and basics are agreed to, just working with 3rd/4th teams to make it where all parties are content. Keep seeing Utah mentioned. Danny Ainge can't sit still in the trade market and seemingly wants out of a few contracts on their books ( Lauri, John Collins, et al)

---

The problem is Durant's extension.

I wouldn't guarantee him more than 15-20% of the cap for 27 and 28, but he likely wants the 2 year max like Butler just got.

You can't give Durant that much while also losing team building blocks in Vassell and 14

Trading 14/vassell/Barnes for a 1y rental of Durant is idiotic

---

It's exactly this. Durant wants to play in SA? Great, we need your shooting bro. You want Max money? Hard pass friendo, we have Wemby and a bunch of young dudes that are going to eat. You're 37 and have more money than you know what to do with.

Durant coming to SA has to be about winning rings, not money. There isn't any money for old dudes on this team anymore.

Sher Thing said:

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The Spurs won't trade all that for a 1 year rental. Obviously there will be some sort of an agreement beforehand with KD. The Spurs also wont do it if KD wants too much $$.

Not sure how much of a building block Vassell is. I think we've pretty much seen what he is. I would honestly rather keep 14 then Vassell at this point. Sochan is interesting also. I lean towards wanting him to stay at the right price but if his camp is already indicating behind the scenes that he won't re-sign for less than $25mm+ per year then he shouldn't be off the table.

---

Jeremy is realistically an 8% of the cap backup defensive specialist at this point. I think we don't see an extension signed because he wants to get on himself to be healthy and show out this season.

Unless he can shoot, he's a screener and POA defense with nice size. That's not worth 20M

ESPN reporting: The Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant’s business partner, Rich Kleiman, are sorting through trade options - with interested teams mainly featuring Houston, San Antonio, Minnesota, Miami and New York.https://t.co/tqpprx47O4

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2025

A legit source confirming the smoke. We'll see what happens.

Guitarsoup said:

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Sher Thing said:

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The Spurs won't trade all that for a 1 year rental. Obviously there will be some sort of an agreement beforehand with KD. The Spurs also wont do it if KD wants too much $$.

Not sure how much of a building block Vassell is. I think we've pretty much seen what he is. I would honestly rather keep 14 then Vassell at this point. Sochan is interesting also. I lean towards wanting him to stay at the right price but if his camp is already indicating behind the scenes that he won't re-sign for less than $25mm+ per year then he shouldn't be off the table.

---

Jeremy is realistically an 8% of the cap backup defensive specialist at this point. I think we don't see an extension signed because he wants to get on himself to be healthy and show out this season.

Unless he can shoot, he's a screener and POA defense with nice size. That's not worth 20M

---

He's Luc Mbah A Moute.

West Texan said:

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ESPN reporting: The Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant’s business partner, Rich Kleiman, are sorting through trade options - with interested teams mainly featuring Houston, San Antonio, Minnesota, Miami and New York.https://t.co/tqpprx47O4

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2025

A legit source confirming the smoke. We'll see what happens.

---

The problem as always is we don't have big guys to trade. They need PF and C and we don't have any available. The last thing they need is a SG, but that's our biggest asset in this trade.

I don't doubt that we would consider and talk about any trade that bottoms help the team, but some of the trades have us giving two first and Devin. If we are giving that much, try to get Trey Murphy

Guitarsoup said:

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West Texan said:

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ESPN reporting: The Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant’s business partner, Rich Kleiman, are sorting through trade options - with interested teams mainly featuring Houston, San Antonio, Minnesota, Miami and New York.https://t.co/tqpprx47O4

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2025

A legit source confirming the smoke. We'll see what happens.

---

The problem as always is we don't have big guys to trade. They need PF and C and we don't have any available. The last thing they need is a SG, but that's our biggest asset in this trade.

I don't doubt that we would consider and talk about any trade that bottoms help the team, but some of the trades have us giving two first and Devin. If we are giving that much, try to get Trey Murphy

---

You can kinda sell Sochan as a four to them, but there has to be more to it than that obviously.

Someone elsewhere reporting he wants $60 million per year. Not happening. Go be an albatross to Houston for three years then.

Obi Wan Ginobili said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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Enzo The Baker said:

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Dang. We were just +120 two days ago. Something could be brewing.

---

Lots of smoke from supposed sources ranging from SA is his preferred choice to he has demanded to go to SA only. IMO it seems like it's "done" in the loosest terms. He's agreed to come to SA, and basics are agreed to, just working with 3rd/4th teams to make it where all parties are content. Keep seeing Utah mentioned. Danny Ainge can't sit still in the trade market and seemingly wants out of a few contracts on their books ( Lauri, John Collins, et al)

---

The problem is Durant's extension.

I wouldn't guarantee him more than 15-20% of the cap for 27 and 28, but he likely wants the 2 year max like Butler just got.

You can't give Durant that much while also losing team building blocks in Vassell and 14

Trading 14/vassell/Barnes for a 1y rental of Durant is idiotic

---

It's exactly this. Durant wants to play in SA? Great, we need your shooting bro. You want Max money? Hard pass friendo, we have Wemby and a bunch of young dudes that are going to eat. You're 37 and have more money than you know what to do with.

Durant coming to SA has to be about winning rings, not money. There isn't any money for old dudes on this team anymore.

---

I have zero sources obviously. But just reading the tea leaves, I would say that if the supposed deal includes 14/dev/barnes(and if rumors I read are true that also include Sochan), spurs would be getting more back than just KD. If the Utah smoke is real, then someone like Kessler or Collins and potentially another pick coming back SAs way will be in the cards

Regarding Vassell, I don't know how much of a building block he is anymore. I feel like the Ringers top 100 said it best, "he's worth more to us than he is to you", and we as fans are overvaluing him. Dude is injury prone, streaky AF, and plays **** defense. He still has value no doubt, but is he anything more than a 4th or 5th guy?

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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Obi Wan Ginobili said:

---

Guitarsoup said:

---

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

---

Enzo The Baker said:

---

Dang. We were just +120 two days ago. Something could be brewing.

---

Lots of smoke from supposed sources ranging from SA is his preferred choice to he has demanded to go to SA only. IMO it seems like it's "done" in the loosest terms. He's agreed to come to SA, and basics are agreed to, just working with 3rd/4th teams to make it where all parties are content. Keep seeing Utah mentioned. Danny Ainge can't sit still in the trade market and seemingly wants out of a few contracts on their books ( Lauri, John Collins, et al)

---

The problem is Durant's extension.

I wouldn't guarantee him more than 15-20% of the cap for 27 and 28, but he likely wants the 2 year max like Butler just got.

You can't give Durant that much while also losing team building blocks in Vassell and 14

Trading 14/vassell/Barnes for a 1y rental of Durant is idiotic

---

It's exactly this. Durant wants to play in SA? Great, we need your shooting bro. You want Max money? Hard pass friendo, we have Wemby and a bunch of young dudes that are going to eat. You're 37 and have more money than you know what to do with.

Durant coming to SA has to be about winning rings, not money. There isn't any money for old dudes on this team anymore.

---

I have zero sources obviously. But just reading the tea leaves, I would say that if the supposed deal includes 14/dev/barnes(and if rumors I read are true that also include Sochan), spurs would be getting more back than just KD. If the Utah smoke is real, then someone like Kessler or Collins and potentially another pick coming back SAs way will be in the cards

Regarding Vassell, I don't know how much of a building block he is anymore. I feel like the Ringers top 100 said it best, "he's worth more to us than he is to you", and we as fans are overvaluing him. Dude is injury prone, streaky AF, and plays **** defense. He still has value no doubt, but is he anything more than a 4th or 5th guy?

---

Devin is a very high level 4th guy because he can create his own shot and is good on catch and shoots (40% last year, 43% year before) his contract is 13% the first two years of Wemby's extension and he will be about 80th highest paid player next year. He's also just 24 and about the same age as some players being drafted this year. He absolutely a building block.

14 is a building block

Jeremy is a building block

We already don't have depth and people want to trade 3 rotation players and a lottery pick for Durant, who couldn't even finish the season last year and has averaged 45 games per season for the last 6 seasons?

Makes us an extremely top heavy team with now one elite shooter, who may or may not be healthy. And we move our two best shooters to get him.

It doesn't make sense to do this for a 37yo with massive injury issues

And while Jeremy isn't great, we can't have Steph be our only perimeter defender. Who would be number 2 POA defense, Fox? Julian? ****ing Keldon?

Brian Wright has earned our trust in the trade market

I think Vassell is getting moved whether that's for Durant or eventually somebody else. Sochan I am not sure. I think the Spurs would like to bring him back but only for the right price. If they don't feel confident in that happening then trading him before he's able to walk does make sense.

I agree it doesn't make sense to trade both those guys plus 14 for Durant. I don't think that is on the table IMO.

I do think going after Durant makes sense if he's willing to take a pay cut on a short term extension or even as a 1 year rental for the right price.

I think Durant wants to come here and I think Wemby would like to play with his idol so I predict they make it happen. Spurs may have to get creative and bring in a 3rd team to appease Phoenix though.

AA said:

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Brian Wright has earned our trust in the trade market

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Based on his previous trades, we should get back picks for taking on that salary

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45491931/sources-suns-durant-business-partner-weigh-trade-options

Quote:

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Teams that have expressed interest in Durant, sources said, mainly feature the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. Several wild-card suitors have made inquiries on Durant in the past seven to 10 days, sources said.

Durant is on a contract worth $54.7 million for the 2025-26 season, giving him some leverage in navigating his future in partnership with the Suns. As trade talks progress, his desire for a long-term extension could prove a critical factor.

Once he is traded, Durant will be eligible to sign a two-year contract extension on July 6 worth as much as $112 million. If he were to wait six months after the trade, he could sign a two-year extension worth up to $124 million.

---

I can't imagine committing $100MM for the age 38 and 39 seasons of a guy averaging 45 games per season over the last 6 seasons. He got hurt in March, didn't finish the season with Phoenix and they went 1-9 down the stretch to drop from being a play-in team to being a lottery team.

I don't really get what the heck PHX is doing. They're going to give KD away for less competitive pieces, but then insist on keeping Booker? They really just need to rip the bandaid off if they are gonna do that: trade Book to Houston for Jalen Green and their picks back, and then shoot off KD for whatever the best package of picks they can get is. This experiment failed and Book will be in his 30s by the time they can maybe have the flexibility to put anything around him, by which point he will be approaching FA and likely not super happy about having his prime years wasted. They are stuck with Beal for 2 more years and have zero pick flexibility in either round. Ryan Dunn and Nick Richards are their only young players that don't suck, and they are not needle-movers. The only move is to blow it up.

TheNotoriousP.I.P. said:

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I don't really get what the heck PHX is doing. They're going to give KD away for less competitive pieces, but then insist on keeping Booker? They really just need to rip the bandaid off if they are gonna do that: trade Book to Houston for Jalen Green and their picks back, and then shoot off KD for whatever the best package of picks they can get is. This experiment failed and Book will be in his 30s by the time they can maybe have the flexibility to put anything around him, by which point he will be approaching FA and likely not super happy about having his prime years wasted. They are stuck with Beal for 2 more years and have zero pick flexibility in either round. Ryan Dunn and Nick Richards are their only young players that don't suck, and they are not needle-movers. The only move is to blow it up.

---

Agree completely.

Windhost just said Phoenix is demanding a package similar to what they gave up: impact players and draft picks.

Get what you can for Durant. Demand Green, Shep, Jabari and all your picks back for Booker. Start over.

See if Beal will go to Charlotte or some other ****box and if not, tell him to go play in GLeague.

TheNotoriousP.I.P. said:

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I don't really get what the heck PHX is doing. They're going to give KD away for less competitive pieces, but then insist on keeping Booker? They really just need to rip the bandaid off if they are gonna do that: trade Book to Houston for Jalen Green and their picks back, and then shoot off KD for whatever the best package of picks they can get is. This experiment failed and Book will be in his 30s by the time they can maybe have the flexibility to put anything around him, by which point he will be approaching FA and likely not super happy about having his prime years wasted. They are stuck with Beal for 2 more years and have zero pick flexibility in either round. Ryan Dunn and Nick Richards are their only young players that don't suck, and they are not needle-movers. The only move is to blow it up.

---

New owner who thinks they can go from lotto to contender in one season and that everyone in the league will line up to trade him the players to do it for his trash heap

FTAG 2000 said:

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TheNotoriousP.I.P. said:

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I don't really get what the heck PHX is doing. They're going to give KD away for less competitive pieces, but then insist on keeping Booker? They really just need to rip the bandaid off if they are gonna do that: trade Book to Houston for Jalen Green and their picks back, and then shoot off KD for whatever the best package of picks they can get is. This experiment failed and Book will be in his 30s by the time they can maybe have the flexibility to put anything around him, by which point he will be approaching FA and likely not super happy about having his prime years wasted. They are stuck with Beal for 2 more years and have zero pick flexibility in either round. Ryan Dunn and Nick Richards are their only young players that don't suck, and they are not needle-movers. The only move is to blow it up.

---

New owner who thinks they can go from lotto to contender in one season and that everyone in the league will line up to trade him the players to do it for his trash heap

---

Same owner that traded for Durant and Beal the day he got the keys to the team.

If we are going to trade for an injury prone big shooter...

Barnes+Wesley for Kristaps. Like Barnes and Wesley, Kristaps' contract ends this year. Celtics save $7M.

Then just play him low minutes in the regular season to ramp up to the playoffs.

If that is the best they can get for Kristaps, I think Boston rather keep him and deal with him later. He will either increase his trade value if he has a big start to the season and they can get more for him or it goes the opposite direction and maybe Boston can convince him to re-up on a team friendly deal. Holiday and Hauser I think are definitely the first to go up in Boston.

If it comes down to Boston practically ready to give Kristaps away, then I definitely think he's worth a flyer.

Sher Thing said:

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If that is the best they can get for Kristaps, I think Boston rather keep him and deal with him later. He will either increase his trade value if he has a big start to the season and they can get more for him or it goes the opposite direction and maybe Boston can convince him to re-up on a team friendly deal. Holiday and Hauser I think are definitely the first to go up in Boston.

If it comes down to Boston practically ready to give Kristaps away, then I definitely think he's worth a flyer.

---

Boston traded Smart for Kristaps and a 1st. I don't think Kristaps has a high value based on his weird injury history. Boston has to cut salary this year because they won't compete.

I think they would want to keep Hauser if they can to fill in for Tatum for now and see how much they can save by dumping Jrue and Kristaps. At least Barnes could be a decent vet/floor spacer for them.

Detroit has some cap space and so does Brooklyn, so they could absorb more salary.

The prevailing thought among league executives is the Celtics will need to include draft capital in a trade offloading Kristaps Porzingis’ $30.7 million expiring contract.

Boston is very open to moving Porzingis as their top goal will be to dodge the second apron this offseason. pic.twitter.com/D0LIaPXDvw

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 9, 2025

If most people think they need to include picks to dump Kristaps, getting Barnes should be a no brainer.

I don't see why they would need to attach picks to unload him. He's a productive player when he's on the court and the contract is pretty desirable as an expiring. Doesn't make much sense to me. Unless Kristaps camp is making it known he doesn't want to play before being extended. Guess well find out.

Because he played 57 and 42 games the last two seasons, only played 7 games in their Finals run, and played awful in the playoffs this year with some mystery illness (maybe Mono?)

Washington traded Kristaps to Boston and got a 2nd round pick, Mike Muscala, and Galli. He had no value then and that was after he played 65 games and put up 23/8/3 Barnes and Wesley or Branham seems generous since he's been MORE injury prone since that last trade.

Exactly my point. Washington was able to unload him without attaching significant draft capital. I think the Celtics would be able to do the same if they want.

But his value has unquestionably decreased and he is now 30. So getting an ending contract of a strong veteran player that can start at forward for them while Tatum is out is good value.

I think it makes sense for the Spurs to take a gamble, it wouldn't make sense for many other teams to take a gamble, so they would want draft assets tied in to take on significantly more salary for a guy that may or may not be injured.

Guitarsoup said:

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https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6414203/2025/06/10/nba-draft-guide-2025-top-100-prospects-cooper-flagg/

Vecenie's draft guide is live.

Harper a tier by himself. Dropped Ace to 6th overall.

Carter Bryant and Cedric Coward are in the 4th tier at 9 and 10.

Queen and Malauch dropped to 11 and 12.

Right behind them in a lower tier are Wolf and Sorber at 13 and 14.

He dropped Fears all the way to 18th.

McNeeley is 21st.

Raynaud is 31st.

Fleming is 33rd just above Drake Powell.



Those players that I'm higher on are Kon Knueppel, Cedric Coward, Collin Murray-Boyles, Noah Penda and Ryan Kalkbrenner. The guys I'm probably a bit lower on than consensus? Jeremiah Fears, Egor Demin, Noa Essengue and Rasheer Fleming. If you notice a trend there, I hope it's that I value high-level processors of the game with size and skill, while downgrading players who I think are interesting on-ball upside swings but have a lower chance to hit any sort of threshold with the ball in their hands.

The entire guide is 198 pages.

---

The Guide is a fantastic resource.

The Ringer dropped an updated mock draft a couple days ago, and it has the Spurs taking Egor Demin with the 14th pick. Vecenie's take on Demin:

Quote:

---

SUMMARY:

If you think Demin can turn the corner in the NBA with the increased driving lanes that he'll see, can improve his shot and can defend using his length more consistently, then you should have him as a top-10 player in the class. The tools here are outrageously interesting given his spectacular feel for the game as a passer and processor.


I just wish that I could get there. Unfortunately, Demin has no track record of shooting, which makes me wonder how he's supposed to score at the next level if that doesn't develop. And if he can't score, he likely won't be able to consistently force the help rotations that would help him get the best out of his passing ability in half-court settings. Then on defense, I haven't seen enough to believe that he can bring physicality and hold his line against physical drivers.

If the jumper comes along for Demin, there is a chance that he is extremely valuable. Being able to shoot off the bounce and get to his step-back would open up the world for him as a driver and scorer, and thus allow him to leverage his elite passing ability. There might not be a more important swing skill in this class than Demin's jumper. I'm ultimately not enough of a buyer on his touch to believe that it's going to come at a difference-making level. There's every chance that Demin ends up making this ranking look quite bad if the jumper works out. But if I don't buy into that, then I have to rank him quite lowly here, as the floor is that he ends up back in Europe within three years.

---

So, good pass, limited defense, no shot. So Ben Simmons without the defense? I don't think that is what the Spurs need.

Yeah Demin is a worse choice than Danny Wolf who is also a bad choice. Demin can't shoot and doesn't play defense. He only affects the game with the ball in his hands (he is a really good passer) and is really tall. But putting the ball in his hands takes the ball out of the hands of Wemby/Fox/Harper/Castle.

If Dylan Harper ends up with the Spurs, it’s only because they were unable to move the pick (or him). I have zero doubt about that.

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 12, 2025

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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If Dylan Harper ends up with the Spurs, it’s only because they were unable to move the pick (or him). I have zero doubt about that.

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 12, 2025

---

Amico = No go

Amick = legit


If the Spurs wanted to trade the pick, they would gets a king's ransom. The comments are all trashing him .

What a dumb article.

His source is an opposing scout who doesn't think he would fit with Fox and Castle here. And ESPN's Givony's mock draft speculation.

What a tool.

If Harper isn't #2 then it's because the Mavs botched the #1 pick.

Guitarsoup said:

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HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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If Dylan Harper ends up with the Spurs, it’s only because they were unable to move the pick (or him). I have zero doubt about that.

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 12, 2025

---

Amico = No go

Amick = legit


If the Spurs wanted to trade the pick, they would gets a king's ransom. The comments are all trashing him .

---

My bad. I feel like I knew that. Still crazy to me that we have two "senior nba writers" with the exact same name with the exception of the final two letters of their last name. Sam Amick. Sam Amico.

J Kyle Mann (ringer) said he has heard the Spurs are interested in sorber.

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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Guitarsoup said:

---

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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If Dylan Harper ends up with the Spurs, it’s only because they were unable to move the pick (or him). I have zero doubt about that.

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 12, 2025

---

Amico = No go

Amick = legit


If the Spurs wanted to trade the pick, they would gets a king's ransom. The comments are all trashing him .

---

My bad. I feel like I knew that. Still crazy to me that we have two "senior nba writers" with the exact same name with the exception of the final two letters of their last name. Sam Amick. Sam Amico.

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No problem. I have made the same mistake a ton of times. The Athletic is the only thing I really subscribe to, and Amick is one of their big writers.