Report: The Spurs aren’t aggressively pursuing Kevin Durant

If in case you have tried to maintain up with the Kevin Durant commerce saga, with all its twists and turns every day, you’re most likely mentally drained at this level. Whereas there hasn’t been an entire lot from what can be thought of “legit” sources, the rumors have been operating rampant to the purpose that it’s simpler to only ignore all of it collectively. Immediately has been no totally different, with issues beginning off with The Athletic stating that the Spurs are Durant’s most well-liked vacation spot (straightforward to imagine but in addition doesn’t imply something).

Then, probably the most trusted sources, Shams Charania of ESPN, went viral for showing give the digital camera a aspect eye and nod as Iman Shumpert defined what vacation spot San Antonio can be for Durant throughout Finals protection final evening. Though Shumpert has no inside data of commerce talks and didn’t in any respect say that’s the place Durant was going, followers throughout social media had been taking Shams’ response to imply he knew one thing, and a deal have to be imminent.

However decelerate, people! Shams went on The Pat McAfee Present at the moment to defuse the scenario. It was his first time on the present, he stated he was simply gathering his environment, and something extra is overreaction by the “physique language professional police”. He went on to elucidate that the Warmth, Rockets and Timberwolves are at present the place the Suns’ focus is, and regardless of the nice factors Shump made, the Spurs haven’t an aggressive group in these commerce talks. The curiosity is there, however they aren’t as determined as these different groups and will choose to maintain stocking their belongings for an even bigger play down the road.

This shouldn’t be too stunning to followers with stage heads, contemplating it has been repeatedly reported that the Spurs is not going to over pay for the soon-to-be 37 year-old. Kirk Goldsberry confirmed as a lot on Zach Lowe’s podcast, saying the Suns are demanding both the 2nd general decide or Stephon Fort, however the Spurs aren’t budging on both (and so they shouldn’t).

Whereas something can change at any given second, at this level it doesn’t appear to be the Spurs are the favorites to land Durant as a result of the asking value is simply too excessive, and that’s factor. The Suns are the determined group right here, not the Spurs, and there are different groups (just like the Rockets, Timberwolves and Warmth) who could also be nearer to “one piece away” and extra anxious to win now. In the meantime, the Spurs have extra time. They need to already be a playoff group if wholesome, and it’s cheap to ask if the quantity of belongings they must surrender for Durant to satisfy the Suns’ present calls for may presumably be extra of a setback than something.

The underside line is the Spurs don’t have any cause to hurry issues. They aren’t the determined group right here, and so they may simply as simply wait issues out till there’s no different choice and the asking value will get decrease, even when it drags on into the season. Or, as Shams talked about, they could possibly be out of the dialogue all collectively and saving their belongings for another person.

If I needed to guess, the Spurs’ most for Durant is just like mine: certainly one of both Devin Vassell/Jeremy Sochan/Keldon Johson + Harrison Barnes + Blake Wesley/Malaki Branham + 14th general decide and one future decide (assuming a 3rd group isn’t concerned). Something extra is an excessive amount of for a participant within the 35-and-over membership at that value stage.