Should the Cleveland Cavaliers go after Kevin Durant?

Why Kevin Durant doesn’t make sense for the Cavaliers

Anyone who says trading for Kevin Durant is a no-brainer is truly not using theirs. Durant is a great player but that doesn’t mean the trade idea isn’t without its issues. Firstly, there’s his age. He’s turning 34 and has a four-year deal. Is Durant at $50 million at age 36 really an idea you want to get saddled to?

If he were 28, sure. He’s not, he’s about to turn 34 in two months. He’s also severely injury-prone. He’s played just 60+ games in a season six times, and three times he didn’t make it to 56 games. He’s just getting older and in the last two years, he’s only played 90 games. Durant at $50 million and only 40-ish games a year? Are you sure you want that?

That’s not at all, remember that the Brooklyn Nets didn’t give up much to get him. They traded DeAngelo Russell, Shabazz Napier, and forward Treveon Graham for Durant and a 2020 First Round Draft Pick. Yes, the Nets got back a first-round pick and used it on Saddiq Bey, before trading him to Detroit the next day.

So the Nets won that deal by a mile. The Cavs would have to get gutted to get Durant. We’re talking Kevin Love, Collin Sexton, probably Ochai Agbaji, maybe Lauri Markkanen, and who knows how many first-round picks.

Are you ok gutting your team for a 34-year-old with injury issues?

Not only that, but let’s look at the fact that you aren’t guaranteed anything with Durant. He has no loyalty. If he doesn’t like Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, or JB Bickerstaff, he could and will demand a trade. He’s already proven to be a guy who isn’t afraid to bail when things get hard. Are you ok getting him for a year or two assuming he may just bail if he doesn’t like the city?

Then there’s the issue that Durant isn’t in the age range of the Cavs roster. By trading for Durant, you accelerate the window of competition, and not every piece is ready to be accelerated. Guys like Garland and Mobley are being slow-roasted in the oven but getting Durant means we’re throwing them in the microwave.

They might turn out ok, but they might not. These guys are 12 and 14 years younger than Durant and have a window that is at least that long. Getting Durant shuts that window after four years, maybe even just two due to his age and injuries.