“I want Giannis, I want Dame, I want Butler” Colin Cowherd details why the trade market has shrunk for superstars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving


“I want Giannis, I want Dame, I want Butler” Colin Cowherd details why  the trade market has shrunk for superstars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving

Kevin Durant and Colin Cowherd

Brooklyn Nets are looking for possible suitors for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this offseason. However, the Nets have not been able to get what they desire for their prized assets. So far this has raised questions over their exact valuation and utility in teams. The main debate that has picked up is regarding the power that the players currently possess in the league.

Kevin Durant with the FMVP in 2017
Kevin Durant with the FMVP in 2017

On the Herd with Colin Cowherd, the NBA analyst spoke about how player empowerment in the league is diminishing. Franchises and teams are keen to build around superstars who don’t come with that much baggage. And they can’t be blamed as utility and final results are more important for any franchise than stardom – which eventually will follow if they build a winning team.

Colin Cowherd is happy with the current “No Market” situation for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving

Kevin Durant is a 2-time NBA Champion and 4-time scoring Champion, which makes him a very intriguing asset for any team. But he remains unsold in the market. Similarly, former Rookie of the season winner Kyrie Irving is a megastar and talented guard but was forced to accept a player option with the Nets, after failing to find a suitable landing spot in the month of May.

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Colin said, “What I think is happening is we’re pivoting out of an eight-year, 10-year deal here that I don’t think was good for basketball. There’s no market for KD this morning, there’s no market for Kyrie,”

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Colin Cowherd spoke about how players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry are the kind of players that franchisees want to build around. Also, fans are now looking for “games” and not “star” when they tune in to NBA. He believes this direction of travel is good for the game.

Cowherd added“But this kind of chemistry puncturing, walking on eggshells, hyper-high maintenance, I think people around the league are going – I want Giannis, I want Steph, I want Dame, I want Chris Paul I want Jimmy Butler.” 

Concluding his point, Colin said, “Butler’s had his issues but he shows up and works hard and demands it from his teammates. We’re pivoting to the kind of basketball you can put your arms around and embrace. I like the pivot of the NBA,”

Shaquille O'Neal superstars - Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo
Shaquille O’Neal superstars – Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo

The likes of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and others have been labeled as high-maintenance due to their constant demand to win. These elite players are chasing championships and need the franchise to pull in the same direction. Well, there has to be a balance between Star and Franchise power; because not any sole Mega Star can pull miraculous wins every night for the team, and keep him for a longer period, Franchise also needs to provide him with a contender team.  

The 58-year-old analyst also talks about former MVP and scoring champion James Harden, who is ready for any package to play in 76ers. His current predicament might be a bit skewed and that is due to his performances last season. Had Harden played at the MVP level, there would be no talk about him accepting anything less than a max-contract extension.

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