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How would Kevin Durant change Raptors’ style of play?

By Brian Boake

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We’ve speculated on Kevin Durant’s interest in joining the Toronto Raptors, and figured out how we could pay for him without leaving the roster in tatters. It’s July 2, 2016, and Kevin Durant is on board.Now what?

Apr 10, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) is seen on the court prior to his team the playing Sacramento Kings at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

[Conversation with 5-year-old daughter:

Q: Sweetheart, if an elephant comes to your tea party, where’s he going to sit?

A: Silly Daddy! Anywhere he wants!]

Kevin Durant as a Raptor changes everything. He becomes the highest-paid, most accomplished player ever to don our uniform (and Yes, that includes Vince Carter). The NBA is a player-driven league, unlike the NFL, where coaches have the power. The proof and significance of that statement would never be clearer than what would happen to coach Dwane Casey’s playbook, and indeed his entire “defense-first” philosophy, upon KD’s arrival.

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Toronto becomes an offensive powerhouse. We’re not suffering currently, but the team would likely challenge for the league lead in Points Per Game. KD’s career average for points per 36 minutes is 25.9. No coach in his right mind would turn down a chance to work an extraordinary talent like that into his offense. He contributes rebounding, doesn’t foul much, and can hit the 3-ball.

The presence of KD would be a tonic for all Raptors’ scoring averages, but I suspect Jonas Valanciunas would be the biggest beneficiary. Kevin, the planet’s most mobile power forward (depending on where Anthony Davis plays), would draw enormous defensive attention. We enjoyed watching lots of big-to-big passes with Amir Johnson around; we’d see that again, about double. JV with space to work down low? Yes, please.

The bigger question: which Raptor becomes Robin to Kevin’s Batman? Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen (almost like a second Batman – Pippen was fantastic), Wilt Chamberlain partnered Jerry West, Larry Bird enjoyed the considerable talents of Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, Shaq and Kobe, Golden State’s Splash Brothers. Kevin shares the OKC floor with the gifted Russell Westbrook currently. Westbrook’s overbearing nature may prove too much for the relaxed KD to tolerate much longer. Kevin will find the congenial DeMar DeRozan much more to his taste; many players love double-D, and he’s at least as convincing a recruiter as Masai. Westbrook is indisputably a stronger player than our guy, so Kevin will need to be “sold” the Raptors’ supporting cast is strong enough to challenge for an NBA title.

Therein lies the problem. No matter how I do the salary-cap math, and fool around with critical exceptions like Bird rights, I don’t see how Kevin and DeMar can co-exist on the ’16-’17 Raptors. DeMar will surely opt out of his contract’s final year, and demand a huge raise, then walk (or Masai will pre-emptively trade him). Kevin is nobody’s fool, and he or his agent already know this.

Assuming we don’t see a Terrence Ross breakthrough, DeMarre Carroll must step into the job of secondary scorer/Robin. He’s certainly capable, but it’s moot.

Some commenters have suggested the idea of KD in Raptor red is a pipe dream. Without DeMar, that’s probably true.

Next: Jonas Valanciunas - a star in the making?

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