Pierce Kevin Durant is better for young OKC Thunder than Chet.
The OKC Thunder have been the revelation of the first half of the 2024-25 season, displaying near-invincibility at home by winning 19 of their 22 games there. Their success seems even more impressive because they have achieved it without their star big man, Chet Holmgren.
While the general consensus suggests the team will only improve with the Gonzaga stud returning, Paul Piecre revealed a different perspective. The 10-time All-Star boldly advised the team to acquire a proven champion in Kevin Durant, even if it requires parting ways with Chet.
Speaking on the “Ticket & The Truth Podcast,” the one-time champion elaborated on the two-time Finals MVP’s ability to seamlessly integrate with any team. This is evidenced by KD averaging 27.2 points even at the age of 36 with a team that isn’t even among the top eight teams in the West. Consequently, “The Truth” stressed how Durant’s championship-winning experience could transform the young OKC core into a dynasty.
“KD can use some fresh air out of Phoenix. You know where you can get him? Find a package where you can package Chet up (and) bring him back to OKC,” Pierce said. “Listen, they ballin’ without Chet, so now you trade him for KD. Man, KD (has) shown me he can play with anybody; he can fit on any team. Like, he ain’t Bron where you gotta change your whole s*it for Bron. KD can plug and play wherever he go.”
Pierce says Durant is getting ‘wasted’ in Phoenix
Delving deeper into his sky-high praise for KD, the legendary Cetlic bashed the Suns organization for wasting the 6’11” forward’s All-NBA years by failing to be competitive in the conference.
Though the 14-time All-Star has almost single-handedly made Phoenix rank among the top 10 offensive teams in the league, their defensive voids are so glaring that the team simply hasn’t won more than three games consecutively since the first week of November.
Furthermore, according to Paul Pierce, Durant’s ability to play off the ball and still be one of the best closers in the modern-day NBA will only help the likes of Jalen Williams and Shai Gilegous Alexander elevate their game and better understand game situations.
“You wasting KD in Phoenix, bro,” Pierce added. “He still got a lot left in the tank. He can help that young team for the next five years.”
Should the Thunder let go of Chet for KD?
While KD’s veteran presence is undeniably attractive, as evidenced by his ability to still knock 52.3 percent of his shots from the field at the age of 36, the Thunder already have the foundation of something special.
Chet doesn’t only possess the skill set to be one of the greatest centers of this era, but his ability to co-exist on the floor with SGA and his versatility to operate as a guard as well as a back-to-the-wall big man is expected to make him a player who bump heads with Victor Wembanyama for the best big man int he years to come.
So, bringing in a two-time NBA Champ in Durant might bring some good for young Thunder players, but having Holmgren as a developing center seems more beneficial for the improving Thunder franchise.