We've seen it, heard it, etc. many times. What if the Blazers had taken Kevin and the Thunder (Sonics) had taken Oden. The Blazers: Would have a once-promising SF with at least one bad knee and fans cringing each time he takes the court wondering "what's going to break next?" The Thunder: Would conference elite with an all-star center dominating the lane. <sigh> Gramps...
Oden would still be his injured self but Nate would have tamed Durant into a 14pt, 5 reb a game player.
The only thing you can say for certain is that this team would be different. The team would be different, the gameplan would be different, the fans would be different, very likely - the media would be different toward us. Beyond that, no one knows. Same goes for the whole "Bowie/Jordan" dilemma.
It's just one of a long list of what ifs. The thing is, when it comes to draft picks every team can do this.
Durant wouldn't get nearly the FT attempts that he does in OKC, and would be considered a low percentage chucker still.
I have come from another reality, and yet my quest has failed. In our world, Kevin Durant became so tired of the glum weather he faked an injury and was forced to be traded to Miami where he dominated the league along side Dwayne Wade. But at least we got a promising SF James Jones in return!
Under McMillan, Durant would be known as a guy who tries hard at defense, to make up for his inconsistent shooting. Aldridge would be a Batum-like underperformer, hanging around out in the corners, since Durant would hog all the front court shots. Starting those two forwards would make us desperately in need of a rebounder, so we would pick up Oberto, then Marks, then Collins.
Well that makes Batum look like a bargain since we don't have to pay him Durant's draft contract money.
