Jeff Teague’s Hot Take: Sheppard > KD?

When former NBA guard Jeff Teague declared on his Club 520 podcast that the Rockets shouldn’t trade Reed Sheppard for Kevin Durant, my data-crunching Spidey senses tingled. As a Lakers diehard who lives for these debates (and maybe throws Twitter tantrums over them), let’s dissect this take with cold, hard analytics.

The Sheppard Bet

Teague’s logic? Sheppard—the No. 3 pick with a 44% college three-point stroke—has “a bright future.” Meanwhile, KD turns 36 in September. My Python models agree: Trading a cost-controlled shooter (Sheppard’s rookie deal: \(8M/year) for a \)50M/year aging superstar is usually franchise malpractice. Unless you’re the ’22 Warriors stealing a ring. Which Houston isn’t.

The KD Reality Check

Durant’s still elite (63% true shooting last season!), but here’s the kicker: Houston lacks trade assets. They just extended Steven Adams ($12.6M), and Teague rightly called Jalen Green/Jabari Smith Jr./Cam Whitmore untouchable. Phoenix wants Spurs’ Stephon Castle? Gregg Popovich would sooner retire again than hand over his new defensive stopper.

Final Verdict

As much as I’d love to see KD in Clutch City, Teague’s right—Sheppard’s ceiling (think a taller Tyrese Haliburton) outweighs two years of Durant heroics. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to update my defensive RPM charts before the next Lakers meltdown.