Kevin Durant

[Ohio]

Bumping this since there's been plenty of talk about him lately in several other threads.

Imagine Durant being reduced to a role of standing around on the 3 point line just waiting for the LeBron/Kyrie iso show to give him the ball.

Part of the reason I think he'd never ask to come here.

I think you're exaggerating a bit, but it would be interesting to know what his priorities are.

Does he want to win a title at all costs? Wade & Bosh were superstars in their prime, much like Durant, that took a backseat to LeBron to win a title.

Does he want to save his hometown?

Does he want to continue trying to win while being the Alpha? He could try that with every team other than GS, SAS, CLE.

Without knowing what he wants, and assuming he wants to remain the undisputed #1 scoring option, I think the Clippers make the most sense. Other teams that make sense to me are Raptors, Pacers, Celtics, Wizards, Rockets.

 

[godfather]

The thing is with the Clippers. It'd have to be a sign-and-trade for Blake. And does that trump them over GS and the Spurs? I don't think so. I think it makes them better, but I don't know that much better.

Not to mention the clock is running out on CP3. They'd have a two year window, and I think Durant knows that. Because after CP3 is done, Durant would be carrying that team on his own.

And there are rumblings around the league Durant would not be interested in going to the East because he is afraid of going through LB. And given his struggles against him, I can see why.

I am interested in what he does, because he's in a real pickle. There's not a real attractive destination for him if he wants to win a title. Unless he just jumps on the SA/GS bandwagon.

I'm not even sure GS would want him. They'd have to trade Draymond Green. Although I think Durant is better, I don't know if he'd be a better fit for that team.

If GS wins a title after having a historical season, they have no reason to add Durant.

 

[K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's]

And there are rumblings around the league Durant would not be interested in going to the East because he is afraid of going through LB. And given his struggles against him, I can see why.

If you can't beat em join em?

Ky, Smith, Durantula, LBJ

 

[gourimoko]

If GS wins a title after having a historical season, they have no reason to add Durant.

They'd do it for financial and contractual reasons. Durant would bring in an influx of new viewers that would otherwise tune-out after winning back-to-back championships (see: Miami).

 

[Ohio]

The thing is with the Clippers. It'd have to be a sign-and-trade for Blake.

No it wouldn't. They'd pretty much have to trade Redick & Pierce though to make space though.

Not to mention the clock is running out on CP3. They'd have a two year window, and I think Durant knows that. Because after CP3 is done, Durant would be carrying that team on his own.

Dude, CP3 is 30, lol.

And there are rumblings around the league Durant would not be interested in going to the East because he is afraid of going through LB. And given his struggles against him, I can see why.

The East has one monster (CLE), The West has two (GS, SAS).

I am interested in what he does, because he's in a real pickle. There's not a real attractive destination for him if he wants to win a title. Unless he just jumps on the SA/GS bandwagon.

I mean it all depends on what he wants.

 

[gourimoko]

If you can't beat em join em?

Ky, Smith, Durantula, LBJ

I just can't see Durant leaving OKC for Cleveland... I mean, why would he? Why not pair up with a young core of Steph/Klay/Draymond? That's a much better fit and a much better team than Kyrie and James alone.

There's just no reason to believe Durant would pick Cleveland as a destination if Golden State is an option.

 

[Ohio]

I just can't see Durant leaving OKC for Cleveland... I mean, why would he? Why not pair up with a young core of Steph/Klay/Draymond? That's a much better fit and a much better team than Kyrie and James alone.

There's just no reason to believe Durant would pick Cleveland as a destination if Golden State is an option.

Would he really want to piggyback onto a team that just won back-to-back titles, instead of joining another to help put them over the hump?

 

[godfather]

They'd do it for financial and contractual reasons. Durant would bring in an influx of new viewers that would otherwise tune-out after winning back-to-back championships (see: Miami).

It'd be a risky move though. Their revenue would sky rocket. I might be in the minority, but I'd be really okay with seeing Durant going to GS if it meant Green is gone.

Not to say they'd be easy to beat, they'd be hell of earth on offense.

But I think we really underestimate what a significant impact Green has made to the Warriors success. It's a bigger deal than he gets credit for.

It's no "accident" they've had a huge bump as a team since he became a starter. And obviously Steph has gotten better. But Green is their leader. He's their muscle, he makes it all go for that team on both ends of the floor.

Defensively he's an animal and does all the dirty work.

If they lost Green I wouldn't be exactly upset about that.

Durant and Steph would have to sacrifice their games. I don't think its exactly a bad thing if Steph is suddenly taking less shots, because of Durant either.

 

[K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's]

They'd do it for financial and contractual reasons. Durant would bring in an influx of new viewers that would otherwise tune-out after winning back-to-back championships (see: Miami).

I just can't see Durant leaving OKC for Cleveland... I mean, why would he? Why not pair up with a young core of Steph/Klay/Draymond? That's a much better fit and a much better team than Kyrie and James alone.

There's just no reason to believe Durant would pick Cleveland as a destination if Golden State is an option.

A man can dream haha (yea no way he ever coming to Cle )

but seriously if Durant goes to GS the leauge is legit fucked, I'm gonna start watching some golf or something lol

 

[gourimoko]

It'd be a risky move though. Their revenue would sky rocket. I might be in the minority, but I'd be really okay with seeing Durant going to GS if it meant Green is gone.

Not to say they'd be easy to beat, they'd be hell of earth on offense.

But I think we really underestimate what a significant impact Green has made to the Warriors success. It's a bigger deal than he gets credit for.

It's no "accident" they've had a huge bump as a team since he became a starter. And obviously Steph has gotten better. But Green is their leader. He's their muscle, he makes it all go for that team on both ends of the floor.

Defensively he's an animal and does all the dirty work.

If they lost Green I wouldn't be exactly upset about that.

Durant and Steph would have to sacrifice their games. I don't think its exactly a bad thing if Steph is suddenly taking less shots, because of Durant either.

They can get Durant without losing their best 3 players, AFAIK; so that'd mean keeping Draymond.

If that weren't the case, then I could see an argument for Cleveland being in the running, but as it stands now, if Durant wants a ring and doesn't care about riding coattails, Golden State is far and away his best opportunity to get one.

If instead, he wants to build a contender of his own, then he'll either stay in OKC (which I doubt happens) or go to Washington etc..

 

[Birdy89]

They can get Durant without losing their best 3 players, AFAIK; so that'd mean keeping Draymond.

I am pretty sure this is correct. They would have to renounce Barnes, Iggy, Ezili and such, but they can keep the big 3 and get KD.

They are a smart organization though, and they aren't going to gut the bench and all their depth to go all in on a big 4 surrounded by vet minimum guys.

I have read they would consider letting Barnes go if they could upgrade him, but it will probably be like last time they had big free agent money when everyone thought they were going after Dwight and ended up getting Iggy and some smaller pieces to fill out the team.

 

[gourimoko]

I am pretty sure this is correct. They would have to renounce Barnes, Iggy, Ezili and such, but they can keep the big 3 and get KD.

They are a smart organization though, and they aren't going to gut the bench and all their depth to go all in on a big 4 surrounded by vet minimum guys.

I have read they would consider letting Barnes go if they could upgrade him, but it will probably be like last time they had big free agent money when everyone thought they were going after Dwight and ended up getting Iggy and some smaller pieces to fill out the team.

Just keep in mind though that they paid Iggy... I think they'll go all in on Durant if they can. It makes all the sense in the world to at least try. I'm not sure they're prepared to come to terms with Barnes regardless, to be quite honest.

 

[godfather]

They can get Durant without losing their best 3 players, AFAIK; so that'd mean keeping Draymond.

If that weren't the case, then I could see an argument for Cleveland being in the running, but as it stands now, if Durant wants a ring and doesn't care about riding coattails, Golden State is far and away his best opportunity to get one.

If instead, he wants to build a contender of his own, then he'll either stay in OKC (which I doubt happens) or go to Washington etc..

Well then we'd be fucked if that happens.

 

[Birdy89]

Just keep in mind though that they paid Iggy

Iguodala turned down a four-year, $52 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, a $60 million five-year deal with the Nuggets, and a "lucrative" deal with the Mavericks. The Warriors were able to land Iguodala at a discount in comparison with a four-year, $48 million contract.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/7/...ncy-2013-andre-iguodala-golden-state-warriors

4/$48 was actually quite reasonable at the time and a discount on his part over other offers.

They have a history of getting most of their guys on reasonable deals.

Well then we'd be fucked if that happens.

It is a perfect storm of Steph making no money while being the league MVP and the cap jumping $20 million. The combo of those 2 gives them a window this summer to meaningfully add to a championship team, a luxury teams like them almost never have as usually they're already loaded up on max players and are capped out.

 

[gourimoko]

4/$48 was actually quite reasonable at the time and a discount on his part over other offers.

They have a history of getting most of their guys on reasonable deals.

That's not my meaning, I'm a fan of his and I liked the deal so I'm not knocking it or calling it unreasonable. I'm stating that Iggy took up a substantial portion of their cap. I don't think they felt, at the time, that he was going to turn out to be a Finals MVP.