OT Durant to Warriors

[Ldandy]

Looking at this from Golden State's perspective, is Durant really the missing piece for another championship? I realize he is a great scorer, and that he'll sell a * load of tickets and jerseys, but is he really what this team needs to get over the hump?

I watched Lebron James impose his physical will on GS in the last 3 games of the series, and they had zero answer for him. He attacked the rim like a man possessed, and along with Tristan Thompson's timely inside play, changed the dynamic of the series.

If I was GS's GM I'd be chasing some players who bring toughness, rebounding and intangibles to the table. GS has scorers, and unless the plan is to play like the late 80's Nuggets putting up 130 every night, money could be better spent on a Rodman or Ben Wallace type to do the dirty work that the stars don't. Set screens, block shots, get rebounds, defend the paint with hard but legal fouls. That's where my money would be going.

 

[husky429]

if I were in Durants position, I wouldn't have made the move. But he wants a championship--he can do what he wants to get it. I feel like he's recognized he will never be an all-time player like lebron and this move signals he just wants to win. Maybe the public isn't ready to concede that.

I'm going to be bold and say I think this move makes GSW worse, but not by much. Maybe a 65-17 team. I think GSW has had a really fine balance of chemistry and skills that fell into place and anything--even a good player--could mess that up.. im not a close enough follower of the nba to have a valuable opinion, just a gut feeling.

Does draymond willingly become the 4th guy? He's trying to bust out as one of the leagues premier players right now and people are saying it's only bc of the team he is on. He knows this.

Who has the ball in their hands at crunch time, curry or Durant?

Can all 4 of these superstars play TEAM first?

That being said... Can I imagine lebron and co. beating these 4 superstars? Hell no. Love is a terrible defender and a softie, and Kyrie is an enigma. Brilliant in the finals overall, but not living up to his hype. He was supposed to be curry when he came in the league...

The insane part about lebron is how much he elevates the team. The cavs were a dumpster fire before he came. Immediately they became a title contender. Can Durant say that? No. and I don't think any other player in the league can make the claim. Lebron may not have been the MVP but he is TRULY the most VALUABLE player. His team is junk without him. GSW is a 60 win team without curry.

 

[JimHurley]

All my respect for Durant is gone. I wanted more than anything for him and Westbrook to win a ring together. Now I can't root harder against him. This just shows that Durant has no faith in himself to lead a team. Such a weak move for a player I had respected so much. Never thought he'd actually go to GS, wow.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Harrison Barnes was terrible in the playoffs... He gets $24mm per year from Dallas and GSW get KD for $27mm. They should be allowed to pay superstars more but with a bad cap hit to go to a new team.

Love how quickly Barnes packed his bags.

 

[c29328]

I have a feeling this is as much about Westbrook as anything. He is due for free agency next year I believe. What if he gave indications he was looking to leave when the two are talking? If that's the case, I think getting off the sinking ship isn't a bad move now. I would run, not walk, to GSW if that was me. We may not know the facts but I think this isn't a real strong vote of confidence they would be able to keep the two together in OKC.

 

[UChusky916]

Player has to win ring(s) to be considered "great."

Player is a "coward" for joining team which maximizes chance at ring.

#SportsFanLogic

 

[UConn990411]

I have a feeling this is as much about Westbrook as anything. He is due for free agency next year I believe. What if he gave indications he was looking to leave when the two are talking? If that's the case, I think getting off the sinking ship isn't a bad move now. I would run, not walk, to GSW if that was me. We may not know the facts but I think this isn't a real strong vote of confidence they would be able to keep the two together in OKC.

I always thought he should leave - Presti has shown zero ability to put the right pieces around a championship core, and there's a good chance Westbrook leaves in a year anyway.

But going to the team that - in the last two years - has a title and a 73-win season?I'm all for free agency and Durant had every right to make this move, but from a purely competitive standpoint it's pretty soft.

None of us know what he values, so maybe being the alpha on a championship team isn't as important to him. But if we're talking legacy (which comes up a lot in the NBA), it's tough to imagine this doesn't hurt him.

 

[JSM1970]

KD has zero legacy now, or with GSW. He could have gone to C's and created one. Now he will be a follower @ GSW. No one will respect this even if he wins there. Plus he'll be boo'd at every place and he was a guy everyone liked.

Stupid move honestly. And funny his choke job led to this when OKC had a 3-1 lead. Amazing he did this honestly given that. He's a joke regardless of his skills and $$.

Player has to win ring(s) to be considered "great."

Player is a "coward" for joining team which maximizes chance at ring.

#SportsFanLogic

 

[JimHurley]

KD has zero legacy now, or with GSW. He could have gone to C's and created one. Now he will be a follower @ GSW. No one will respect this even if he wins there. Plus he'll be boo'd at every place and he was a guy everyone liked.

Stupid move honestly. And funny his choke job led to this when OKC had a 3-1 lead. Amazing he did this honestly given that. He's a joke regardless of his skills and $$.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[aceboon]

Looking at this from Golden State's perspective, is Durant really the missing piece for another championship? I realize he is a great scorer, and that he'll sell a * load of tickets and jerseys, but is he really what this team needs to get over the hump?

I watched Lebron James impose his physical will on GS in the last 3 games of the series, and they had zero answer for him. He attacked the rim like a man possessed, and along with Tristan Thompson's timely inside play, changed the dynamic of the series.

If I was GS's GM I'd be chasing some players who bring toughness, rebounding and intangibles to the table. GS has scorers, and unless the plan is to play like the late 80's Nuggets putting up 130 every night, money could be better spent on a Rodman or Ben Wallace type to do the dirty work that the stars don't. Set screens, block shots, get rebounds, defend the paint with hard but legal fouls. That's where my money would be going.

Go back to the Finals and think of all the bricks Harrison Barnes put up games 3-7 off either wide open jumpers or mismatches on a big because of the Cavs selling out to stop Curry and Thompson, now replace Barnes with Durant. Warriors still should have won that series if Curry shows up in games 5&7 at home, Green wasn't going around punching and kicking *****, or if Kerr didn't put on one of the worst game 7 coaching performances of all time, but there's really no overstating what a massive upgrade Durant is over Barnes. They still need to find some big men on the cheap because you can't play Green 40 minutes at C, but the whole toughness/intangible stuff is fluff, they choked up that lead due to much bigger factors with their offense. Durant changes all of that.

 

[Ldandy]

Go back to the Finals and think of all the bricks Harrison Barnes put up games 3-7 off either wide open jumpers or mismatches on a big because of the Cavs selling out to stop Curry and Thompson, now replace Barnes with Durant. Warriors still should have won that series if Curry shows up in games 5&7 at home, Green wasn't going around punching and kicking *****, or if Kerr didn't put on one of the worst game 7 coaching performances of all time, but there's really no overstating what a massive upgrade Durant is over Barnes. They still need to find some big men on the cheap because you can't play Green 40 minutes at C, but the whole toughness/intangible stuff is fluff, they choked up that lead due to much bigger factors with their offense. Durant changes all of that.

There was definitely some choking on shots by Barnes, Curry and Thompson, but when I think of game 6 and 7, I think of Lebron James and Tristan Thompson destroying GS inside. Maybe Durant makes some of those open shots and a game 6 or 7 never happens, but just as possible maybe trying to shoehorn in another scorer throws off the chemistry of an offense that won 73 Games in a season.

 

[champs99and04]

There was definitely some choking on shots by Barnes, Curry and Thompson, but when I think of game 6 and 7, I think of Lebron James and Tristan Thompson destroying GS inside. Maybe Durant makes some of those open shots and a game 6 or 7 never happens, but just as possible maybe trying to shoehorn in another scorer throws off the chemistry of an offense that won 73 Games in a season.

Even if you want to take that angle (which I think was true to some degree for games 5 and 6 but not game 7), Durant is an upgrade over Barnes defensively. I don't know where he rates out defensively during the regular season (most seem to indicate he's above average), but in the postseason I couldn't have been more impressed with the way he was changing games defensively. He's so good of a scorer that we forget he's a super-human @ 7 feet who can slide with guards and use his length to negate strength deficits.

 

[nomar]

Haralabob actually called it yesterday, pretty interesting that one of the sports world's biggest gamblers had this info

And everybody immediately said that if he actually knew that to be true, he wouldn't have shared it.

 

[Ldandy]

Even if you want to take that angle (which I think was true to some degree for games 5 and 6 but not game 7), Durant is an upgrade over Barnes defensively. I don't know where he rates out defensively during the regular season (most seem to indicate he's above average), but in the postseason I couldn't have been more impressed with the way he was changing games defensively. He's so good of a scorer that we forget he's a super-human @ 7 feet who can slide with guards and use his length to negate strength deficits.

My point isn't to rag on Durant. He is an All League Player. My question is does a team that won 73 Games already need another primary scorer? JMO but the physical play of Lebron and Thompson along with Irving stepping his game up was the difference in the series. If the Cavs continued to play into GS's Hands with an up tempo shootout type series they likely lose in 5. When Cleveland got physical GS couldn't hang.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

Love how quickly Barnes packed his bags.

Mavs had already made a max offer for him. GS had said if they didn't get Durant they'd match, but if they did they couldn't afford him so the second Durant decided, Barnes knew where he'd be playing next season

 

[aceboon]

And everybody immediately said that if he actually knew that to be true, he wouldn't have shared it.

Who is "everybody", random tweeters? I don't understand the logic, you post something on Twitter so that means its not true?

 

[UConn990411]

My point isn't to rag on Durant. He is an All League Player. My question is does a team that won 73 Games already need another primary scorer? JMO but the physical play of Lebron and Thompson along with Irving stepping his game up was the difference in the series. If the Cavs continued to play into GS's Hands with an up tempo shootout type series they likely lose in 5. When Cleveland got physical GS couldn't hang.

Stop focusing on the wins and answer this question: if you have the chance to go from Harrison Barnes to Kevin Durant, do you do it?

The answer to that question is easy. Add in the fact that KD is a pretty selfless scorer, and this one really isn't a debate.

 

[gtcam]

Kobe is probably the biggest b I t c h to ever step foot in the league.

Not to mention one of the greatest talents.
If Kobe is a B1tch then Lebron is a B1tch supreme

 

[Ldandy]

Stop focusing on the wins and answer this question: if you have the chance to go from Harrison Barnes to Kevin Durant, do you do it?

The answer to that question is easy. Add in the fact that KD is a pretty selfless scorer, and this one really isn't a debate.

In the crazy world of NBA Free Agency where their salaries are nearly identical, absolutely, but I'd rather spend my money elsewhere to improve other areas of the team. I can't get beyond how soft GS looked in games 5-7. I'm not sure Durant fixes that, but maybe they score so many points it doesn't matter?

 

[aceboon]

In the crazy world of NBA Free Agency where their salaries are nearly identical, absolutely, but I'd rather spend my money elsewhere to improve other areas of the team. I can't get beyond how soft GS looked in games 5-7. I'm not sure Durant fixes that, but maybe they score so many points it doesn't matter?

In games 5-7 Harrison Barnes shot 5-32 while getting the kind of open looks that NBA players would die for, the Cavs basically treated him like Anthony Roberson/Tony Allen and he did worse than they probably would in the same situation. He's now replaced by a top 3 player in the league, its money well spent.

 

[JSM1970]

So, KD is now the 3rd option?

Total joke. He had a chance to create a legacy, he's now a follower. Can't believe he's not smart enough to get this. The reaction is hugely negative.

In games 5-7 Harrison Barnes shot 5-32 while getting the kind of open looks that NBA players would die for, the Cavs basically treated him like Anthony Roberson/Tony Allen and he did worse than they probably would in the same situation. He's now replaced by a top 3 player in the league, its money well spent.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

My point isn't to rag on Durant. He is an All League Player. My question is does a team that won 73 Games already need another primary scorer? JMO but the physical play of Lebron and Thompson along with Irving stepping his game up was the difference in the series. If the Cavs continued to play into GS's Hands with an up tempo shootout type series they likely lose in 5. When Cleveland got physical GS couldn't hang.

If you ran a team, any team, regardless of W/L record in the season that just ended. Given the choice of Harrison Barnes @ $24 million a year or Durant @ $27 million a year it isn't even a choice.

 

[Huskyforlife]

He only deserves crap if this team still can't beat lebrons cavs. The warriors are gonna be so entertaining, can't wait to watch these dudes play together.

 

[Ldandy]

In games 5-7 Harrison Barnes shot 5-32 while getting the kind of open looks that NBA players would die for, the Cavs basically treated him like Anthony Roberson/Tony Allen and he did worse than they probably would in the same situation. He's now replaced by a top 3 player in the league, its money well spent.

This will be my last comment about this as it occurred to me that I honestly don't care about GS, OKC or The NBA in general, but my point was never an either or proposition Durant v. Harrison Barnes. I'm not sure Harrison Barnes' Mother would even choose him straight up versus Durant. My question is could that 27 mil dollars have been better spent on interior defenders/rebounders? I don't have that answer, but ultimately its moot as Durant is headed to The Bay Area.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Leaving OKC for GSW on the 4th of July is not going to look good for a long time.

Without giving a hoot about the NBA nor Durant, some independence remains part of the 4th of July or any other day. It's Durant's NBA career, life, marketing ability, etc., no one else's, and arguably most adults, even in the US, never heard of Durant, give a hoot, care too much, and have far greater priorities than the guy. Durant may be OK.

 

[Robertelamin]

Now ESPN is going to have to pretend all of next season that there are teams other than the Cavs and Warriors that can win a championship.

 

[JimHurley]

Can't get over this. Look at the best player of all time - MJ. He couldn't beat the Pistons. So what did he do? He got better and beat them. KD clearly doesn't want to compete. He just wants a ring handed to him. I thought for sure he would return to OKC and I would root for him and Russ to win a ring but guess not.

 

[tzznandrew]

The people decrying this just strike me as silly. The Thunder had a shot to be a dynasty, and it wasn't Durant that ruined it, it was their management that traded away James Harden to avoid a luxury tax when the whole world knew the cap was going to rise (not this much, but still). Harden-Durant-Westbrook played only one season where all were at or near their peak, and they made the Finals, and then they busted it all up. I don't blame him for leaving...and then it becomes "Which team does he sign with." Look at that list of 6 teams: we'd probably hammer him for the Spurs (who had 67 freaking wins) or the Clippers (with Paul/Jordan/Griffin). The Heat would be a dumb pick. The Celtics are fine, but is that really an upgrade?

Further, if you're the Warriors, you get Durant not just for the reasons @champs99and04 and @aceboon point out, but as a hedge. Let's be clear, Curry was hurt and never came back as Curry. That stuff happens in the postseason all the time. It's pretty common. But if Curry is injured or playing like he did in some NBA Finals games...now you have Durant. And, frankly, vice-versa.

 

[nomar]

Who is "everybody", random tweeters? I don't understand the logic, you post something on Twitter so that means its not true?

If your job is betting on basketball, and you have inside info that will affect the championship odds for a bunch of teams, you use that intel, not give it away. That's the logic.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Durant is not going to do "The Decision". And he's not leaving his hometown (downtrodden) team.

LeBron left a team with no help and no hope of drawing free agents. Durant is leaving a team with a player who may actually be better than him and a great supporting cast. I say a player should do what he feels. In the end, people remember titles. But i would love to have seen him and Russ give it one more shot.