Holy **** - Durant to the Warriors

[57stratdawg]

RIP NBA

 

[JungRebel]

Will be interesting to see how they do against teams with two legit bigs. I would love to see the Cavs move Love for Demarcus Cousins.

 

[missouridawg]

Holy cow

Wouldve loved to see Westbrook and Billy Ds reaction

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Westbrook is leaving after next year anyway.

It will be interesting what roster moves the Warriors make. They have to drop the payroll and that means getting rid of Bogut or Iguodala. They're obviously not keeping Barnes or Ezeli.

 

[GOOD_DAWG2.0]

This is a 100% ***** move. Can't beat em and left his team to join the guys that beat them. And I'm not a thunder fan. Could've literally gone anywhere else. Lost pretty much all respect for the guy

 

[KeyserSoze1999]

Another outside shooter---I really thought that the Warriors really needed a dribble drive slasher to collapse the defense and then kick out for 3 pointers.

I know Golden State had an awesome season and they shoot lights out most of the time, but I think they got exposed by the Cavs and the Thunder. Length and Physicality (bumping shooters before the shot attempt) seemed to get Clay and Curry out of rhythm. A pure slasher driving toward the basket could really collapse the defense and help their outside shooters get even more open / clean looks.

 

[57stratdawg]

Sounds like Paul Gasol and the Spurs are close to an agreement.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Warriors trade Bogut to Dallas.

 

[121Josey]

It's definitely an arms race. Lakers in 2019.

 

[57stratdawg]

Barnes ends up there too.

 

[Seinfeld]

Yeah, they're going to lose some of their depth to make this work, but I was just looking at their team salaries, and they have both Thompson and Green locked up for 3+ more years for what appear to be bargain deals now. Curry will get his monster contract next year, but they're really not in any danger of losing any of their key pieces any time soon. Their GM is something else

 

[missouridawg]

Westbrook is leaving after next year anyway.

It will be interesting what roster moves the Warriors make. They have to drop the payroll and that means getting rid of Bogut or Iguodala. They're obviously not keeping Barnes or Ezeli.

OKC was about ten minutes away from being in the finals. If KD came back and they beat GSW in the playoffs, you think Russ would've left? They had a chance to build a dynasty in OKC with KD leading the way, but KD pussed out. It's not like OKC doesn't have any help... They have a tremendous young core to build around.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Durant and Westbrook are very tight. Do you not think he talked to Westbrook in this whole process?

 

[Will James]

This is a 100% ***** move. Can't beat em and left his team to join the guys that beat them. And I'm not a thunder fan. Could've literally gone anywhere else. Lost pretty much all respect for the guy

No one calls players taking big money with the Yankees and Red Sox bitches. Or every soccer star joining Madrid, Barca, United, etc.

Good for Durant go cement a legacy.

 

[ShrubDog]

It is so funny when guys call NBA players out for wanting to win a championship and have a chance to be on a great team.

Choices

 

[Sounder68]

Seeing OKC fans burn KD jerseys is rich...

...since the Sonics (and KD) were stolen from Seattle. I don't begrudge the fans, but seeing OKC owner Clayton Bennett get fisted by KD on July 4 was nice. God Bless America!

 

[ckDOG]

Who said it was about money? It's about the bandwagon.

No one calls players taking big money with the Yankees and Red Sox bitches. Or every soccer star joining Madrid, Barca, United, etc.

Good for Durant go cement a legacy.

Durant's biggest money options have him staying in OKC. He's leaving as the most essential piece of a pretty loaded team to be Steph's bride. That's what is weak about it. Think about it. He's going to fill a need on a team vs being the face of an established franchise...for less money. It's a head scratcher for sure.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/6/...t-contract-salary-money-nba-free-agent-rumors

 

[JungRebel]

I think this will eventually be Durant's team. Curry is great, but he barely averaged more PPG than Durant last year in easily his best season. I think he'll get the shots in crunch time.

 

[mstateglfr]

Durant's biggest money options have him staying in OKC. He's leaving as the most essential piece of a pretty loaded team to be Steph's bride. That's what is weak about it. Think about it. He's going to fill a need on a team vs being the face of an established franchise...for less money. It's a head scratcher for sure.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/6/...t-contract-salary-money-nba-free-agent-rumors

What specific 'need' will he fill? The Warriors won the most games of all time and got to the finals for a 2nd year in a row. What 'need' did the team have, really? And more specifically, how does KD fill it?

...if you cant tell, I disagree that a need existed which KD fills, unless that 'need' is just a desire for another future HOF'er.

There is nothing weak about Durant going to the Warriors. He surveyed the landscape and chose what he thought would be the best opportunity for him. Thats strong as hell in my eyes. Dude's balls drag on the curb for being willing to go to a team with the current 2time MVP and a load of other talent.

James didnt win until he had AllStar(and future HOF) help in Miami. He went to Miami which was clearly Wade's team at the time. Same junk was said about James, that he is weak and needs other elite players to win blah blah. Well no **** a team needs multiple elite players to win. Not exactly a revelation right there.

There should be nothing to scratch your head about here. The guy wants to win, thinks GSW is the best place to win, and got paid sick $ to choose to play where he thinks he will win. Pretty clear.

 

[121Josey]

What specific 'need' will he fill? The Warriors won the most games of all time and got to the finals for a 2nd year in a row. What 'need' did the team have, really? And more specifically, how does KD fill it?

...if you cant tell, I disagree that a need existed which KD fills, unless that 'need' is just a desire for another future HOF'er.

Sounds like GS didn't need Durant. GS did Durant a favor. GS did win the most-games ever. And they won Back-to-Back championships against a city who had been cursed in professional sports. Nope, nothing to improve on.**

Durant's move was the anti-James Harden. OKC gave him a nice supporting cast to compete with GS. Instead, he joined GS.

 

[mstateglfr]

Another outside shooter---I really thought that the Warriors really needed a dribble drive slasher to collapse the defense and then kick out for 3 pointers.

I know Golden State had an awesome season and they shoot lights out most of the time, but I think they got exposed by the Cavs and the Thunder. Length and Physicality (bumping shooters before the shot attempt) seemed to get Clay and Curry out of rhythm. A pure slasher driving toward the basket could really collapse the defense and help their outside shooters get even more open / clean looks.

Durant took 2/3 of his shots inside the arc last season. He also got to the line 7 times per game. Those arent the stats of what is categorized as an outside shooter. Durant can shoot from deep, yup, but he is not an outside shooter.
He actually took 1/3 of his shots from within the paint.
Durant is a complete player. Calling him an outside shooter categorizes him as a limited offensive weapon with a specific talent. That sort of player can have a long and successful career in the NBA, but Durant is way more than just an outside shooter.


With all this said- the game is an outside shooting game right now and GSW has led the way to say the least. They replaced Barnes with Durant, effectively. Over the last 2 seasons, the team has set records and led the NBA at times in 3pt shooting, offensive efficiency, scoring, etc etc. They have never wanted for offense and have been wildly successful. Why change?
Barnes slashed from the perimeter at times. Durant gets to the rim from the perimeter too. He makes the defense collapse when he does drive and he opens up the court when he is on the perimeter since the defense needs to respect his range. That give Green, Iguodala, Thompson, et al more room to operate.

 

[mstateglfr]

Sounds like GS didn't need Durant. GS did Durant a favor. GS did win the most-games ever. And they won Back-to-Back championships against a city who had been cursed in professional sports. Nope, nothing to improve on.**

Durant's move was the anti-James Harden. OKC gave him a nice supporting cast to compete with GS. Instead, he joined GS.

I get the sarcasterisks, but really- the other poster painted Durant as some role player next season. He is a future HOFer, consistently in the top few scoring leaders, damn near averages a double double, and was MVP a couple seasons ago. He isnt a role player, he wasnt brought in as a role player, and he isnt going to Golden State to simply 'fill a need'. Thats absurd to claim.

When he was pitched by Golden State, if anyone thinks they told him, "We hope you sign with us to fill a need.", then they are a moron. Of course that didnt happen as he isnt a need filler. Batum is a need filler. Parsons is a need filler. Drummond is a need filler.

 

[ckDOG]

Harrison Barnes is the weak link in their attack.

You disagree with that? This is Curry's team? You disagree with that?

My argument is that he left "his team" that was well supported to fill the weak slot on Steph Curry's well supported team. This isn't the scenario of the all star with no support going somewhere that can better support him and allow him thrive or getting an appropriate paycheck for the contribution. This is the all star on #2 with an even better roster shaping up for the next year to make a championship run bolting for the team that had their number in the playoffs.

What are other examples of this happening? OKC had everything he needed to thrive and win a championship this past year and next year. He's not leaving to have a better shot to thrive. He was thriving and fell short during a playoff run where he disappeared in key moments and the role players showed up. Just tell me you want you want to go enjoy Cali life and different scenery without sacrificing championship potential. That's believable at least.

 

[mstateglfr]

Barnes is the weak link in that when a group of anything is ranked, something must be last. But Barnes is no weak link.

GP

GS

MIN

FGM-A

FG%

3PM-A

3P%

FTM-A

FT%

OR

DR

REB

AST

BLK

STL

PF

TO

PTS

<tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">
</tbody>

66

59

30.9

4.5-9.6

.466

1.2-3.2

.383

1.5-2.0

.761

1.2

3.8

4.9

1.8

0.2

0.6

2.1

0.9

11.7

<tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">
</tbody>

OKC had Westbrook...and then who? Ibaka had been sent to the land of retirement. Adams is a solid center...though not elite by any means. Kanter is a solid scoring big...though not elite by any means. They now have Oladipo who is a bundle of energy and cant hit jack from deep. Another solid player...though not elite by any means. They have Sabonis coming, and I loved watching every game of his with the Zags...but he is no reason to stick around.
OKC had 1 transcendent player to share the burden with. GSW has Curry, Thompson, and Green. And GSW's support talent(bench) has been excellent the last 2 seasons. Excellent.
Its a clear upgrade in team talent.

You say OKC had everything needed to win a championship this past year and next year...but they didnt. Neither did GSW, obviously, but they got closer. Lets not forget that the Spurs won an absurd number of games last season, have added Gasol, and were a tough out for OKC. OKC didnt have everything they needed. They could have used another star for sure.

I have no idea what other examples there are of this happening(besides James leaving to go to Wade's team) because I havent thought about that. It isnt important to me as if its happened before or not is meaningless.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

David West to the Warriors for the league minimum. There's a really solid big for them. They also signed Zaza Patulia for peanuts.

 

[121Josey]

Durant's Farewell Letter - as interpreted by interpreting Morgan Freeman