OT: Durant to Golden State

[RU Cheese]

wow

 

[KingHigh]

I'm thinking they'll be pretty decent next year.

 

[anon_ivydyf0amkzay]

LOL at Knicks fans who thought durant was peeing himself at the thought of coming to the disaster known as the knickerbockers!! Instead it is Chicago 5 years past its prime...[roll]

OKC...the new Orlando after Shaq left...down the drain they go...

 

[ATIOH]

So they'll have four out of the 15 players from this years all-NBA team. Nuts.

I think it'll be hard to keep everyone happy though. Durant and Curry are streaky shooters who get comfortable by putting up a high volume of shots. It's already tough when Thompson gets in the zone.

Winning will cover up a lot, but I'd expect to see plenty of complaining if they hit a losing skid.

 

[Mikemarc]

Guess he can't win by himself.

 

[RU_DIO]

What a line up.

 

[RUsojo]

Still gonna lose to lebron

 

[Beancounter88]

Do you lose some respect towards KD by going somewhere with real established stars, as opposed with trying to lead a team? Takes a little away from his legacy don't you think? Wants to win and nothing wrong with that though.

 

[mal359]

The BasedGod lifted the curse.

 

[jerseyjustin]

The NBA - If You Can't Beat 'em, Join 'em

 

[Caliknight]

NBA is getting real lame.

 

[Ataylor1989x]

Is it true that OKC was able to offer him an extra year of guarnteed money than any other team? Ouch. I don't think the league will ever be able to stop free agents from choosing a bigger market that they would prefer.

 

[DJ Spanky]

So I guess the NBA will have to come up with some new shenanigans to get Lebron another title next year!

 

[BigEastPhil]

very weak move by Durant.......even if GS wins it all next year - does nothing for Durant's legacy....plus as poster said above - is there enough ball to go around for all the stars?....mmmmm

 

[LotusAggressor_rivals]

Do you lose some respect towards KD by going somewhere with real established stars, as opposed with trying to lead a team? Takes a little away from his legacy don't you think? Wants to win and nothing wrong with that though.

If fans and the media insist on defining players' greatness by the number of championships they win, then there needs to be a moratorium on criticizing star players who choose to join championship teams. The fact is, great players who've won championships usually had other great players on their team.

 

[Caliknight]

It's just ridiculous though. Where is the sport? Jordan didn't join the Cetics to win.

If the Warriors don't win now, they should all quit.

 

[T2Kplus10]

Guess he can't win by himself.

Yup, pretty weak move by KD.

 

[RoxboroughKnight]

Is it true that OKC was able to offer him an extra year of guarnteed money than any other team? Ouch. I don't think the league will ever be able to stop free agents from choosing a bigger market that they would prefer.

The extra year doesn't matter with the way the cap is changing each year. The salary cap is going up again after this year, and I think the jump is supposed to be pretty big again. That's why Durant has a player option after this year. He'll most likely opt out of his contract after this year and then look to sign a long-term deal after the salary cap increases again.

 

[RU_Planning]

Durant just lost the WCF to GS while up 3-1 and now has joined them, a 73 win team that was 1 minute from back to back titles.

This is Jordan joining the Pistons after the 1990 playoffs, except that Jordan didn't leave.

This is far worse than Lebron going to Miami, as Miami was a mid-tier playoff team that just got bounced in the first round.

If Durant wins a title in GS next season it isn't really going to mean much. For him to have a true legacy he will have to opt out and win a title somewhere else.

I don't blame him for leaving OKC and their cheap bastard owner, but I think he should have gone to Boston, where 1 title makes him a legend.

 

[T2Kplus10]

wow

Just saw this comment regarding KD:

Durant knows how to blow a 3-1 lead so he will fit in well at Golden State.

HA!

 

[MADHAT1]

Durant probably looking more at getting the ring than anything else.
Just like LeBron's move to Miami was.

 

[RoxboroughKnight]

This is far worse than Lebron going to Miami, as Miami was a mid-tier playoff team that just got bounced in the first round.

Not only that, when Lebron left Cleveland he really didn't have any help. The second best player on the team when Lebron left was Mo Williams. Durant was playing with one of the top 5 players in the league and had a solid roster. I liked the Oladipo trade too. That might have put the Thunder over the top if Durant came back. I just don't get it.

 

[RUfromNJ]

The NBA has become a joke. 2 or 3 relevant teams out of 30. The 2016-17 NBA Finals, and likely beyond, have already been determined.

 

[PatrickRU92]

Regardless of what you think of KD's decision, you have to give credit to the Golden State front office. To have a championship caliber team already AND be able to sign the top FA on the market is what is known as "gettting it done".

 

[RU_Planning]

Even though I dislike the Celtics, I was hoping he would sign there. It would be nice to finally get some real competition in the East.

 

[LotusAggressor_rivals]

The NBA has become a joke. 2 or 3 relevant teams out of 30. The 2016-17 NBA Finals, and likely beyond, have already been determined.

For most of the NBA's history, there have been 2-3 relevant teams in the whole league in any given year. Sometimes fewer. The NBA of the '80s is worshiped. All the titles in that decade were won by 4 teams. The majority of them were won by 2.

 

[ru109]

wow

I just hope he gets the same treatment from the media as James did when he left Cleveland for Miami.

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

It's just ridiculous though. Where is the sport? Jordan didn't join the Cetics to win.

If the Warriors don't win now, they should all quit.

The media hasn't been talking about it but in order for Golden State to sign Durant, they have to release several of the backups and at least one of their starters to get under the salary cap. All together I've read Golden State has to give up three key players in their 8 man rotation to make this happen. The starting lineup may be better but the bench is weaker now.

 

[RUfromNJ]

For most of the NBA's history, there have been 2-3 relevant teams in the whole league in any given year. Sometimes fewer. The NBA of the '80s is worshiped. All the titles in that decade were won by 4 teams. The majority of them were won by 2.

Agreed, but were superstars moving from team to team to form these super teams? Were superstars leaving successful teams they were drafted by to play with their friends? I feel like a lot of what drives the worship of the 80s was the competition and the hatred between teams in the league. I don't see that much now.

 

[LotusAggressor_rivals]

Agreed, but were superstars moving from team to team to form these super teams? Were superstars leaving successful teams they were drafted by to play with their friends? I feel like a lot of what drives the worship of the 80s was the competition and the hatred between teams in the league. I don't see that much now.

Players didn't have the kind of leverage they do now. Many of the best players on the Lakers and Celtics were either traded to those teams or acquired with draft picks via trades. It seems like the issue here is superstar players forming super teams instead of GMs.

 

[ImBadRU]

Who cares

 

[RUfromNJ]

Players didn't have the kind of leverage they do now. Many of the best players on the Lakers and Celtics were either traded to those teams or acquired with draft picks via trades. It seems like the issue here is superstar players forming super teams instead of GMs.

Agree. That is definitely on the players.

 

[soundcrib]

After Westbrook leaves, that franchise is in trouble. Who the hell wants to play/live in Oklahoma City? Move back to Seattle or Vegas.

 

[S.B. Crumb]

 

[MADHAT1]

The media hasn't been talking about it but in order for Golden State to sign Durant, they have to release several of the backups and at least one of their starters to get under the salary cap. All together I've read Golden State has to give up three key players in their 8 man rotation to make this happen. The starting lineup may be better but the bench is weaker now.

Andrew Bogut their starting center most of the year will be one of them, trade to Dallas is supposed to be happening .
Rumor has it Harrison Barnes (SF) is supposed to be let go and will sign with Dallas.
Third player is supposed to be Festus Ezeli another center.Replacement already taken care of by Zaza Pachulia ( played for Dallas last year) supposedly signing a 1 year contract
Bogut is the only one that will hurt.
Barnes has potential to be a good one, but Durant is taking his spot.
As for the Center position the Warriors #1 pick( Damian Jones) in last years draft was a center out of Vanderbilt that missed the season because of injury.
Marreese Speights's ( another Center)status is in doubt , but if price is right for Golden State he might be brought back.
I don't think the Warriors will be taking as bad a hit as might be thought.

 

[nirrad]

Sucker move.

 

[RUBULL]

Do you lose some respect towards KD by going somewhere with real established stars, as opposed with trying to lead a team? Takes a little away from his legacy don't you think? Wants to win and nothing wrong with that though.

A little?? the dudes legacy wreaks of desperation now. weakest move ever!!!!

 

[jerzeyguy]

Good move by KD. Great career already and now about to add a few championships to his resume

 

[RUsojo]

Good move by KD. Great career already and now about to add a few championships to his resume

Honestly don't think this makes GS THAT much better. Their strength was their depth. At the very least I think this makes the team worse during regular season. Don't think they match last years win total. Come playoffs they'll be strong as usuall but Durant is not the monumental addition he's being made out to be. Take the under.

 

[bitnez]

Good move by KD. Great career already and now about to add a few championships to his resume

Agree. He's already an all time player. This is the new NBA -- superstars now change teams. This won't hurt his legacy at all.