Kevin Durant Free Agency Thread

[RingsDontLie]

With the finals loss, we see that Curry needs a superstar next to him to open him up a bit, and it's completely obvious Durant is that guy. While Green played a tremendous game, the Warriors, overall lack someone to carry the offense when Curry can't get going. Lebron had Kyrie to do this, but Klay is a bit too wishy washy in my eyes to carry an offense when Curry is off the floor.

I really think this loss guarantees Durant signing with the Warriors.

[improper]

I don't think Durant goes to Golden State after losing to them like he did in the playoffs. There seems to be a lot of animosity there and I just don't see it happening.

[Fico92]

With the finals loss, we see that Curry needs a superstar next to him to open him up a bit, and it's completely obvious Durant is that guy. While Green played a tremendous game, the Warriors, overall lack someone to carry the offense when Curry can't get going. Lebron had Kyrie to do this, but Klay is a bit too wishy washy in my eyes to carry an offense when Curry is off the floor.

I really think this loss guarantees Durant signing with the Warriors.

Klay seemed to carry the offense just fine throughout the playoffs. The dude actually plays defense too...the Cavs were doing to Curry what the Warriors did to love - exploit his defense. Curry is an incredible offensive talent and the team around him is built about as well as you can build it...now Curry needs to become an average man to man defender because if he was, this thread wouldn't have been started and the trophy would be at the Bay.

[BloodNinja]

The series was decided in the last minute of game 7 by 4 points. Can we stop the hyperbole claims that Curry needs superstar help. The Warriors were a bounce or two, or a turnover away from being repeat champions. It’s not like they got blasted by the Cavs,

[The KnicksFix]

the problem with the warriors is that if the 3 ball isn't there, then there's literally nothing else if the opponent shuts off the cut as well... they literally have no post player, sure KD is still a crazy upgrade over barnes/ ezeli but it doesn't address the post player they sorely lack to dump the ball into...

Honestly OKC has the best makeup of any of these teams with the best mixture of youth, athleticism, and size but they just have no brains to close a game

[Winglish]

Please. First the headline was the Warriors were after Durant. Now there is word they want Nowitski. Give me a break! The team won 73 games and made game 7 of the finals! The Warriors are fine. All this star chasing comes off as desperate and I would be insulted if I were one of the players who just helped set the all-time wins record.

[LakersLegacy]

That team would be ridiculous!!!

Steph
Klay
Durant/Iggy
Green
Bogut/ get a defensive specialist back up center!

A huge upgrade over Barnes and Durant can rebound too

[Duke4life831]

The series was decided in the last minute of game 7 by 4 points. Can we stop the hyperbole claims that Curry needs superstar help. The Warriors were a bounce or two, or a turnover away from being repeat champions. It’s not like they got blasted by the Cavs,

This. If Kyrie missed that shot and GS came down and hit a shot these threads would be completely flipped. Klay performed perfectly fine the last few games. The dude averaged 25ppg the last 3 games. He also single handedly kept their season alive against OKC. Curry needed to be more aggressive and not play as dumb and they dont need another superstar. They need a wing that can go better than 5/32 in the last 3 games on mostly wide open shots.

[Phreak50]

You are kidding. GS had more firepower in Curry and Klay than most of the league combined. Add the supposed best bench of all time and you still think he needs help?

1. The series went 7 games and down to the final seconds.
2. I actually think even more so with this loss that Curry would NOT want Durant because it would make him look as weak as most people think Durant would be with such a move.

All that aside, I have no problem with any player signing wherever he wants. But for arguments sake yeah the above applies.

[Zvaart]

Please. First the headline was the Warriors were after Durant. Now there is word they want Nowitski. Give me a break! The team won 73 games and made game 7 of the finals! The Warriors are fine. All this star chasing comes off as desperate and I would be insulted if I were one of the players who just helped set the all-time wins record.

They were chasing Durant well before they were close to that record.

Why anybody should be insulted you want an upgrade for a guy who refused 16 mil/year and under-performed into the playoffs?

[mvpshaq32]

I still think KD will stay in OKC. If anything this cements the Warriors' decision to go after KD

Ezeli and Barnes performances this Finals certainly will make their losses, should they sign elsewhere, easy to cope with for the Warriors.

[MirORich]

To sign Durant you'd have to trade one of Bogut and Iggy to an under the cap team while taking back no salary in return while also renouncing Barnes, Ezuli, Speights, and Barbosa to eliminate their cap holds.

[BirdIsDaKing]

They should go after Marvin Williams and Noah.

[ubernathan]

It would be amazing. If Harrison Barnes is still going to get the max maybe they could do a double sign and trade. Warriors and Cavs can meet again in a rubber match finals.

[FlopShow2013]

What a silly thread. KD stays in OKC. Also GS has enough to win it all.

[ChuckChilly]

The series was decided in the last minute of game 7 by 4 points. Can we stop the hyperbole claims that Curry needs superstar help. The Warriors were a bounce or two, or a turnover away from being repeat champions. It’s not like they got blasted by the Cavs,

Well they did get beat three times in a row by the Cavs. So just saying they lost because of a bad bounce or two is a bit of an understatement.

[jbk1234]

GS has like $75 million in committed salaries for six players already. They'd have to trade Iggy or Bogut and let the following players go to sign Durant: Festus, Barnes, Barbosa, Speights, Rush & McAdoo. Both Curry and Livingston are only signed for next season so it's not like they have flexibility going forward either. Curry is going to take the remaining cap space and they'd have to decide whether to go into the tax to retain Livingston. If I were Durant, and to a lesser extent the Warriors, that would give me pause.

[Warriorfan]

GS has like $75 million in committed salaries for six players already. They'd have to trade Iggy or Bogut and let the following players go to sign Durant: Festus, Barnes, Barbosa, Speights, Rush & McAdoo. Both Curry and Livingston are only signed for next season so it's not like they have flexibility going forward either. Curry is going to take the remaining cap space and they'd have to decide whether to go into the tax to retain Livingston. If I were Durant, and to a lesser extent the Warriors, that would give me pause.

Not true.
After 2016
GS books will be

Thompson 17.4
Green 16.8
Curry cap hold 18
Looney 1.2
MLE this year 2.9
2016 1st 980k

53 million in cap for free agents.

Warriors probably can discounts for Bogut, Iggy, Livingston since they will all be on last deal.

Plenty of flexibility for a contender while OKC may have to pay 100 mil for Westbrook, Durant Ibaka alone.

[jbk1234]

GS has like $75 million in committed salaries for six players already. They'd have to trade Iggy or Bogut and let the following players go to sign Durant: Festus, Barnes, Barbosa, Speights, Rush & McAdoo. Both Curry and Livingston are only signed for next season so it's not like they have flexibility going forward either. Curry is going to take the remaining cap space and they'd have to decide whether to go into the tax to retain Livingston. If I were Durant, and to a lesser extent the Warriors, that would give me pause.

Not true.
After 2016
GS books will be

Thompson 17.4
Green 15.8
Curry cap hold 18
Looney 1.2
MLE this year 2.9
2016 1st 980k

I don't know what you mean by after 2016. If you mean next summer, then yes that's your committed salary. But if you sign Durant this summer, you add his max contract and Curry's cap hold will quickly turn into his own vet max deal.

If you mean this summer, Iggy, Bogut and Livingston are under contract and you've still got $2.75 million of J. Thompson's contract that's guaranteed. Add in minimum salary cap holds for the rest of the roster and you've got some decisions to make.

[SKR]

They should go after Marvin Williams and Noah.

If Noah has some legs left, both of them would be wonderful additions to GSW.