2019 - 2021 Free-Agents

[esqtvd]

For the first time, I'm actually starting to think we have a decent chance of signing KD. Still not convinced that he walks away from the easy rings when it's all said and done, but it looks more likely now.

Whoa.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251644/Draymond-Green-Accused-Kevin-Durant-Of-Making-Season-About-His-Free-Agency

Draymond Green immediately took exception with the way Kevin Durant addressed him when he brought the ball up the court himself instead of passing to Durant.

According to multiple sources, Green made it clear that he's been making plays like that for years and then reminded Durant that the Golden State Warriors were winning before he signed there in 2016.

Green then accused Durant of making the whole season about him even though he might leave in free agency in 2019. Green aired his frustrations with how Durant has kept his free agency story alive throughout the season.

Green also called Durant a "bitch" multiple times, which is what prompted management to take action.

...

According to several in the locker room, Durant could have ended the situation by saying how much he loves playing with the Warriors and his teammates. Durant's teammates are all prepared for him to leave and they're not on board for another tour of begging him to stay.

“With what was said, there is already no way Durant is coming back,” one player said. “The only hope is that they can say this summer, ‘See, KD. We’ve got your back. We protected you from Draymond.’ ”

[Ranma]

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[Ranma]

Among the topics on the podcast with Lowe & Kellerman is the rift in Golden State. Kellerman proposes that it may be an opportunity for the Warriors to follow-through with what they want to do by not only going all out to re-sign Durant, but also not having to max out Draymond. The idea is to retain the most talented players in Steph, Durant and Klay while Draymond's skills are already showing signs of diminishment. This notion goes as far as packaging Dray & Klay (re-signed) for Anthony Davis in the off-season should he become available.

While I certainly see the logic in having Green be the odd man out in Golden State, the team would need to find a reliable physical presence at an economical price to do the dirty work that would free up the more talented headliners to do their thing. While the proposal to acquire the Brow would solve that, I personally see the Pelicans being more interested in the assets that the Lakers and Celtics would have to offer since losing AD would trigger a priority to rebuild in New Orleans. Plus, Klay is a free agent and there's no way he'd agree to a sign-and-trade to New Orleans when he could likely choose a max deal with either the Warriors or Lakers.

Kellerman mentions that he personally thinks Kawhi is the 2nd best player in the NBA behind LeBron while Lowe cites Kerr as stating that Durant is (ahead of Curry). Kellerman goes on to point out that the smart front offices are the organizations building the contending teams of today. Obviously, this would bode well for the Clippers.

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[wco81]

That Zach Lowe article from June was interesting.

As a Warriors fan, I can only hope KD does care at least some about titles. He seemed pretty happy when they repeated in June.

But if he leaves, well it was 3 interesting years, from the time he announced in the Players Tribune to what's been happening since.

I don't think they can trade Klay unless it's a sign and trade and he consents to playing in New Orleans. If not the Warriors, I'd think he'd want to play for the Lakers, who might be interested if they don't get Kawhi and Durant.


As for Draymond, he was so humble in his rookie year, sounded like a church boy, talking about god in his interviews. If the team wasn't winning, he'd absolutely be a problem, challenging the coach to a fight like that. Given the team's history with star players and coaches, he'd have probably been shipped out under other circumstances.

Curry won't play but he's still going out with the team on their road trip starting Thursday. If there's any chance for team solidarity, it's got to happen now.


Otherwise, it's going to be a feeding frenzy this summer and both LA teams will be right in the thick of it. Stephen A. Smith says the Lakers are in the lead for getting KD. Of course, he's always been a Lakers-stan, from the time Shaq first joined that team.

[Ranma]

I don't think they can trade Klay unless it's a sign and trade and he consents to playing in New Orleans. If not the Warriors, I'd think he'd want to play for the Lakers, who might be interested if they don't get Kawhi and Durant.

You're absolutely right. I actually updated my post before I saw yours but I appreciate you pointing it out, nonetheless.

Otherwise, it's going to be a feeding frenzy this summer and both LA teams will be right in the thick of it. Stephen A. Smith says the Lakers are in the lead for getting KD. Of course, he's always been a Lakers-stan, from the time Shaq first joined that team.

I happen to think that's the case too based on what I'm seeing, none of which has to do with Stephen A. Smith. Magic Johnson came out during a pre-game telecast of Game 5 of the World Series to declare that he's going to get another superstar player. Fox Sports then proceeded to flash a prepared graphic with LeBron and Durant in Lakers uniforms supposedly of their own volition. Magic skates by that time on another obvious tampering attempt.

Some so-called Internet sports insider cited an anonymous source that thinks it's a sure thing that KD will be a Laker. The insider downplayed it by cautioning to take it with a grain of salt but figured it was noteworthy enough to disseminate. Now KD's mother apparently has provided soundbite recently saying that she loves both Magic and LeBron.

I can see Durant's need to be embraced pushing him to join the team in Los Angeles that occupies the hearts and minds of the majority of the population, but at the same time, it conflicts with concerns about proving himself for the sake of his legacy to jump from a juggernaut team only to play sidekick to LeBron. I think the Knicks also have a legit shot at Durant as do the Clippers. Brooklyn, on the other hand, doesn't make much sense to me and there's been some chatter that the Sixers have gotten signals that they're not a consideration for either Kawhi or Durant, which supposedly triggered their desire to pull off the trade for Jimmy Butler.

With regards to the Clippers, I think Kawhi will be the top priority and, while I certainly think the organization will make a play for both given that Lawrence Frank and his lieutenants will be attending games to be visibly seen by both players, at the end of the day, we won't have enough salary cap space to offer 2 full max contracts even if we trade away Gallinari in a salary dump. KD is certainly the more transcendent talent, but I have more concerns about his insecurities and age relative to Kawhi's own insecurities and injury.

Also, just adding Kawhi would make it easier to retain both Tobias Harris and Montrezl Harrell on deals with significant raises for both this off-season as the organization can still map out plans for either Anthony Davis or Giannis Antetokounmpo in the coming years. Of course, 2 birds in hand are worth more than 4 in a bush.

[Ranma]

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Kevin O'Connor, TheRinger.com (11/15/18)

Prior to this incident, there was talk around the league that the Warriors wouldn’t want to sign Green to a full max contract. If he makes an All-NBA team or wins Defensive Player of the Year or MVP, he’ll be eligible for the supermax, which would be worth roughly $240 million over five years. Currently, the max he could sign for is $200 million over five years with the Warriors or $150 million over four years with any other team. We’ll see how the Warriors approach the situation when the time comes, but not maxing out Green would make sense: He will be 30 in 2020, and because of his body type and his relentless style, there’s some concern that he won’t age well. The Warriors would also be hard-pressed to avoid a huge luxury-tax bill. If Green and Thompson, a free agent in 2019, both sign new maxes over the next two summers, the Warriors are looking at a cap hit in 2020-21 of about $110 million for Green, Thompson, and Curry alone.

Replacing Durant, should he leave next summer, will be an impossible task; two-time Finals MVPs don’t just grow on trees. But even coming close will be difficult, as the Warriors wouldn’t have any cap space and would have only exceptions available to use in free agency. They could push for a sign-and-trade to get something in return for Durant, but the teams he’s reportedly interested in—New York, both Los Angeles squads, etc.—can create full max cap space without the Warriors’ help. The expiring contracts of Iguodala ($17.2 million) and Shaun Livingston ($7.7 million) could be used as salary filler in a deal to acquire more talent, but the Warriors lack assets to get a player who’s at the level of even Harrison Barnes, who was dumped in 2016 to clear the path for KD. The Warriors’ best bet to add players and assets to sustain success deep into the next decade may be to trade Green.

Green is part of the Warriors’ fabric. Despite everything that’s happened this week, Myers might be most swayed by that. At the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in 2017, Myers marveled at how the Spurs honed a process over 20 years with the same core of people, from ownership down to the players. “What gets lost is they have had continuity and consistency,” Myers said. “That’s why we try to keep the same guys. ... It’s about recognizing your process and getting the best people to implement it.”

Forget About Dray? The Warriors’ Dynasty Could Depend on It.

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Chris Haynes, Yahoo Sports (11/15/18)

Green called Durant a “bitch” multiple times, sources said. In a summarized version, sources said Green shouted, “You’re a bitch and you know you’re a bitch.” The rhetoric, sources said, continued even when Kerr attempted to direct the team’s attention to his whiteboard.

But what ultimately led to Green’s suspension, sources said, was a remark in which he dared Durant to bolt in free agency next summer. Durant has a player option for the 2019-20 season, and the Warriors want their superteam intact for the opening of their new arena, the Chase Center, in San Francisco next season.

Green blurted to Durant something along the lines of, “We don’t need you. We won without you. Leave,” sources said.

Warriors' Primary Concern: Draymond Green's Conduct was Detrimental to Kevin Durant's Future with the Team

[Clemenza]

Durant is done in GS so who do we get next season.. Durant or Kawhi?

[Ranma]

Durant is done in GS so who do we get next season.. Durant or Kawhi?

I'm sure the Clippers will make a play for both, but I anticipate that we'll actually get only Kawhi Leonard this summer. Kevin Durant may be the better talent, but I'm not really comfortable with his temperamental personality. Of course, if we get both, I'd be on board to see what the Clips can do surrounding those two elite players, but my preference is to build around Kawhi and give raises to Tobias Harris and Montrezl Harrell while working to make a play for either Anthony Davis or Giannis Antetokounmpo down the road.

[Ranma]

In addition to the topics noted in the tweet, Lowe & Beck justifiably express their disdain for the Clippers' branding design efforts thus far. The reason this tweet is posted in this thread is that Lowe presents that the Warriors have 4 star players who will demand max contracts and that there is great skepticism around the league that the organization will have a $400-million payroll. Lowe also expressed doubt that Draymond Green would get any sort of max contract from any team. He also doesn't think that the Warriors will trade him this season either.

Lowe & Beck don't think Jimmy Butler will get a full max contract from Philadelphia, so he could be a backup option for the Knicks and Clippers should they lose out on Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.

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[mkwest]

Durant is done in GS so who do we get next season.. Durant or Kawhi?

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[Ranma]

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Tom Ziller, SBnation.com (11/18/18)

That doesn’t actually matter, because this Clippers team — as entertaining and effective as it is — is only a bridge to the next Clippers team.

L.A. has a rather clear deck going into 2019 free agency, which should be another incredible session. Only Williams, Gallinari, Harrell, Gilgeous-Alexander, and fellow rookie Jerome Robinson are on the books in 2019-10. (Bradley has a deal of which only $2 million is guaranteed, and the Clippers have until July 3 to make a decision on it, per Basketball Insiders.) L.A. could clear up to $63 million in cap space without making a trade. That’s two maximum contract slots.

If all goes according to plan, it could shake out as Kawhi Leonard, Harris on a new deal and the right supplemental pieces around them (including Beverley, one would hope). Clippers franchise owner Steve Ballmer wants a championship-level team, and acquiring superstars is the time-tested top way to compete for titles. So you know the Clippers will try to be in the mix.

That the Clippers are entertaining and downright good in the interim is a bonus. It helps a little, to be able to prove to Kawhi, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins, or whoever that there’s a chance to win if they pick the Clips. But in the end, the desires and whims of the best basketball players on Earth will decide whether L.A. will be real in the future. This is just a prelude.

The Clippers are Real, One Way or Another

[devinodonnell]

Thread title should just say 2019 Free Agents.

These guys aren't signing here.

You say that like we didn't sign Chris Paul and aren't based in one of the biggest markets in the country. LeBron signed with the Lakers, who were six games under .500 and were in a rebuild. It's an image thing and if the Clippers, who are perfectly capable of beating top Western Conference teams, put together a good sales pitch, they can sign anyone.

[esqtvd]

Thread title should just say 2019 Free Agents.

These guys aren't signing here.

It's the draft thread that's the real waste of cyberink, LOL. If we make the playoffs, we forfeit our pick, and even if we don't, when we draft somewhere in the teens, whoever the pick is won't even be in the thread for another 6 months at least.

[Quake Griffin]

Thread title should just say 2019 Free Agents.

These guys aren't signing here.

You say that like we didn't sign Chris Paul and aren't based in one of the biggest markets in the country. LeBron signed with the Lakers, who were six games under .500 and were in a rebuild. It's an image thing and if the Clippers, who are perfectly capable of beating top Western Conference teams, put together a good sales pitch, they can sign anyone.

Context is important. I wanted us to go after LeBron last summer. You have to be able to reconcile that idea with what you are quoting before you assume I said that like anything.

We traded for Chris Paul and he's on record saying he only opted into his 2nd year because New Orleans didn't have ownership. Him re-signing for a maximum 5/$108 million that he couldn't get anywhere else was a no brainer and not a true function of Chris believing in the Clippers. A year later, our owner promptly demonstrated to the world that we still had a long ways to go as a franchise when he was found to have said he didn't want black people at his games.

We can sign free agents. I don't think my point was that we are incapable. I think my point was going through each one of those guys' scenarios, they had no real incentive to leave and join our situation and we shouldn't be basing our seasons off of getting them. If things change, they change. I have no problem with that in relation to my opinion from however long ago it was. Kevin Durant's situation looks different since then. Shai Gilgeous has emerged pretty quickly since then.

[Ranma]

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Martin Rogers, USA Today (11/19/18)

“I love it,” Rivers said early last week, leaning back in a functional office chair at the team’s training facility near LAX. “I love when I read all the rumors that all these guys, one of the teams they want to play for is the Clippers. They’re right. We should be. We’ve got a lot of good things going on.”

“That's what I would think if I was a free agent,” Rivers said. “Coming to the Clippers and turning them into a team that wins a title? It hasn't been done. For a lot of these players, it is the chance to go to a franchise and ‘be the man,’ be the one that gets them to something (we’ve) never done in the history of the franchise.”

“I think the superstars have earned it,” he added. “I think they're that good. But just because you don't have one, doesn't mean you should go put your head in the sand. If you have one then great, that makes you a better team, too. But if you don't and you have a bunch of really good players like us, you should be pretty good too.”

Doc Rivers Has Clippers on Free Agents' Radar, But Los Angeles Isn't Waiting for a Star

[QRich3]

Thread title should just say 2019 Free Agents.

These guys aren't signing here.

It's the draft thread that's the real waste of cyberink, LOL. If we make the playoffs, we forfeit our pick, and even if we don't, when we draft somewhere in the teens, whoever the pick is won't even be in the thread for another 6 months at least.

I was taking a look at the stats for what's been played of the season so far, and I wouldn't advise you to lose sight of the draft so early

I'm afraid a lot of what's working for us is not all that sustainable. Offensively, we are shooting an unsustainable 38.3% from 3 (3rd best in the league), even though we are one of the teams that shoots the less 3's in the league (only more than the Spurs and Cavs) and we're shooting more than half our 3 pointers from the corner, only team in the league to do that and with a big advantage over the 2nd most (Warriors) and a huge advantage over the 3rd (Blazers). Hard to sustain that too. We are also getting to the line the most in the league, nearly 2% more than the 2nd team, and almost double the times than the Celtics or the Magic. We have some guys that make a living on the line, but not enough to have this big an advantage at the end of the day. We don't have a Harden or a Westbrook to do that. Defensively, we are forcing teams to shoot the worse percentage out of the 30 teams (48.7 eFG%) but we are forcing the least turnovers in the whole league. It all feels as if when shots stop to go in and teams get a little bit more lucky, we're gonna be where we were supposed to. Not taking anything from the team, as they're doing what they're supposed to a lot better than expected, but I don't expect it to last the whole season.

Plus, this time last year, both draftexpress and nbadraft.net had 10 out of 14 lottery picks nailed already (coincidentally neither of ours).

But yeah, I'm looking forward to both free agency and the draft, whether it ends up working out or not, they're putting us in a good position for both.

[Ranma]

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