RealGM

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/241230/Spurs-Expected-To-Explore-Pursuit-Of-Kevin-Durant

Rival executives believe the San Antonio Spurs will explore ways in which they can sign Kevin Durant in free agency.

The Spurs signed LaMarcus Aldridge to a max contract in free agency last offseason with their cap gymnastics such as trading away Tiago Splitter and then signing Danny Green, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili to under fair market value contracts.

San Antonio would have to figure out how to play Durant with Kawhi Leonard despite the fact they play the same position. The Spurs could play big with Durant and Leonard as the two wings, or play small with those two players as the forwards to move Aldridge to center.

Trading away Green could be necessary to create enough cap space for Durant.

Kinda surprising news and considering that the source is Chris Mannix (who isn't exactly a hack) there's probably some truth to it.

Thoughts?

I once had a fantasy that LeBron james would come over, and under Popovich blossom into something the league had never seen before. Durant is the closest thing to that fantasy. This would be GREAT for the league.

My issue is on defense. Duncan's very close to retirement, and I don't like LMA's defense much. I don't know if being the #1 Offense and a below average defense is the way to go.

I was thinking about this earlier in the week strangely.

I have no doubt the Spurs would try to sign him, but also a strong belief that KD has no interest in this team.

I think it could easily work. Either guy can play SG, SF and PF and LMA can play PF and C so there is no worry there. It just isn't likely somewhere Durant wants to be.

I mentioned this a year or so ago but that was before we got LMA.
Here is my post
http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=1266488&hilit=Durant

I don't know where you would fit Durant with LMA and Kawhi here.

We've played for 10 years without a centre so we can play another 10 without a SG

Please make it happen!

How would you guys see him fitting in if in fact it does happen?

Nolan wrote:How would you guys see him fitting in if in fact it does happen?

Hard to tell. At first glance you would say his personality and on-court demeanor fits perfectly with the team, but the Spurs have had (minor) failed experiments before, so I would remain skeptical.
Pop has done a great job through the years with changing the offensive focal point, from the Duncan-Robinson years all the way to the Kawhi years, with the additions of Manu and TP to the scheme in between. In that regard, and considering how the league is becoming more perimeter oriented as days go by, i'm not very worried about the adaptability of the team's playbook (having 2 wings as main scorers). What WOULD worry me is that Durant is 27 years old, 28 next season, and has played his entire career in a heavily ISO dependable OKC team. If Spurs management is convinced they can scrape off the residual mindset that kind of offense left in KD, without killing his game/confidence, then he would be great for the team.
All in all, call me crazy, but i don't think it's quite necessary for the team to add a top 5 player after Timmy and Manu retire. In my personal opinion, we shouldn't be going all out for a championship next season. It will be a transition year. Leonard is still very young so it won't hurt him to not go to the finals once (assuming GS still dominates). That time is needed to continue winning but while developing players and making the last adjustments of the post Duncan era (most of them have already been done long ago). All that is really needed for next season to continue being a 50+ win team is an inside defensive presence and a playmaker off the bench. I don't really see the Spurs FO having difficulties finding neither. But chemistry will need to be developed with two thirds of the veteran core gone, and that will take some time.

dont want or need him man...after calling kawhi a system player, so he comes here to be a system player?

He'd fit in easy.

You could play Aldridge, Leonard and Durant up front with Parker and Green in the backcourt.

Or you could go big with Duncan (I see him staying on regardless)/free agent Center, Aldridge, Durant, Leonard, Parker.

I've watched the last few Thunder games and Durant has been passing the ball really well. He'd fit into the system with his eyes closed and even with there being much more scoring around him then just RW, he'd get much better looks and probably shoot 55% over a season.

It begins...

“This the last time I’m gonna talk about this," he wrote. "I did not hate on Kawhi Leonard, quite honestly if you knew me or been around me, you would see how excited I was for such a young humble guy. But the world loves conflict I see. I really gave major props to Coach Pop and the whole staff for putting those guys in great positions to be successful

"He's definitely grown as a player," Durant said. Then, unprompted, he joked, "He's not a system player."

Durant shifted his eyes a bit to make sure everyone was in on the joke as a few light chuckles bounced around.

"I know you guys like to throw that term around," he continued, "but he's just grown so much as a player. I have to be locked in every play. He can shoot the midrange, he can post up, he can hit the 3, he can dribble and he's just grown so much. Defensively, probably one of the best guys in the league. It's fun when you get that matchup at the small forward. There are so many great guys, but he's one of the guys in that top tier."