Kevin Durant Free Agency Thread

[therealbig3]

I don't usually buy into all this legacy talk...but going to GS would absolutely be a pretty big blow to his general perception by the fans. Yeah, he'll win titles...but everyone knows he's going to a team that won a title and 73 games before he even got there. How much impact is he really going to have for them?

He'd be the Kevin Love on the Dubs. They can win it without KD. Would never be regarded as a top 10 player.

He'd be the Warriors best player

LMAO.

[JJ_PR]

I find it funny how people complain about Durant joining a super team when LeBron did exactly the same thing. In LeBrons case, it was even worse! The way he handled the situation, announcing his intention on national t.v. before he even informed his own team that he was leaving.

I think Durant is handling this process very well. He's obviously intrigued by the Warriors. It makes so much sense for him to join the best team in the NBA. This opportunity doesn't come very often for star players, given that most of the time the best teams don't have any cap space to add another player of his caliber.

A very unique situation indeed. Kudos to Durant for the way he's handling this whole process. Will root for him no matter what the decision is (as long as he's not playing against the cavs ).

[Mikey1690]

And if he goes to the Warriors and wins a ring and wins Finals MVP, all would be forgotten and he'd be seen as a top talent.

As others have mentioned if he's going to jump ship nows the time to do it. If the Warriors had just won a 2nd title, would be harder to sell. Now he can sell it as going there to help beat the Cavs and win a ring.

If KD goes to Dubs, he's def. not the KLove of the Dubs. If anything, I could see something sort of;

Curry: 29-32mpg 22-25PPG
KD: 32-34mpg 23-27PPG
Klay: 30-33mpg 16-19PPG
Draymond: 32-35mpg 11-15PPG

If anything, the scoring load would balance out across the board. And another thing, they'd most likely shatter every 3pt record 2x over and most likely be ranked 30th in points in the paint as you'd have an all-time great jump shooting lineup.

But let's not forget, it's 2 ankles (Steph) and foot (KD) tapped together from being completely obliterated and turned into cap albatross.

The KLove of the dubs comment wasn't necessarily speaking about production. Put it this way. Would the Cavs win without Love? Yes. Can the Warriors win without Durant? Absolutely. Neither team can win without any of the other 4 out of their big 3s. Klay is needed just as much as Steph. Same with Irivng and LeBron. Durant is just there...same with Love. He won't be under any pressure to be the man. Because he's going to be in the shadow of Curry and to a lesser extent Klay because both have won before.

Klay would never overshadow Durant just because he's won a championship. That's asinine. The gap between those two as players is enormous. It's not like they're the same caliber of player. Curry on the other hand would. He's currently looked at as being the 2nd best player in the league, he's won a championship, and he's a 2x MVP.

[Cuban_Linx]

A couple of months? You need to pay closer attention. First off he has always had an icey relationship with their local media outside of Royce young. He had the ridiculous blowup at allstar weekend with the national media a couple years back which was just childish and he was forced to apologize for with his wannabe tough guy act. He blasted the media this year for treatment of Kobe of all people. He whined about the mr unreliable headline a couple years back which may have been the first ever negative word uttered about him, and the paper actually apologized to him for it (that's how sweet he has had it). Durant has a running track record of constantly blasting the media that has gone out of their way to not blast him

And I don't hate KD. I think he is massively thin skinned though, and if he lived in Lebron or kobe's world he might have to be committed to an instititution to deal based on how he reacts to the little he gets

The whole Thunder organization has basically no relationship with the local media. That's just their culture. There's no one in OKC who has any credible sources inside the organization. Royce Young is easily the most well liked reporter in the organization and he never even gets half a scoop as a reward. Nothing to do with KD.

Next on he didn't even whine about the mr unreliable headline. That's just your fabrications. Here's an actual quote from him about the headline

"I'm unreliable? Me, Mr. Unreliable?" Durant said Thursday morning. "As a competitor there's going to be good and bad days. They're going to build you up, they're going to break you down. You just have to stay even keeled, and that's what I am. It's all about what have you done for me lately, and I understand that."

And the dumb blowup at ASW was last year and then he apologised for it. Then he went back and blasted the media again for criticizing Kobe later that year. Like I said, a couple months. That's really all there is to it as far as him lashing out against the media. Unless you wanna count him blasting Skip for ripping his teammate.

Really, this is it. Surely there's been a couple of stupid clashes but for some reason you're either blowing them way out of proportion or just straight up making stuff up and pinning it on him. I don't know you and you have all the right to hate whoever you want but your reasoning for this is just flimsy.

You're throwing the hate word around again and I will once again state if you couldn't read it the first few times that I don't hate KD. My criticism is merely that he is thin skinned, I don't find that debatable. Secondly you need to learn how to read a calendar if you think his blowup at 2015 all star weekend and his blowup about Kobe this year were just a "couple months" apart. Thirdly I've heard him interviewed about the mr unreliable headline and he has said more on that than just your provided quote. Fourthly I'm not sitting here keeping a running tab about every time KD has said something with regards to the media, I'm merely providing a few examples I remember. I'm positive there is more. I think you're taking after thin skinned KD and being a bit thin skinned yourself about a criticism that is more than fair and pretty indisputable. Which is that he has a lot to say for a guy who has had it pretty easy

And for the 11th time I don't hate him

Fine, replace "hate" with "dislike" if that word really pains you that much. My point was more on you saying he's made career off blasting the media. I don't give a **** if you dislike KD for whatever reason since he has plenty of faults (like you said complaining about the media which he has absolutely no right to for example) but pretending like he's been doing that his whole career when he's done that for at most a year is just straight exaggeration.

That blow up was stupid, but the overall feeling back then was also how surprising it was since he never had any run ins with the media (rightfully so since they never harm him anyway). It wasn't a continuation of a pattern of any kind. Like I said before and let me just phrase it very carefully this time. You have the right to dislike anyone for whatever reason you have but just know that right now you're either exaggareting stuff or misremembering stuff (look up the vid, that's really all there was to that whole mr unreliable reaction) and it's just not a good look. I'm sure you can find plenty of valid reasons to dislike KD and call him a wannabe but the reasons you're giving right now are just very flimsy.

Also, really no reason to call me thin skinned. I just thought you posted some incorrect things and decided to call you on it. Nothing more, nothing less. If your whole reason for calling him thin skinned was that blow up last year, I wouldn't have said anything bc you'd be 100% right. It's just that whole "made a career off it" that reeks of revising his whole career up to that point to me.

[Birdie]

If KD goes to Dubs, he's def. not the KLove of the Dubs. If anything, I could see something sort of;

Curry: 29-32mpg 22-25PPG
KD: 32-34mpg 23-27PPG
Klay: 30-33mpg 16-19PPG
Draymond: 32-35mpg 11-15PPG

If anything, the scoring load would balance out across the board. And another thing, they'd most likely shatter every 3pt record 2x over and most likely be ranked 30th in points in the paint as you'd have an all-time great jump shooting lineup.

But let's not forget, it's 2 ankles (Steph) and foot (KD) tapped together from being completely obliterated and turned into cap albatross.

The KLove of the dubs comment wasn't necessarily speaking about production. Put it this way. Would the Cavs win without Love? Yes. Can the Warriors win without Durant? Absolutely. Neither team can win without any of the other 4 out of their big 3s. Klay is needed just as much as Steph. Same with Irivng and LeBron. Durant is just there...same with Love. He won't be under any pressure to be the man. Because he's going to be in the shadow of Curry and to a lesser extent Klay because both have won before.

Klay would never overshadow Durant just because he's won a championship. That's asinine. The gap between those two as players is enormous. It's not like they're the same caliber of player. Curry on the other hand would. He's currently looked at as being the 2nd best player in the league, he's won a championship, and he's a 2x MVP.

Yea, I second this. Klay has had 2 straight dud of a Finals performance. Let's not forget, KD, pre-injury was nipping on LBJ's heels as best in the game if not maybe surpassing him for a hot minute his MVP year but Klay is in no way in KD's atmosphere skillwise/brandwise.

Using your analogy, Klay would most def. become the KLove of that 4some and depending on the focal point of Dubs' offense, Steph/KD are def. 1a/1b. The thing is though, this all looks REAL good on paper but the proof will ultimately be what happens on the court. As we've seen in the past when other great players join one another, there is definitely an adjustment period and I wouldn't doubt, this would be a huge one for Steve Kerr and co. to integrate.

I don't think you want KD acting like HB to go plant himself in a corner and just be a illegal screen setter on pindowns for Steph/Klay as they run around the court getting open for 3's. Kerr's offense isn't really ISO heavy whereas Scotty Brooks and Billy D, allowed Russ/KD to improvise a lot more with your turn, my turn offense. I don't forsee it as a longterm problem but it's def. something to consider if he does decide to switch.

[NyCeEvO]

I find it funny how people complain about Durant joining a super team when LeBron did exactly the same thing. In LeBrons case, it was even worse! The way he handled the situation, announcing his intention on national t.v. before he even informed his own team that he was leaving.

I think Durant is handling this process very well. He's obviously intrigued by the Warriors. It makes so much sense for him to join the best team in the NBA. This opportunity doesn't come very often for star players, given that most of the time the best teams don't have any cap space to add another star.

A very unique situation indeed. Kudos for Durant for the way he's handling this whole process. Will root for him no matter what the decision is.

Agreed.

When LBJ went to MIA, the thought was that he himself being the best player left to join a top 5 player and (arguably) the best PF in the league at the time. The "not 5....not 6...not 7" talk was offensive to so many people because it was seen as supreme arrogance, not because it was false.

There was immediate talk of the 72 win Bulls' record possibly going down and how they'd be a sure dynasty.

Some people were saying that Wade would always be seen as the better player because he won one on his own already and had a higher playoff peak than LBJ could ever have on the Heat.

I think a lot of people are forgetting how much of the narrative has changed since then.

[JulesWinnfield]

The whole Thunder organization has basically no relationship with the local media. That's just their culture. There's no one in OKC who has any credible sources inside the organization. Royce Young is easily the most well liked reporter in the organization and he never even gets half a scoop as a reward. Nothing to do with KD.

Next on he didn't even whine about the mr unreliable headline. That's just your fabrications. Here's an actual quote from him about the headline


And the dumb blowup at ASW was last year and then he apologised for it. Then he went back and blasted the media again for criticizing Kobe later that year. Like I said, a couple months. That's really all there is to it as far as him lashing out against the media. Unless you wanna count him blasting Skip for ripping his teammate.

Really, this is it. Surely there's been a couple of stupid clashes but for some reason you're either blowing them way out of proportion or just straight up making stuff up and pinning it on him. I don't know you and you have all the right to hate whoever you want but your reasoning for this is just flimsy.

You're throwing the hate word around again and I will once again state if you couldn't read it the first few times that I don't hate KD. My criticism is merely that he is thin skinned, I don't find that debatable. Secondly you need to learn how to read a calendar if you think his blowup at 2015 all star weekend and his blowup about Kobe this year were just a "couple months" apart. Thirdly I've heard him interviewed about the mr unreliable headline and he has said more on that than just your provided quote. Fourthly I'm not sitting here keeping a running tab about every time KD has said something with regards to the media, I'm merely providing a few examples I remember. I'm positive there is more. I think you're taking after thin skinned KD and being a bit thin skinned yourself about a criticism that is more than fair and pretty indisputable. Which is that he has a lot to say for a guy who has had it pretty easy

And for the 11th time I don't hate him

Fine, replace "hate" with "dislike" if that word really pains you that much. My point was more on you saying he's made career off blasting the media. I don't give a **** if you dislike KD for whatever reason since he has plenty of faults (like you said complaining about the media which he has absolutely no right to for example) but pretending like he's been doing that his whole career when he's done that for at most a year is just straight exaggeration.

That blow up was stupid, but the overall feeling back then was also how surprising it was since he never had any run ins with the media (rightfully so since they never harm him anyway). It wasn't a continuation of a pattern of any kind. Like I said before and let me just phrase it very carefully this time. You have the right to dislike anyone for whatever reason you have but just know that right now you're either exaggareting stuff or misremembering stuff (look up the vid, that's really all there was to that whole mr unreliable reaction) and it's just not a good look. I'm sure you can find plenty of valid reasons to dislike KD and call him a wannabe but the reasons you're giving right now are just very flimsy.

Also, really no reason to call me thin skinned. I just thought you posted some incorrect things and decided to call you on it. Nothing more, nothing less. If your whole reason for calling him thin skinned was that blow up last year, I wouldn't have said anything bc you'd be 100% right. It's just that whole "made a career off it" that reeks of revising his whole career up to that point to me.

Truthfully I don't even dislike KD... He seems like a good dude. Gave a million after the hurricane situation. Never heard a teammate or coach say a bad word about him. His MVP acceptance speech was touching...

I'd concede "made a career off of it" (blasting the press) was strong. The same way throwing the word "hate" around was strong. That's a deal.

I just personally have found him to be a little chirpy and thin skinned on a few occasions relative to the lack of heat he has taken for someone of his level of excellence. Heck, I don't even blame him for being ringless to this point. A lot of what the media does to guys who hit a certain age and remain bare fingered is just wholly unfair. It's still a team sport, OKC has had injuries play roles etc... Logic doesn't seem to stop them though with regards to others. I just think Durant has had it relatively easy by comparison, and these outbursts are puzzling judged against that backdrop. That's all about to change if he goes to the Warriors now though.

For your sake as a thunder fan, and for the sake of everyone who isn't a warrior fan, I hope he stays

[nbafan341]

Is it possible for Boston to Sign wade to a 4 year 80 million contract if they miss on durant? I think wade is really nderrated, hes 34 years of age and had numerous knee issues but was healthy last season and played really well during the playoffs. I think geting him would be a steal and boston could still compete with thomas-wade-crowder-horford. Boston would need to make a trade for a center and get a defensive big like Noel and I tink they could be set without durant who's likely to stya in OKC

[INKtastic]

It's like everyone totally forgets that Durant has been MVP too

[mademan]

I find it funny how people complain about Durant joining a super team when LeBron did exactly the same thing. In LeBrons case, it was even worse! The way he handled the situation, announcing his intention on national t.v. before he even informed his own team that he was leaving.

I think Durant is handling this process very well. He's obviously intrigued by the Warriors. It makes so much sense for him to join the best team in the NBA. This opportunity doesn't come very often for star players, given that most of the time the best teams don't have any cap space to add another star.

A very unique situation indeed. Kudos for Durant for the way he's handling this whole process. Will root for him no matter what the decision is.

Agreed.

When LBJ went to MIA, the thought was that he himself being the best player left to join a top 5 player and (arguably) the best PF in the league at the time. The "not 5....not 6...not 7" talk was offensive to so many people because it was seen as supreme arrogance, not because it was false.

There was immediate talk of the 72 win Bulls' record possibly going down and how they'd be a sure dynasty.

Some people were saying that Wade would always be seen as the better player because he won one on his own already and had a higher playoff peak than LBJ could ever have on the Heat.

I think a lot of people are forgetting how much of the narrative has changed since then.

Post-hoc. But we at least had reason to believe they might not fit together well (and they ended up not being optimal fits). What we have here, though, is a top 3 player joining a 73 win team. No reason they shouldnt be a dynasty

[therealbig3]

It's like everyone totally forgets that Durant has been MVP too

Yeah, but Curry is still better. Durant never had a year like Curry's.

[Mikey1690]

I find it funny how people complain about Durant joining a super team when LeBron did exactly the same thing. In LeBrons case, it was even worse! The way he handled the situation, announcing his intention on national t.v. before he even informed his own team that he was leaving.

I think Durant is handling this process very well. He's obviously intrigued by the Warriors. It makes so much sense for him to join the best team in the NBA. This opportunity doesn't come very often for star players, given that most of the time the best teams don't have any cap space to add another star.

A very unique situation indeed. Kudos for Durant for the way he's handling this whole process. Will root for him no matter what the decision is.

Agreed.

When LBJ went to MIA, the thought was that he himself being the best player left to join a top 5 player and (arguably) the best PF in the league at the time. The "not 5....not 6...not 7" talk was offensive to so many people because it was seen as supreme arrogance, not because it was false.

There was immediate talk of the 72 win Bulls' record possibly going down and how they'd be a sure dynasty.

Some people were saying that Wade would always be seen as the better player because he won one on his own already and had a higher playoff peak than LBJ could ever have on the Heat.

I think a lot of people are forgetting how much of the narrative has changed since then.

Well LeBron's won 3 championships along with 3 FMVPs since then with one being for a city that hasn't won a national sports championship in 52 years. If LeBron had never won a championship then that narrative very well could have continued.

And Durant's criticism won't come from how he's handled this. It'll come from the fact that he's joining a team that just won 73 games last year and already has a 2x MVP along with 2 other All-Star players. Not to mention the championship they won 2 years ago. I don't care what he does, but this will affect Durant's legacy big time. If he wins championships and is the FMVP in some of those then perhaps the narrative will change like LeBron's did. If he doesn't win then his legacy is seriously tainted.

And this isn't how I feel. This is just how the public and media will likely see it IF he goes to GS.

[Wolves21]

If Durant signs with the Warriors that doesn't make them unbeatable.They still have the same issues they did last year and the reason why the lost the finales i.e. a low post scoring option and defensive presents.I still think it would have been a better fit and wiser to go after Dwight who would have addressed both issues.I am not saying if a top five player wants to join your team to say NO or not to listen but thats still going to be this teams weakness with Curry,Thompson,Green and now Durant all prefering to take jumpers and threes.Now can you beat them in a seven game series its going to be extremely tough and Curry,Durant and Thompson are going to have to all have bad shooting games/series but its possible.

[tyguy]

It's like everyone totally forgets that Durant has been MVP too

And not just been mvp like ten years ago. As in the last mvp won by someone other than his would be teammate.

[Litany]

Ugh. I'm out. This thread is rife with fans from their own team trying to convince people why KD needs to join their team and why if he doesn't his legacy is ruined...give me a break.

Have fun y'all. Will be fun to watch regardless.

[baller16]

West also told Durant that playing alongside the Warriors' star trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green would make it much easier on him. West opined that in Oklahoma City, most of Durant's shot attempts are difficult and contested.

He told Durant, a career 27.4 point scorer, that his points would come much easier in Golden State, suggesting it would take fewer shots to score the same amount of points he always has.

Finally, West pointed out to Durant how he believes his overall game is overlooked in Oklahoma City. While Durant is known as one of the greatest scorers of all-time, he does not receive much credit for his rebounding - he led the Thunder with 8.2 boards per game last season - and defense.

West said if Durant goes to a team with other great scorers and wins championships, the other parts of his game will receive recognition and he'll be known as a great all-around player rather than just a great scorer.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16741725/golden-state-warriors-executive-nba-great-jerry-west-calls-pitches-kevin-durant-joining-team

[INKtastic]

It's like everyone totally forgets that Durant has been MVP too

Yeah, but Curry is still better. Durant never had a year like Curry's.

MVP Durant: 32.0/7.4/5.5
MVP Curry: 30.1/5.4/6.7

[GooniesNeverDie]

I find it funny how people complain about Durant joining a super team when LeBron did exactly the same thing. In LeBrons case, it was even worse! The way he handled the situation, announcing his intention on national t.v. before he even informed his own team that he was leaving.

I think Durant is handling this process very well. He's obviously intrigued by the Warriors. It makes so much sense for him to join the best team in the NBA. This opportunity doesn't come very often for star players, given that most of the time the best teams don't have any cap space to add another star.

A very unique situation indeed. Kudos for Durant for the way he's handling this whole process. Will root for him no matter what the decision is.

Agreed.

When LBJ went to MIA, the thought was that he himself being the best player left to join a top 5 player and (arguably) the best PF in the league at the time. The "not 5....not 6...not 7" talk was offensive to so many people because it was seen as supreme arrogance, not because it was false.

There was immediate talk of the 72 win Bulls' record possibly going down and how they'd be a sure dynasty.

Some people were saying that Wade would always be seen as the better player because he won one on his own already and had a higher playoff peak than LBJ could ever have on the Heat.

I think a lot of people are forgetting how much of the narrative has changed since then.

lebron didn't join an established team that won 73 games, a championship the season prior, one win away from repeating, a back to back MVP, and a DPOY caliber player (who I also think is the best PF in the game)

yeh the situations are comparable but durants its worse

[therealbig3]

It's like everyone totally forgets that Durant has been MVP too

Yeah, but Curry is still better. Durant never had a year like Curry's.

MVP Durant: 32.0/7.4/5.5
MVP Curry: 30.1/5.4/6.7

Except Curry's numbers beyond the basic pts/rbs/ast stat line are better across the board.

[Cammo101]

If Durant goes to GS, he will never get full credit for any titles they win. People already discount LeBron's titles in Miami, and he was the main guy on that team and they hadn't won before him. It would be way worse for Durant, joining Steph on a team winning without him. If his goal is to go down as one of the all time greats, GS is the wrong move IMO.

And for the record, I have no horse in this race.