Stephen A: LAL still on Durants list because LA led to believe Westbrook coming in 2017

[dockingsched]

Stephen A was just on with Ireland and Mason and said that Durant still has the Lakers as a possible destination because the Lakers have been led to believe Westbrook intends to sign with LA in 2017. Smith says they love playing with each other.


Discuss.

[Kilroy]

Bull ****...

[Slava]

If that's true, best thing Durant can do is just sign a 1 + 1 year player option deal with OKC to become eligible for mega max in 2017 and decide where he wants to go with Westbrook at the same time.

[Kilroy]

Just find it really hard to believe a player/agent would give assurances that far in advance. Or that a team, any team, would make plans based on them.
Or for that matter, that Durant would make a decision today, based on what's supposed to happen in a year.

And if that was true, why draft Russell instead of Okafor if you knew Westbrook was on the way?

SAS is a broken clock. He's only right from time to time, because it's statistically impossible for him to be wrong all the time.

They should adapt TS% to reporters.

[Levity]

sounds like speculation disguised as fact

[PKABOOICU]

if they're gonna play together then why not just stay in OKC?

[ArC_man]

It would be one of the dumbest FO moves in the history of the organization if we punted 50M in cap space this summer for the pipe dream of signing both KD and Westbrook in 2017.

[Kilroy]

It would be one of the dumbest FO moves in the history of the organization if we punted 50M in cap space this summer for the pipe dream of signing both KD and Westbrook in 2017.

I think what's being suggested is we sign Durant to the Max this summer and then Westbrook next summer... Better plan, would be to try to trade for Westbrook this year with Russell+3rd+Hibbert and the kitchen sink... And then sign Durant this summer.

But it's all crap anyway... Pretty sure Dock thinks the same so this is just an opportunity to goof on anyone who actually believes SAS.

So that being the case, this thread doesn't have a long life expectancy unless you guys can come up with some interesting meat to give it legs.

[milesfides]

I don't think anybody is implying these plans are factual. We know that things can turn on a trifle. But are we on Durant's list? Sure. Would we be on Westbrook's list, if he were to test free agency? Sure. But it's a bit farfetched that Durant has made his decision contingent on the Lakers' belief about anything. All he has to do is ask Russell Westbrook.

The only thing we can control is to provide a potentially better situation than what either has in OKC. If Durant walks, that makes it a lot easier for Westbrook to leave, because they won't be very good. I think the Harden trade was a bad message to Durant and Westbrook, that the org wasn't willing to do whatever necessary to help them win. That must have felt like a let down. And OKC has never been the same after the Harden trade.

But to attract either, but first Durant, that means getting a better coach and a better roster.

Coach:
I know they like each other personally, but they haven't established a great synergy together. They need a proven veteran NBA coach (sorry, Donovan). Thibodeau or Jeff Van Gundy would put together a better defense, no question. Offensively, they need a coach (or offensive coach) that can incorporate more ball movement and get Westbrook to trust his teammates more. Regardless, Scott needs to be fired, because he's failed on both ends (defense and offense), he'd be repulsive for any top FA's.

Frontcourt
Ibaka hasn't been the defensive force he was, Kanter doesn't play any defense, and neither do most of the roster..so it's clear where many of the Thunder's biggest problems lie. On this team, Nance and Bass are solid at the 4. So we'd have to get a proven rim protector in FA. Obviously Noah will be available, and possibly at a good price due to his shoulder. Some risk there, but we have to get a rim protector. Maybe even holding onto Hibbert. Would Noah, Bass, and Nance be more attractive than Kanter, Ibaka, Adams/Collison?

3 and D
Anthony Brown has shown some solid signs of being a legit 3 and D wing, so he needs to be developed for the rest of the year. But we need to get a veteran 3 and D guy. Nick Young and Lou Williams just can't do it. A trade would be ideal, and I'd target Tyreke Evans who is rumored to be available. He's just under Kantavious Caldwell-Pope in defensive RPM, can hit threes and pass and score. He's way more than a 3 and D, but that's an asset. He's much better than Dion Waiters or Morrow. In fact, regardless of what happens, I think we should get Tyreke Evans, who has an affordable contract, youth, and all-around skills to be a dynamic guard. I like him a lot more than Derozan. I'd make either Clarkson or Randle available.

X-Factor
Simmons. Drafting Ben Simmons will be the single biggest draw. He's a rookie, but game knows game. In many ways, he's the perfect teammate for Durant and Westbrook, because he's an elite playmaker and passer. So he'll get the ball moving and facilitate the offense. I think a lot of players would love to play with him, the same way people love playing with Pau, Odom, Lebron, any talented player who loves to pass.

I'd hold on to D'Angelo Russell. I think he'd be a draw himself. He's shown he can play in this league (chosen for USA team) and he can shoot and pass, that's already proven as a rookie. He might be a good backcourt mate for Westbrook. Or, he might get us another great piece. But I'd try all the other options before moving him, unless he's the guy who lands us Westbrook in a trade.

There are several other minor moves, but I think getting a new head coach and drafting Simmons would be the biggest first step to landing Durant, then possibly landing Westbrook.

[milesfides]

It would be one of the dumbest FO moves in the history of the organization if we punted 50M in cap space this summer for the pipe dream of signing both KD and Westbrook in 2017.

It would be even dumber if we burned it on mediocre players

[Jody Smokz]

It's stupid to think that KD is even waking up to ball this season with the idea that he wants to play for the Lakers in 2016 b/c of WB. Don't they have a ring they are chasing RIGHT NOW? Free agency with stars is so annoying b/c fans think that the guys actually having to live the life think like fans.

KD and WB are focused on beating the next opponent and eventually how to beat SAS or GSW not when can I sign in LA or wherever.

[Sofa King]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Ex4306smk[/youtube]

[gts1]

Just find it really hard to believe a player/agent would give assurances that far in advance. Or that a team, any team, would make plans based on them.
Or for that matter, that Durant would make a decision today, based on what's supposed to happen in a year.

And if that was true, why draft Russell instead of Okafor if you knew Westbrook was on the way?

SAS is a broken clock. He's only right from time to time, because it's statistically impossible for him to be wrong all the time.

They should adapt TS% to reporters.

Well it would also be against the CBA for a player agent to make those types of comments because that would imply they've been in discussions with the Lakers


and yeah.. I believe the last time Smith told us Durants' destination Durant called him a liar at which point Smith went crazy threatening Durant in an over the top passive aggressive rant...lol

[PKABOOICU]

50 million of space is a lot...the lakers can easily get 2 legit players

[The Prodigy]

Stopped reading at Stephen A.

[iamworthy]

Just in case someone wants to listen to the audio Doc is talking about SAS was on the Thompson and Trudell show at the end of hr2.

[Spens1]

yeah not likely but in theory, if we sack Byron Scott, we could easily give Durant a list of coaching candidates and ask him who he wants (from lets say Thibs, Blatt etc) and see who he wants

we could also get Whiteside and i think if we sign Durant, we get Whiteside easily. Though then to get Westy would be more difficult since we probably wouldn't have the cap and would have to deal Clarkson or Russell to create room

[iamworthy]

He also dropped a little nugget about he never reports everything he knows because its all about timing. He said he knows whats going on with the lakers but will drop it when the time is right....I think thats what he said..lol

[Jody Smokz]

I dont know what's more annoying at this point. Stephen A throwin **** against the wall hoping for it to stick or guys actually taking anything he says serious or that he's some kind of insider.

[LApwnd]

Why does SAS have a job doing what he does? I could do his job for free