Kevin Durant Free Agency Thread

[gino_giode]

I cannot imagine any way in which Kevin Durant ends up in Golden State after they basically humiliated him and the Thunder in the WCF. From that point Durant was likely rooting hard for the Cavs to beat the Warriors, and if reports are true, he was excited to see it happen.

So I don't think Durant, as a league MVP himself, is going to join a team that already has the reigning league MVP. It will look so bad - worse than LeBron looked joining Wade (who was never even an NBA MVP, let alone a 2x NBA MVP).

It was disturbing how quickly Iggy went into total shill mode and sent out a public invitation of sorts with "gosh, it would be so fun playing with a guy like that" when only 1 day before you were hacking him across the arms in the paint.

Reminded me of how Iggy snitched to the Warriors about Karl's coaching tactics and planted the seeds to be traded for the next year.

[bondom34]

Wait until GSW is paying Barnes 20 mil a year then get back to me.

Do you really that is going to happen or are you hoping it does?

I think its a definite possibility.

[dc]

All the Warriors need to do is decide if Barnes will actually hit his open shots next year or not. If barne's doesn't pull a 2012 James Harden then the Warrriors win easily. They don't need Durant really

Barnes was pretty bad/disappointing/mediocre for about 75% of the regular season. I've seen enough of the guy. If Durant somehow wants to go to the Warriors, there is no way they're going to say "No, we'd rather have Igoudala, Barnes and Ezeli" or any combo of those role players. Durant would fit great. And they came close to winning despite Ezeli playing like one of those NBA players on Space Jam who had their talent taken away. It wouldn't be hard to find a scrapheap bigman to outdo Ezeli's pitiful performance in these playoffs.

Regardless, I still think taking the 1+1 deal with OKC is his most logical option and it's probably about 85% chance that's how it goes down. I do think if he does leave that GS and SA are probably his best options. I certainly don't see him going to a team that is clearly inferior in talent to OKC just for a change of scenery or because he "needs to get away from Russ." That has always been nonsense.

[Guest202]

Lebron held up 3 fingers Sunday and at the parade — 2 from teaming up with his hall of fame buddies. Bosh, Wade, and Lebron made hundreds of millions of EXTRA dollars from that colluded move. Durant’s star power would never be higher on GS. And San Fran >>>>>>>> Oklahoma. Silicon Valley >>>>> natural gas. No brainer.

[BayArea408415]

Wait until GSW is paying Barnes 20 mil a year then get back to me.

Do you really that is going to happen or are you hoping it does?

I think its a definite possibility.

On what basis? Barnes showed that he could muster up 5/32 shooting on open shots when we needed him and that he is clearly not worth max money. Do you honestly think the Warriors would pay him more than Klay, Green and Steph after his recent performances?

Not to mention his regular season performances weren't that impressive either.

[Upperclass]

Id rather see Paul George there

[AIfan3]

Durant isn't going to GS keep dreaming Warriors fans. He's probably going to reup for 1 year and hit FA next year with Westbrook.

[bondom34]

Do you really that is going to happen or are you hoping it does?

I think its a definite possibility.

On what basis? Barnes showed that he could muster up 5/32 shooting on open shots when we needed him and that he is clearly not worth max money. Do you honestly think the Warriors would pay him more than Klay, Green and Steph after his recent performances?

Not to mention his regular season performances weren't that impressive either.

Not saying he's worth it. But if the option is him or not being able to find anyone with the cap space, you kind of have to.

[jbk1234]

Windhorst made a weird comment about Nike not being down with Durant joining the UnderArmor show in GS.

[dc]

Durant isn't going to GS keep dreaming Warriors fans. He's probably going to reup for 1 year and hit FA next year with Westbrook.

Yeah, he's probably going back to OKC on a 1+1 deal. I'd say that's like an 85% chance. Doesn't mean the Warriors shouldn't try to take a shot at it.

Durant IS taking a free agency tour, after all. He IS meeting with teams not named OKC and he's exploring his options. Out of the teams not named OKC, the Warriors and Spurs are probably his best options. That's more than worth a try if you're the Warriors.

[510TWSS]

I think its a definite possibility.

On what basis? Barnes showed that he could muster up 5/32 shooting on open shots when we needed him and that he is clearly not worth max money. Do you honestly think the Warriors would pay him more than Klay, Green and Steph after his recent performances?

Not to mention his regular season performances weren't that impressive either.

Not saying he's worth it. But if the option is him or not being able to find anyone with the cap space, you kind of have to.

To a degree. I would take Barnes back if he were willing to come at the right price. There are other SF options available for the Warriors to pursue if they so wish. We have the $ to sign a Marvin Williams, Batum or Dudley, PJ Tucker back up level and inserting Iggy back into the starting lineup.

If this is a game of leverage, the Warriors hold all the cards and will not be suckered into any Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy fool's gold paydays.

[bondom34]

On what basis? Barnes showed that he could muster up 5/32 shooting on open shots when we needed him and that he is clearly not worth max money. Do you honestly think the Warriors would pay him more than Klay, Green and Steph after his recent performances?

Not to mention his regular season performances weren't that impressive either.

Not saying he's worth it. But if the option is him or not being able to find anyone with the cap space, you kind of have to.

To a degree. I would take Barnes back if he were willing to come at the right price. There are other SF options available for the Warriors to pursue if they so wish. We have the $ to sign a Marvin Williams, Batum or Dudley, PJ Tucker back up level and inserting Iggy back into the starting lineup.

If this is a game of leverage, the Warriors hold all the cards and will not be suckered into any Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy fool's gold paydays.

Problem is Batum is getting a max from CHA, Tucker under contract in Phoenix, Dudley will be sought after by a bunch of teams and probably gets a good contract, and same for Marv. And I'm not sure all those guys can defend 3/4 as well as Barnes. Ultimately he's the only option GSW has total control of bringing in. There's a zero chance its Batum. Maybe Dudley/Williams. Tucker would be a trade.

[510TWSS]

Not saying he's worth it. But if the option is him or not being able to find anyone with the cap space, you kind of have to.

To a degree. I would take Barnes back if he were willing to come at the right price. There are other SF options available for the Warriors to pursue if they so wish. We have the $ to sign a Marvin Williams, Batum or Dudley, PJ Tucker back up level and inserting Iggy back into the starting lineup.

If this is a game of leverage, the Warriors hold all the cards and will not be suckered into any Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy fool's gold paydays.

Problem is Batum is getting a max from CHA, Tucker under contract in Phoenix, Dudley will be sought after by a bunch of teams and probably gets a good contract, and same for Marv. And I'm not sure all those guys can defend 3/4 as well as Barnes. Ultimately he's the only option GSW has total control of bringing in. There's a zero chance its Batum. Maybe Dudley/Williams. Tucker would be a trade.

Right. I hope CHA signs Batum. I'd prefer Williams anyway. He came in this fall in shape and was able to handle the SF/PF position defensively.

http://www.atthehive.com/2015/12/15/10022050/marvin-williams-has-found-his-way

If we miss out on him Iggy can still start, then we'd have to find a suitable back up wing. I'm sure we'll think of something.

[bondom34]

To a degree. I would take Barnes back if he were willing to come at the right price. There are other SF options available for the Warriors to pursue if they so wish. We have the $ to sign a Marvin Williams, Batum or Dudley, PJ Tucker back up level and inserting Iggy back into the starting lineup.

If this is a game of leverage, the Warriors hold all the cards and will not be suckered into any Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy fool's gold paydays.

Problem is Batum is getting a max from CHA, Tucker under contract in Phoenix, Dudley will be sought after by a bunch of teams and probably gets a good contract, and same for Marv. And I'm not sure all those guys can defend 3/4 as well as Barnes. Ultimately he's the only option GSW has total control of bringing in. There's a zero chance its Batum. Maybe Dudley/Williams. Tucker would be a trade.

Right. I hope CHA signs Batum. I'd prefer Williams anyway. He came in this fall in shape and was able to handle the SF/PF position defensively.

http://www.atthehive.com/2015/12/15/10022050/marvin-williams-has-found-his-way

If we miss out on him Iggy can still start, then we'd have to find a suitable back up wing. I'm sure we'll think of something.

I'm sure too. I'd just not want to downgrade and go after an older guy coming off a career year who may not fit as well. There's also no guarantee he ends up there either. Though Iggy could start, it would leave a hole in the bench. Could work though.

[improper]

Windhorst made a weird comment about Nike not being down with Durant joining the UnderArmor show in GS.

That actually makes a lot of sense. If Durant is there helping Curry win titles, Curry's shoes will likely reap the benefits a lot more than Durant's will, as Nike is all about LeBron's and Jordan's right now.

[jbk1234]

Windhorst made a weird comment about Nike not being down with Durant joining the UnderArmor show in GS.

That actually makes a lot of sense. If Durant is there helping Curry win titles, Curry's shoes will likely reap the benefits a lot more than Durant's will, as Nike is all about LeBron's and Jordan's right now.

UnderArmor made a hard push at Durant and forced Nike to pony up all kinds of insane money.

[improper]

Windhorst made a weird comment about Nike not being down with Durant joining the UnderArmor show in GS.

That actually makes a lot of sense. If Durant is there helping Curry win titles, Curry's shoes will likely reap the benefits a lot more than Durant's will, as Nike is all about LeBron's and Jordan's right now.

UnderArmor made a hard push at Durant and forced Nike to pony up all kinds of insane money.

I know, but Durant is going to be with Nike for a while now, so the issue for them likely isn't that he'll be swayed to join Under Armor. The issue is more likely that him assisting Curry in creating a Golden State dynasty does a lot more for Under Armor and Curry's shoe brand than it does for Nike and Durant.

[marthafokker]

Windhorst made a weird comment about Nike not being down with Durant joining the UnderArmor show in GS.

That actually makes a lot of sense. If Durant is there helping Curry win titles, Curry's shoes will likely reap the benefits a lot more than Durant's will, as Nike is all about LeBron's and Jordan's right now.

No one is going to buy the Curry nurse shoes. Nike is safe. Curry did that on purpose.

[Black Jack]

I cannot imagine any way in which Kevin Durant ends up in Golden State after they basically humiliated him and the Thunder in the WCF. From that point Durant was likely rooting hard for the Cavs to beat the Warriors, and if reports are true, he was excited to see it happen.

So I don't think Durant, as a league MVP himself, is going to join a team that already has the reigning league MVP. It will look so bad - worse than LeBron looked joining Wade (who was never even an NBA MVP, let alone a 2x NBA MVP).

It was disturbing how quickly Iggy went into total shill mode and sent out a public invitation of sorts with "gosh, it would be so fun playing with a guy like that" when only 1 day before you were hacking him across the arms in the paint.

Reminded me of how Iggy snitched to the Warriors about Karl's coaching tactics and planted the seeds to be traded for the next year.

Anyone sane would run away from George Karl as quickly as possible, the guy should have retired decade(s) ago. Total jerk since his GSW days.

Igoudala knew a good thing when he saw it.

[Soca]

I think its a definite possibility.

On what basis? Barnes showed that he could muster up 5/32 shooting on open shots when we needed him and that he is clearly not worth max money. Do you honestly think the Warriors would pay him more than Klay, Green and Steph after his recent performances?

Not to mention his regular season performances weren't that impressive either.

Not saying he's worth it. But if the option is him or not being able to find anyone with the cap space, you kind of have to.

I'm pretty sure they can find someone to replace a mediocre SF. They can even move Iggy back to starting SF and just find another bench piece.