Draymond Green tells the truth on how Warriors recruited Kevin Durant

[SUPERVILLAIN]

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[LAL1947]

Softest move and softest champs in all of NBA history (2016-17, 2017-18... not 2014-15, which was great).

I like how he's trying to spin it, saying, "shame on you if you don't want Durant on your team. I'm a winner, I like to win, so I want Durant on my team". Does he expect anyone except GSW fans to respect that?

Spin it any way you want to, Draymond, but you had Curry, Klay, Iguodala, Barnes... and still needed to go recruiting Durant to be a "winner". It's not like Durant came to you saying, "please kind sirs, let me join GSW".

[rtiff68]

“It’s not fair! Teams shouldn’t be able to stack the deck by acquiring multiple stars!”

Signed,

The OP, a Lakers fan.

lol.

[dakomish23]

I gotta watch that OKC series again. I know Klay did his usual game 6 Superman act, but I want to see why okc couldn’t execute. I forgot OKC was up 3-1 that series.

They win, Durant stays IMO regardless of finals outcome

Here’s the box score from Game 6. Klay hit 11 3’s

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201605280OKC.html

[michaelm]

Softest move in all of NBA history. Softest champions in all of NBA history too (the 2nd and 3rd titles, not the 1st one).

I like how he's trying to spin it, saying, "shame on you if you don't want Durant on your team. I'm a winner, I like to win, so I want Durant on my team". Does he expect anyone except GSW fans to respect that?

Spin it any way you want to, Draymond, but you're leaving out that you had Curry, Klay, Iguodala... and still needed to go recruiting Durant to be a "winner". It's not like Durant came to you saying he wanted to join GSW.

Sure, the Lakers and/or LeBron would never do anything like that.

[nfmos]

Softest move in all of NBA history. Softest champions in all of NBA history too (the 2nd and 3rd titles, not the 1st one).

I like how he's trying to spin it, saying, "shame on you if you don't want Durant on your team. I'm a winner, I like to win, so I want Durant on my team". Does he expect anyone except GSW fans to respect that?

Spin it any way you want to, Draymond, but you're leaving out that you had Curry, Klay, Iguodala... and still needed to go recruiting Durant to be a "winner". It's not like Durant came to you saying he wanted to join GSW.

So you guys are telling me if you were fans of a team with the exact same situation, and had a front office that had set the team up for the opportunity to be able to sign KD through planning over the last couple of years, with players that were friends with him, that you would have rooted against your team signing KD?

Whats the point of ever recruiting players that might make the team better in the off season then? Or are teams only supposed to recruit up to the point of making the team marginally better but not strongest team possible?

You guys are all hypocrites if you wanted KD on your team but are criticizing the Warriors for actually being able to have landed him.

And that narrative that the Warriors went crawling on their knees crying and begging is ridiculous, these guys were already friends and both had just experienced disappointing losses to their seasons, of course there was interest on both sides on making this happen and making their lives easier in the upcoming seasons.

I understand the salt, but dont act like you guys wouldnt welcome him with open arms on your team. I actually liked how the team played before he came, but it was always intriguing to see how good we would be if he joined, and it was nice to get a couple of extra titles.

[LAL1947]

Softest move in all of NBA history. Softest champions in all of NBA history too (the 2nd and 3rd titles, not the 1st one).

I like how he's trying to spin it, saying, "shame on you if you don't want Durant on your team. I'm a winner, I like to win, so I want Durant on my team". Does he expect anyone except GSW fans to respect that?

Spin it any way you want to, Draymond, but you're leaving out that you had Curry, Klay, Iguodala... and still needed to go recruiting Durant to be a "winner". It's not like Durant came to you saying he wanted to join GSW.

Sure, the Lakers and/or LeBron would never do anything like that.

Can you name another instance where a team who won a finals, just reached the finals again where they were up 3-1, had 4x All-Star caliber players... went and recruited the 2nd best player in the game at that time? There just isn't an equivalent.

So I won't comment on who would've done or not done what... and will just focus on the fact that GSW did exactly that. It was and is the #1 softest move in all of NBA history... own it.

[Cubbies2120]

Softest move in all of NBA history. Softest champions in all of NBA history too (the 2nd and 3rd titles, not the 1st one).

I like how he's trying to spin it, saying, "shame on you if you don't want Durant on your team. I'm a winner, I like to win, so I want Durant on my team". Does he expect anyone except GSW fans to respect that?

Spin it any way you want to, Draymond, but you're leaving out that you had Curry, Klay, Iguodala... and still needed to go recruiting Durant to be a "winner". It's not like Durant came to you saying he wanted to join GSW.

Agree, soft move. There's been other soft moves by superstars in the past though...aside from the obvious LeBron to Heat, one that's often overlooked is Kobe demanding a trade unless he got another star / roster improvement.

What's the difference between saying "I want to be traded unless you bring me another star" (Kobe) vs. leaving the team as a free agent and pairing up with a star yourself (LeBron) vs. Signing a star free agent in the offseason (Warriors)? In all 3 cases a superstar(s) wants to improve his team.

[Gorilla Monsoon]

Blame LeBron. He changed the culture of the entire league, and gave guys like Durant every excuse to want to control where they play and who they play with in order to create and preserve their own legacy.

I also don't blame KD for wanting to get far away from Westbrook to play a more team-oriented style of basketball. That in itself is respectable.

So... you leave OKC and become a free agent that year. Where the hell else are you going to sign? The dysfunctional Phil Jackson-led Knicks? Dude went and got himself two titles with GS. And he did it as humbly as possible, without hogging the spotlight from anyone, and without an entire TV show dedicated to his "decision". Don't tell me it's the softest move ever. 2010 will always be a much bigger black eye for the league IMO.

[SpreeS]

Who would pay Barnes 25mil when you have possibility to get KD for same amount of money. Who???

[NyKnicks1714]

Blame LeBron.

Yup, if he didn't come back from 3-1 and beat the Warriors they may not have felt the need to go after Durant.

[payton2kemp]

JJ Reddick just been killing lol. Lots of items discussed now originate from his podcast or him.

[Gorilla Monsoon]

Softest move in all of NBA history. Softest champions in all of NBA history too (the 2nd and 3rd titles, not the 1st one).

I like how he's trying to spin it, saying, "shame on you if you don't want Durant on your team. I'm a winner, I like to win, so I want Durant on my team". Does he expect anyone except GSW fans to respect that?

Spin it any way you want to, Draymond, but you're leaving out that you had Curry, Klay, Iguodala... and still needed to go recruiting Durant to be a "winner". It's not like Durant came to you saying he wanted to join GSW.

Agree, soft move. There's been other soft moves by superstars in the past though...aside from the obvious LeBron to Heat, one that's often overlooked is Kobe demanding a trade unless he got another star / roster improvement.

What's the difference between saying "I want to be traded unless you bring me another star" (Kobe) vs. leaving the team as a free agent and pairing up with a star yourself (LeBron) vs. Signing a star free agent in the offseason (Warriors)? In all 3 cases a superstar(s) wants to improve his team.

Huh? I don't see that as a soft move from Kobe at all. He didn't want to waste the rest of his prime on a mediocre team. But instead of leaving the team he played his entire career for, and leaving the city and fan base in the dust.... he did what he had to do to light a fire, and the pressure he put on the FO resulted in 2 more championship banners. That helps Kobe's legacy in my opinion. Kobe is the last guy you can ever call....

[Gorilla Monsoon]

Blame LeBron.

Yup, if he didn't come back from 3-1 and beat the Warriors they may not have felt the need to go after Durant.

Lol clever response. No one can never take that away from LeBron. That was an incredible performance by him and the Cavs no doubt. But 2010 is what it is. LeBron changed the way players do business. I don't think Durant has the balls to join GS if the Heatles don't happen first.

I also think, especially at the time, that there was somewhat of a personal rivalry between LBJ and KD who was always considered second best to LeBron. KD knew LeBron was going to keep recruiting guys or jumping to different teams in order to remain in the finals every year, and he reached a breaking point. Knowing Westbrook wasn't the running mate that could help him get there, and really with no other reasonable options on the table, he did what he had to do.

[Cubbies2120]

Softest move in all of NBA history. Softest champions in all of NBA history too (the 2nd and 3rd titles, not the 1st one).

I like how he's trying to spin it, saying, "shame on you if you don't want Durant on your team. I'm a winner, I like to win, so I want Durant on my team". Does he expect anyone except GSW fans to respect that?

Spin it any way you want to, Draymond, but you're leaving out that you had Curry, Klay, Iguodala... and still needed to go recruiting Durant to be a "winner". It's not like Durant came to you saying he wanted to join GSW.

Agree, soft move. There's been other soft moves by superstars in the past though...aside from the obvious LeBron to Heat, one that's often overlooked is Kobe demanding a trade unless he got another star / roster improvement.

What's the difference between saying "I want to be traded unless you bring me another star" (Kobe) vs. leaving the team as a free agent and pairing up with a star yourself (LeBron) vs. Signing a star free agent in the offseason (Warriors)? In all 3 cases a superstar(s) wants to improve his team.

Huh? I don't see that as a soft move from Kobe at all. He didn't want to waste the rest of his prime on a mediocre team. But instead of leaving the team he played his entire career for, and leaving the city and fan base in the dust.... he did what he had to do to light a fire, and the pressure he put on the FO resulted in 2 more championship banners. That helps Kobe's legacy in my opinion. Kobe is the last guy you can ever call....

So because Kobe got someone ELSE to improve his situation (front office) by demanding a trade (which almost happened by all accounts), it's better than LeBron taking initiative and improving his own situation?

Also, Kobe TRIED to leave his city and fan base in the dust lol, but because the Bulls wouldn't part with Deng he didn't waive his no trade clause. Kobe wasn't loyal to the city - he wanted out cause he wanted to win, just like LeBron. The difference was, his front office was able to surround him with talent, while LeBron's wasn't.

[LAL1947]

Softest move in all of NBA history. Softest champions in all of NBA history too (the 2nd and 3rd titles, not the 1st one).

I like how he's trying to spin it, saying, "shame on you if you don't want Durant on your team. I'm a winner, I like to win, so I want Durant on my team". Does he expect anyone except GSW fans to respect that?

Spin it any way you want to, Draymond, but you're leaving out that you had Curry, Klay, Iguodala... and still needed to go recruiting Durant to be a "winner". It's not like Durant came to you saying he wanted to join GSW.

Agree, soft move. There's been other soft moves by superstars in the past though...aside from the obvious LeBron to Heat, one that's often overlooked is Kobe demanding a trade unless he got another star / roster improvement.

What's the difference between saying "I want to be traded unless you bring me another star" (Kobe) vs. leaving the team as a free agent and pairing up with a star yourself (LeBron) vs. Signing a star free agent in the offseason (Warriors)? In all 3 cases a superstar(s) wants to improve his team.

There's different levels to everything.

On a scale of 1-100 (with 1 being least amount of softness and 100 being the highest):

1-10: Kobe threatening the Lakers FO after they surrounded him with utter crap and wasted 3 years of his prime (5 years, if you include the 2 seasons where Shaq was being petty and lazy), in an attempt to get them to do something right? Btw, Pau was no star when they brought him from Memphis, a good player but not a star. Let's also not forget that the Lakers gave Marc Gasol to get Pau Gasol.

80-90: Lebron teaming up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami to beat Boston's big-three.

50-75: Lebron joining Kyrie and Kevin Love in Cleveland after depleting the Heat's assets.

100: GSW recruiting Kevin Durant despite having Curry, Klay, Draymond, Iguodala, and Harrison Barnes as an RFA... and for Durant to sign there too. Even softer than Charmin.

25-50: Lebron joining a lottery Lakers team... then trading Ingram, Lonzo, Hart, 3x 1st round pics, 2x 1st round swaps for Anthony Davis and building a roster from the FA scrap heap. Anyone really want Rondo, McGee, Dwight, Avery Bradley at that time?

[Clay Davis]

I'd be pissed if I was a GSW fan and learned my team passed up a chance to take KD because a bunch of fans on other teams would get salty about it.

[Cubbies2120]

Softest move in all of NBA history. Softest champions in all of NBA history too (the 2nd and 3rd titles, not the 1st one).

I like how he's trying to spin it, saying, "shame on you if you don't want Durant on your team. I'm a winner, I like to win, so I want Durant on my team". Does he expect anyone except GSW fans to respect that?

Spin it any way you want to, Draymond, but you're leaving out that you had Curry, Klay, Iguodala... and still needed to go recruiting Durant to be a "winner". It's not like Durant came to you saying he wanted to join GSW.

Agree, soft move. There's been other soft moves by superstars in the past though...aside from the obvious LeBron to Heat, one that's often overlooked is Kobe demanding a trade unless he got another star / roster improvement.

What's the difference between saying "I want to be traded unless you bring me another star" (Kobe) vs. leaving the team as a free agent and pairing up with a star yourself (LeBron) vs. Signing a star free agent in the offseason (Warriors)? In all 3 cases a superstar(s) wants to improve his team.

There's different levels to everything.

On a scale of 1-100 (with 1 being least amount of softness and 100 being the highest):

1-10: Kobe threatening the Lakers FO after they surrounded him with utter crap and wasted 3 years of his prime (5 years, if you include the 2 seasons where Shaq was being petty and lazy), in an attempt to get them to do something right? Btw, Pau was no star when they brought him from Memphis, a good player but not a star. Let's also not forget that the Lakers gave Marc Gasol to get Pau Gasol.

80-90: Lebron teaming up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami to beat Boston's big-three.

50-75: Lebron joining Kyrie and Kevin Love in Cleveland after depleting the Heat's assets.

100: GSW recruiting Kevin Durant despite having Curry, Klay, Draymond, Iguodala, and Harrison Barnes as an RFA... and Durant signing there too. Even softer than Charmin.

25-50: Lebron joining a lottery Lakers team... then trading Ingram, Lonzo, Hart, 3x 1st round pics, 2x 1st round swaps for Anthony Davis and building a team from the FA scrap heap.

21/10 on 54% shooting isn't a star (Pau before Lakers)? We're done here.

1-10 for wanting to ditch your team, demanding a trade publicly from the team and city that supported you after an extremely public trial...cmon man, I know he's your guy, but be objective.

Kobe was under contract and tried to strong arm the team into improving - and was very close to being traded (AFTER "depleting their assets" like you say LeBron did...he got Shaq traded). Shaq may have been lazy, but he played well in the playoffs as usual (22/13 on league leading 59.3% from field, 2.8 bpg - Kobe lost them the '04 title).

Let's stop the revisionist history fam.

[Cubbies2120]

I'd be pissed if I was a GSW fan and learned my team passed up a chance to take KD because a bunch of fans on other teams would get salty about it.

The same fans who were ecstatic about pairing AD with LeBron and trying to get Kawhi before he said "Nah, I'm good"

Hilarious!

[Pennebaker]

Watch on YouTube

God bless JJ Redick. His interviews are great. He's kind of like the Joe Rogan of the NBA but in a good way (is there a good way?)

Draymond and KD planned that move way ahead of time.

I believe the Warriors might planning something similar as we speak.