KD, your team is trying to trade away one of your foundational pieces, now quick, resign with us (Thunder) for the long haul! /s
Yup. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If OKC let established Ibaka go for young piece or draft pick, wouldn't be great sign for KD sweepstakes IMO <a href="https://t.co/n7vNCSJAsc">https://t.co/n7vNCSJAsc</a></p>— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) <a href="https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/746063722632908800">June 23, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
But J.R. be real, either way confident or not, with knowledge of Durant's intentions or not, "I am Gonna Try" is the right answer. Its a neutral smart response and if he knows something that we dont either way, good or bad, he is not showing it. Maybe we do have a shot, but things can quickly change in this game, look at the knicks for example. Two days ago nobody would have said NY was a candidate to land Durant, now today they seem to be one of the favorites. Maybe Harden has been told something "positive" but things can change. Who knows Maybe two weeks ago we seemed like an interesting choice for Durant, but back then the Knicks didnt, now maybe they seem interesting too and complicates things, tomorrow some other team may make some moves that puts them in the race for Durant as well....... I am Gonna try seems like a proper and intelligent response to me at this time. I am convinced about one thing though, if we really had no shot whatsoever Harden would know first hand, he is a good friend of Durant's a "simple dude I love you but i have no interest in going there" would have been enough in fact if they are such good friends is the right thing to do, and Durant seems like a good guy. Then Harden would have told Morey and Les not to bother and just focus on the other free agents while the other teams are trying to get Durant. If we are "gonna try" is because we have a shot, and this comes directly from Durant to Harden.
It's a shame that a team so close to a championship is so damn cheap. KD definitely would not stay there
I think it's one part cheap, one part hubris ("We can just draft a replacement!"), and one part paying Kanter money to be a role player.
Has Stein definitively reported that Durant is not considering the Mavs as a FA destination? Just checking to see if I missed that article.
Cheap?You don't even knwo what they want for him? They have a huge hole at sg. If they can get a great sg then it will be worth it for them. How is that just being cheap? Adams already is better fit than Ibaka.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewDBailey">@AndrewDBailey</a> could OKC be thinking small ball with Durant at 4 so shop Ibaka for better SG or SF?</p>— Brandon Osborne (@bosborne13) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosborne13/status/746066231820697604">June 23, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now this I would be cool with. KD full time at the 4 is the way to go... <a href="https://t.co/UVJPpkeix1">https://t.co/UVJPpkeix1</a></p>— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewDBailey/status/746068669537497089">June 23, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> This tweet is gaining appeal and it's high-larious to me. Essentially that would be like Presti admitting he royally dicked it up by choosing Ibaka over Harden.
Jesus H., you guys make too much out of nothing. "I'm gonna try," says Harden. "Well, it was a long shot anyway." If we have a chance at all (I know ya'll think we don't), wouldn't he be instructed not to tip his hand?
I'm just waiting for Stein to come out and say the Mavs are the favorites for Durant, you know it's coming.
hey at least the Watkins article is a bit nicer sounding than just "going to try for Durant". It sounds like with Harden taking time off from team USA he's going to be more involved with recruiting which is good regardless. And if he's working out more that's great too, I'm sure the media bull**** of All Team helped the drive hopefully... But Ibaka news is stupid, OKC is just dumb, I mean (unless they know something), but if Ibaka is gone, so is Durant. Also I don't think players of Durant's status have to rush off to NYC/LA for endorsement deals like they used to thanks to the Internet (unlike what the media states) . I mean look at LeBron, he's in Cleveland, and he's about to get paid. Durant will get his money in OKC/here/or anywhere so hopefully if harden is trying and Morey makes some quick moves might have a slight chance (better than 1% ). If that Ibaka news isn't true though, I'd think he'd most likely do the 1+1 with OKC though... Unless secretly he loves D'Antoni (lol, Team USA Woooooooooooo). I wouldn't bet on that though.
I wish we had trade assets to make that happen. I think they do this because they think Durant is leaving, why else would they trade Ibaka unless they think he's an issue. I don't think that he is though, but im not in an NBA office. So if losing Durant they will need a 3. Any interest in Ariza? He would be the starting point of any trade proposal from the Rockets. Ariza+what else? Dmo? Tjones? Do they want either of those? Rights to Llull/Gentile... If you could trade for Ibaka and get Dwight back on a friendly contract man I'd do that in a heartbeat. I have always wanted to see a paint packed with Ibaka and Dwight. It might be too late for that to be as effective as I thought it was a few years back. Twin Tower LIFE. Bev/Harden/X/Ibaka/Howard A top 10 article at NBA.com put Ibaka at #4 on best Pick and Pop players of the 15-16 season: Spoiler #4 Serge Ibaka While his numbers dropped a bit this season after a superb year in 2014-15 (largely because of Kevin Durant’s return), Ibaka remains one of the most effective pick-and-pop and pick-and-roll scorers in the league. In fact, he ranked eighth in the league in pick-and-roll (roll man) scoring and he shot nearly 49 percent from 10-20 feet out. Ibaka’s blend of athleticism and shooting range makes him one of toughest power forwards to guard. If Howard doesn't come back (most likely scenario) then I want to go hard in the paint for Hassan Whiteside. Whiteside and Ibaka together would probably put up a show similar to what I had imagined. Plus their ages are all great. Max Whiteside and throw money at Batum. Harden, Batum, Ibaka and Whiteside are 26-27. Lets line them up against the top 4 teams of this year, assume they make no moves, and just kind of visualize matchups: (I spoiled my proposed lineup) Curry/Thompson/Iggy/Green/Bogut Spoiler Beverley/Harden/Batum/Ibaka/Whiteside. Parker/Green/Leonard/Aldridge/Duncan Spoiler Beverley/Harden/Batum/Ibaka/Whiteside. Kyrie/Smith/James/Love/Thompson Spoiler Beverley/Harden/Batum/Ibaka/Whiteside. Paul/Redick/Green/Griffin/Jordan Spoiler Beverley/Harden/Batum/Ibaka/Whiteside. I left out OKC since we are expecting them to change and not know what they're going to do. We have both the offense and defense to contend with these teams. Obviously I haven't gone in depth for my 6th man and bench proposals.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Report: Oklahoma City Thunder testing trade market for Serge Ibaka <a href="https://t.co/YHTnQ4CvZf">https://t.co/YHTnQ4CvZf</a></p>— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketballtalk/status/746084807336071168">June 23, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> OKC is rrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeallly showing their hand here. I really don't think KD is signing with OKC now. I think our chances just got much better.
I hope so but this may also mean that they're just looking what they can get back to eventually change, it's not like if they trade Ibaka they get automatically worse, and personally i think Ibaka is a bit overrated at this point...
