This would actually be the most realistic and best outcome we could hope for because it actually give us another year to get our roster into respectable shape (which it isn't right now) and show people we should be taken seriously (which we're not right now). Then we can make a quality pitch to KD next offseason; with actual real pieces in place and a track record of success under Pringles (or not).
There's lots of potential negative things to say about basically every suitor OKC - Multiple years, multiple coaches, hasn't worked. Combo with Russ may be forever impossible to win a ring with. In Oklahoma GSW - coattailing at its finest NYK - Team sucks, pairing with Melo doesn't automatically seem to make sense, coaching questionable, ownership/culture questionable SAS - coattailing. Kwahi is a true SF. he can guard SGs, but he's really not a SG. KD is a true SF. He can play PF, but he's really a SF, and if he plays PF, LMA moves to center, which isn't his true position. HOU - outside of Harden, roster in flux. coaching unknown LAL - way too young. no real chance at championship anytime soon Wizards - Rejoin Scotty, who didn't seem to have the handle on the team? Is Wall/Beal enough? Does he want to play at home? Indications seem to be no Boston - Even with Durant, roster still needs work. Very young. As an outsider, the best choices to me look like Boston, San Antonio and OKC. Boston could certainly be #2 in the East with no other roster changes but adding KD. I love Brad Stevens. Boston is a great sports town. San Antonio would be coattailing, but there is obviously a transition of players going on there, and not sure LMA/Kwahi can lead them to a championship, so its not coattailing like joining the GSW would. You know Pop can make it work, and lots of flexibility with those three guys. It's near Austin, which he likes. OKC on a 1+1 for obvious reasons. I'm surprised there is no rumor of the Clippers. They don't have room now, but if they move JJ and Paul Pierce for nothing, which is really possible - JJ is an expiring, but a really really solid player at $7.3 million not overpaid at all, and Pierce is only making $3.5 million and is a solid bench veteran - they save $10.8 million and I think that gets them pretty close. KD might have to leave a bit on the table, but not much. It gets him to LAC. It gets him to a "cursed" franchise where he can be the #1 guy, but have guys 1b and 1c super close to him - any of him, CP3, Blake can take over a game, be the guy down the stretch. It gets him a coach that I think is overrated but has at least won rings, made lots of deep playoff runs. The Rockets are WAY WAY behind right now, and that's just fact. As I mentioned before, for it to work for the Rockets, that relationship with Harden basically has to be his #1 guy bar none... AND, right now, today, they have to be pretty close to confirming who the third guy will be, and be happy with that. So they need to be talking to Conley, or Whiteside, or Horford, and all be ready to go. Reading the tea leaves, sounds like he's going to take a bit of time and be chased... which doesn't speak super highly of the hope that machinations are already in place behind the scenes with James. Which is fine... let the Rockets know sooner rather than later, though, so they can go after Conley and Whiteside.
Good post overall, but i just cannot agree with the bold. As today there's no way Boston is ahead of us, no way. That roster with KD is not good enough, not even close. If they can make a move and than sign another top guy next to Durant ok, but as today really, no.
I still don't see how people can come to that conclusion knowing that Durant is a poor fit in OKC next to Westbrook so he's unlikely to win anything there, SAS and GSW would be coattail riding which would harm his reputation, and the Wizards, Lakers, and Knicks can't offer anywhere near as good a team as the Rockets. Sure Boston is intriguing, but who do they have right now that is as good as Harden? I see Houston and Boston as the top two non coattail riding options.
Great post. Given that there are real positives and negatives for each team (and assumptions I'm making about KD based on his personality - values loyalty, seeks stability) it seems like at the end of the day the most preferable situation for him would be to stay with OKC with flexibility. I think the Rockets' only/real shot lies in there being some sort of Miami Bron/Wade/Bosh situation where Beard and KD have talked with someone else about teaming up and the situation just lined up with us having the flexibility to do that. I'd also like to think that KD would give Harden the courtesy of a real heads up if the Rockets are not actually in it. So, if the Rockets do end up taking the meeting they either have a real shot or ulterior motives.
Adam Silver will step to Durant and tell him he isn't allowed to go to GS for "Basketball Reasons" just like the Chris Paul to the Lakers trade... No way the league wants to take that much of a step backward in their perceived competition level.
Boston was tied for third best record in the East. No brainer #2 seed favorite if they just add KD. Which granted, isn't good enough. Goal is still to win a ring, not lose to Lebron in another conference. But, they still have those other assets. And they have the cap space to sign another great free agent. So, in theory, they can sign Durant and Conley/Whiteside/Horford or anyone else, have the same team they had last year (minus Amir Johnson and Jebreko both of whom they let walk), and have the 3rd pick this year, the right to swap with the Nets next year, and the Nets pick outright the following year.... which at that point I'd assume they'd package all three of those up together to get the best player they can via trade. That's a pretty compelling package. not that it would happen, but since there have been rumors, let's just say they sign Durant and Horford, and trade their assets for Jimmy Butler. So they have IT, Butler, Durant, Horford, Sullinger, Zeller, Bradley, Smart, Olynyk... and do they have the right to go over the cap to sign Crowder at that point - I think so, but not sure. That lineup, with Brad Stevens, absolutely can compete for a championship. It's not a no brainer, but absolutely. Brad Stevens holds lots of weight for me. And Boston is a great sports town. Well, a 1+1 in OKC both gives him the most money, and one more chance, and considering how super close they've been twice, it might be worth it. And I don't think he takes quite the coattail riding hit joining the Spurs, as he would joining the GSW. Nobody hates the Spurs, even when they're winning. The non-Spurs fans are just respectfully disgruntled at that point, about how well run the Spurs are. KD goes to the Spurs, and the general consensus, imo, is the rich get richer, but it makes sense, how can you blame him? Yep, agreed on both counts. I'm not super ecstatic to see a week long courting of KD that the Rockets participate in. I mean, if there's a 50%+ chance, go for it. But otherwise, I'd love to see them know its unlikely and go strong after both Conley and Whiteside. Harden/Conley/Whiteside seems like a trio that could both (1) thrive in an MDA system, with lots of ball movement, (2) helping to reduce the turnover problem, (3) and understanding defense as well.
Well I certainly see the money angle, but not the basketball angle for staying in OKC. It's unlikely that they can really improve the team and the current team isn't good enough, plus there's just really poor chemistry between the 2 superstars. Their games take away from each other they don't compliment one another. I mean maybe he gives them one more shot, but that was the talk heading into THIS season, is that he was giving them one more shot.....and they blew a series up 3 games to 1 because they couldn't get production from anyone not named Durant or Westbrook when it mattered.
how do we know he does not want to be riding coattails? if hes considering warriors and spurs, sounds like he is willing to go along the ride.
The most improvement they need is mental. While certainly not easy to change, also certainly possible, and in many cases easier than simply adding skills. But beyond that, I absolutely expect Adams and Roberson to get better. And at some point I expect to see Kanter to get more than 21 mpg, even if his defense is subpar. And if all that isn't clicking great, the Ibaka/Adams/Kanter combo allows them to trade one if necessary for improvement. Waiters is the one guy who confuses the crap out of me, and could be detrimental. Also, of all the teams in this year's playoffs, they're the one team that truly beat themselves. The Cavs made adjustments that the Warriors simply didn't adjust to. The Thunder made adjustments when up 3-1 that made no sense and hurt them. Billy D. got sucked into going big less for whatever reason, and Westbrook reverted to crazy, inefficient Westbrook form. It is mental, and coaching, and its ass likely they continue to struggle there, as they did basically all year except for that 2 week stretch... but talent wise, their roster is loaded.
Yeah, third/fourth in the east which is...ok, nothing great, and they still lost against the same Hawks which lost really bad against the Cavs. Personally i don't think they are a lock for the 2nd seed if they only add Durant, maybe yes, maybe no, i don't think they'll necessarilly be better than Toronto, Miami...we're talking about what as today? Amir Johnson Sully Durant Bradley Thomas ? Meh...but i see we can agree with this and that's why i said there's no way we're behind them as today, Harden + Durant is automatically and by far better than what they can offer. But in the end yeah, IF they can trade for (let's say Butler) an all star and than sign Horford they'll be good to good, but that's not as easy as to sign with Houston which already have Harden...and frankly, as good as Butler is, he's not a top 5 player in the league like Harden. Another plus for us is that James and Durant already know how to play together...anyway, my idea is that if he wants to leave OKC, only three teams are in play, Spurs, Rockets and Celtics (if they can make a move early).
http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/nba-top-3-teams-kevin-durant-could-play-for-in-2016.html/?a=viewall Lists Rockets at 3
We don't. If he wants to hop on and ride another team's coattails as a Chris Bosh type, then he'll for sure go to the Warriors or Spurs. If he wants to have more self respect than that, the conversation becomes interesting. I just don't see a lot of room or Adams or Kanter to improve. Adams is a tenacious defender, but I don't see him adding anything on offense, he just doesn't have the tools for that. He's a scrappy junkyard dog type, which isn't bad, but it is what it is. As to Kanter, by some metrics he's literally the worst defensive center in the game. Maybe he could improve to just really bad, but he's another guy that IMO just doesn't have the tools to be more than he is. If you could combine Adams and Kanter into one palyer, the Thunder win the championship last year due to finally having a 3rd good player. As to Ibaka, he needs to put in the work and get that 3 point shot falling again. He's much better when he is hitting well enough to stretch defenses and he just wasn't last season. Also, when it comes to Ibaka, I wonder if his listed age is really his actual age. He's listed as being 26, but I think he might be considerably older as can happen with African players.
Unless it is a sign and trade (can't GSW outright sign Durant or a max player?), Silver can't do jack **** about it. You can't veto a FA signing.
