I'm seeing reports today that the GSW are definitely in the mix for Durant especially after their epic collapse in the Finals. Durant's presence would solidify them in the West for the next 5 years.
I've also seen reports the Warriors will go after Dirk. If Durant does decide to team up with the Warriors. -- Bogut & Barnes are out.
Everyone can speculate on KD's motives, what he wants, for his career. But we don't know. BUT, what we do know is what KD has said "Playing with and the people he is going to be around every single day." So clearly relationships are a key component in his decision.
Ok, I'll put it simpler terms. If you sit down and think about it, you'll see why more than 3+ teams are a better destination in terms of winning and contract $. Think about it in terms of stocks, would you go with the proven winning companies or the company that had a bad showing and just fired its CEO/other top executives and hired someone that wasn't compatible or helped the deficiencies present (D'antoni). If you are prepared to put money into that stock...you're in the minority...and Durant, his agent, his family, most of the people around him wouldn't touch it with a 10 ft pole. If you're following the "But James and him were eskimo bros once!" reasoning, you'll see why that line of thought is irrational.
I think your problem is that your thinking is too simple for a complex issue. If his motivation is money alone, he'll stay in OKC for one more year. If his motivation is winning at any cost, he'll go to the Spurs or Warriors. If his motivation is winning while being "the guy".....well the Rockets have one of the best offers there because they can provide Harden plus an extra max FA which makes the Rockets better than the Thunder can hope to be and better than most others where he's "the guy". You can't look at complex issues with simple minded thinking.
The Rockets will probably get a meeting with Durant. If you can get a meeting with KD you take it. That alone is reason to keep this thread here.
You're seeing multiple social media "journalists"* doing copy pasta of 1 report by Frank Isola, the NY beat writer who said Dwight Howard was going to Brooklyn.
THANK you. "I've seen numerous reports" = everyone's repeating what one writer made up, and if GSW is in it, it gets clicks.
I know it wasn't directed at me, but there's no need for belittling comments. I think you still continue to undervalue the OKC bigs, while overvaluing the "third star" the Rockets could get. Conley, Whiteside, Horford are players I'd like to have, but to the extent any of those guys are better than the OKC bigs, it's not by much. And I'm not talking about stats. I'm talking about fit and impact next to a KD/Harden team vs. a KD/Russ team. Plus that assumes one of those guys coming - as I've noted though, you are correct in that if he were to come you have to have one of those guys wrapped up too. Regarding OKC vs. HOU, I think it isn't about the 3rd guy or rest of the team, it's all about Westbrook vs. Harden. Who he likes better, and most importantly how he feels about Westbrook. He can say all he wants in post-game news conferences, stick up for him, etc. Cause Westbrook is legit good. But ultimately he will have to step back and look at that relationship and question whether or not it is symbiotic in a way that elevates both their games the way it should. Because the only argument that works for HOU is that it's very similar to OKC, nothing's a given with HOU if you join, but you love James, you remember how well you played together as a combo, and you're secretly frustrated by Westbrook... oh, and you don't really want to ride coattails.
So just to recap, Durant has the tightest, most real, trap lock inner circle which is him, his Dad, 1 very close undisclosed friend, and God. Durant has schooled fools in the past like Stephen A Smith for pretending they have a source and know what's being discussed in KD's inner circle. And just in the past 11 days, all of a sudden Mark Stein has a source, and now Frank Isola has a source. Everybahdy has a source! You get a source! You get a source! ....You get a source! We all get sources!
Naw, Dirk is going to retire as a Maverick. He's totally committed to Dallas and is clearly on the decline and wouldn't move the needle all that much for GS. I agree on Barnes - he really lowered his stock with his play in the Finals. But some team will overpay for him. Bogut just works too well for them especially in terms of salary. KD is set to conduct "meetings" in LA once the July 1st date hits. From what I've read, his sole focus will be on the basketball and to me that gives GS a leg up on everyone.
Well DUH! You are correct my friend. I didn't notice that source - it just popped up on my HTC newsfeed. I found the story link on MSN: http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/kevin-durant-signing-with-warriors-not-knicks-makes-sense-now/ar-AAhm0bm?ocid=spartandhp
Simple minded thinking? You're the one diving into his emotions---personal motivations---something you could never prove or know anything about...and you're calling on me for being irrational :grin:. You're either projecting or have a poor grasp on what I just stated. I would love Durant here. I would love Curry, Lebron et al as well. Doesn't mean I can't be objective about it and take my homer goggles off. If your only point of contention is "Durant's feelings" I think you know just as well as I do that you lost the argument before it ever began.
I also think you factor in Westbrook's future plans. I don't know why but I just assume that Westbrook bolts when he has the chance. Completely uneducated opinion but I see him wanting the profile of a bigger market. How much would one of the 3 biggest stars in the NBA want to have his career path be contingent on another player, only to have that player leave? If he does a 1+1 and they both leave after next season, wouldn't KD want his decision to appear independent of Westbrook's? If he's delaying leaving for another year, is it worth the uncertainty of what opportunities look like next year vs knowing what you're looking at now (for example: Harden + KD + one more max)?
I don't think there's any perception issue of a 1+1. They do that, still fail to win a ring, no one blames either for leaving. And with another big jump in the cap, should be lots of team with cap space next year, too. It's why most put the 1+1 in OKC as the most likely option.
I guess it's less about optics/perception and more about "i know russ is leaving anyway. Why should I wait instead of just getting a move on with my plans" But you're right - his mindset is more than likely "let's take another swing at this for OKC and I'll make more money in the process"
I think the rockets have a better shot than most think. were set to have 45 mil in cap space with harden/Ariza/Bev/beasley/capela/KJ/Harrell/Dekker All on the roster still. The max KD can make coming to houtson is 25m, that leaves the team with 20m to sign either one big name guy or go after 2 key role players. Maybe dmo and someone else maybe others who knows. But a core of JH/KD/bev/Ariza/capela/beasley/Kj/Harrell/dekker/20m That's an enticing offer I pitch to any FA in my mind. We're acting like JH is choo liver. This guy is a 26 yr old mvp caliber player who's been to the playoffs every year since okc traded him here has went as far in the playoffs as okc has since they traded him and also lost to the same team since they traded him. Objectively, we have to be one of the more desired destinations in my mind. Sure the Warriors would be a great fit same with okc and the Spurs, but so is houtson we got to be in the top 4 even if we're the 4th.
