Mike FF Today 607 Posted July 4, 2016 Discuss. (Happy 4th of July!) Adam Schefter on Twitter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted July 4, 2016 That's one quick way to get over a crushing finals loss. Project Dynasty, engage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Blue 06 195 Posted July 4, 2016 I dislike this move the same way I disliked Lebron going to Miami. You've built something where you are and you came so close. Stay and finish it instead of leaving for a better squad. I know that's the way the NBA works today but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,300 Posted July 4, 2016 Great, another super team. NBA should just fold up 1/3 of the league Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted July 4, 2016 I dislike this move the same way I disliked Lebron going to Miami. You've built something where you are and you came so close. Stay and finish it instead of leaving for a better squad. I know that's the way the NBA works today but it doesn't mean I have to like it. All great dynasties had multiple HOF players, this isn't any different. I'm all for the players choosing where they want to play. He gave OKC 9 years, he doesn't owe them or anybody else anything. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Blue 06 195 Posted July 4, 2016 All great dynasties had multiple HOF players, this isn't any different. I'm all for the players choosing where they want to play. He gave OKC 9 years, he doesn't owe them or anybody else anything. I won't say he owes them. If he played that long there and they were a league average team and he wanted to leave, I'm good with it. However, he came so damned close last year. I'd have liked to see him stick around to finish it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willis McGahee's Dentist 61 Posted July 4, 2016 Always nice to have a new player and team to hate. Makes it exciting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hardcore troubadour 12,588 Posted July 4, 2016 I thought Tawmeeee was recruiting him for the celtics? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cyclone24 1,796 Posted July 4, 2016 Never playing anyone in nba2k 17 that uses golden state... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KSB2424 3,082 Posted July 4, 2016 At least LeBron went to a borderline playoff team to build his championship. Durant goes to a two time Finals team with the league MVP and Coach of the Year. This is way worse. I fully expect to see burning jerseys and all the people that jumped down Lebron to do the same here. If they have an ounce of integrity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,300 Posted July 4, 2016 At least LeBron went to a borderline playoff team to build his championship. Durant goes to a two time Finals team with the league MVP and Coach of the Year. This is way worse. I fully expect to see burning jerseys and all the people that jumped down Lebron to do the same here. If they have an ounce of integrity. You won't see that because Lebron is the one that made this sort of thing inevitable. But yes, KD is a bit of a coward IMO. And credit to Lebron for going back to Cleveland and bringing them a championship with a "real" team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CantTouchThis 23 Posted July 4, 2016 Before the Ibaka trade, I thought he was leaving. After that trade where they fleeced the Magic, I thought FOR SURE he was staying. So this is pretty shocking. He's taking a lot of flack on the inter-webs right now. I think he realized after blowing a 3-1 lead to the Warriors that him and Westy could just never quite get there. They could figure out who would control the ball in the clutch, and the lack of 4th quarter execution cost them a ring. I mean, put yourself in his position. It's not just that the Warriors gave him the best shot at a ring, it's also really, really fits his style of play. They have a great coach and a great front office, to go along with great teammates with very little individual ego. I think what really sunk Russ-KD was Russ has a huge ego, IMO, bigger than KDs and that showed on the court over and over again. Golden State really just made the most sense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drizzay 644 Posted July 4, 2016 Dumb move on his part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KSB2424 3,082 Posted July 4, 2016 On paper this looks amazing for GS....but.....(devils advocate) This means, Harrison Barnes signs with Dallas and Bogut has to get traded to make cap space. And they might have to let Festus Ezizil go too. Net positive gain for GS (for sure), but they will lose 3 cogs in their team. Also there is but ONE basketball. Chemistry may be an issue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KSB2424 3,082 Posted July 4, 2016 Dumb move on his part. Agreed, I think the smart play was to go to Boston. Al Horford signed there, you have Isiah Thomas and a great coach. But it would have been HIS TEAM. Epic East Conference showdowns with the Cavs. And if Durant won it there it would have been epic. Durant on GS will not be HIS team. Historically speaking for him, it doesn't hold much weight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CantTouchThis 23 Posted July 4, 2016 At least LeBron went to a borderline playoff team to build his championship. Durant goes to a two time Finals team with the league MVP and Coach of the Year. This is way worse. I fully expect to see burning jerseys and all the people that jumped down Lebron to do the same here. If they have an ounce of integrity. I'm not sure if it's a fair comparison just given how much different the free agency is this summer. Bron basically forced that team together. All KD did was go to a better franchise. It's not like he brought in Curry, Dray and Klay. The Warriors had plenty of money to spend, and they got the best available FA that actually was a big need for them with Barnes leaving. Plus they needed another player who can handle the ball in the clutch. Durant and Curry have been my favorite players in the league for years, personally I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. I really liked seeing them battle it out against each other. However, I don't think anyone can fault KD for just putting himself into a better situation by doing what any other FA would do. I mean, what, is Horford a 'coward' or whatever for joining the Celtics? I don't think it's fair to KD to say he's taking the easy way out just because he's better than everyone, when every other FA has done or at least tries to do the same thing he just did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CantTouchThis 23 Posted July 4, 2016 Agreed, I think the smart play was to go to Boston. Al Horford signed there, you have Isiah Thomas and a great coach. But it would have been HIS TEAM. Epic East Conference showdowns with the Cavs. And if Durant won it there it would have been epic. Durant on GS will not be HIS team. Historically speaking for him, it doesn't hold much weight. I REALLY wanted to see him on the Celtics just for that Bron vs. KD rivalry. I honestly thought Boston made the most sense from a legacy prospective. Despite all I just said, I think his legacy won't hold as much weight now no matter what. I don't think that matters much to KD, I honestly think he really doesn't have too big of an ego. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted July 4, 2016 It's amazing how small the top talent pool is in the NBA. Pretty much the top 5 players in the league determine who wins every year. It's a sport that allows for the best player to actually win the most championships year in and out, unlike football, baseball, and hockey which have a ton of luck involved. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted July 4, 2016 Anybody calling this a dumb move on KD's part is a blithering idiot. You may not like the move, or think it is weak but, it's anything but dumb. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KSB2424 3,082 Posted July 4, 2016 Anybody calling this a dumb move on KD's part is a blithering idiot. You may not like the move, or think it is weak but, it's anything but dumb. Any player going to a team that made the Finals two years in a row isn't "dumb". Karl Malone and Gary Payton both did it their last years in the league on the Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. Tracy McGrady has a ring, with the Spurs. All smart plays, some work out some don't. My point is from a "legacy" perspective this move, even if KD wins a title, does more damage than helps. Even on Miami, Lebron was still the Alpha Dog, it was his team. KD on the Warriors remains to be seen. It will be interesting how it plays out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KSB2424 3,082 Posted July 4, 2016 On paper this looks amazing for GS....but.....(devils advocate) This means, Harrison Barnes signs with Dallas and Bogut has to get traded to make cap space. And they might have to let Festus Ezizil go too. Net positive gain for GS (for sure), but they will lose 3 cogs in their team. Also there is but ONE basketball. Chemistry may be an issue. Now hearing they might also have to dump Shaun Livingston too to make room. Barnes - Bogut - Festus - Livingston all may be out to make room. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BufordT 371 Posted July 4, 2016 He hates Russell Westbrook. End of story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KSB2424 3,082 Posted July 4, 2016 PG: Curry SG: Klay SF: Iggy PF: Durant C: Draymond That is nasty. But their bench has been depleted and will have to consist of rookies, veteran minimum guys and NBDL regects. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted July 4, 2016 Now hearing they might also have to dump Shaun Livingston too to make room. Barnes - Bogut - Festus - Livingston all may be out to make room. Worth it, Ezeli was unusable, Barnes is getting a huge deal in Dallas, matching that deal would have been a bad long term deal for GS. Bogut can't stay on the floor healthwise, I don't think Livingstone isn't going anywhere tho. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CantTouchThis 23 Posted July 4, 2016 Also, Russell Westbrook is the HEAVY favorite to win MVP next year. Dude is going to go berzerk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CantTouchThis 23 Posted July 4, 2016 PG: Curry SG: Klay SF: Iggy PF: Durant C: Draymond That is nasty. But their bench has been depleted and will have to consist of rookies, veteran minimum guys and NBDL regects. I really don't think it matters. They'll have a 30 point lead most games before the bench comes in. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
posty 2,296 Posted July 4, 2016 Not enough basketballs to go around... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,877 Posted July 4, 2016 He should have ripped his team's heart out live on ESPN. Missed opportunity. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CantTouchThis 23 Posted July 4, 2016 Not enough basketballs to go around... Usually. Not with the Warriors though. It's a the perfect system to handle this. It really is ridiculous how good they could be. Warriors were the favorites to win the title yesterday at 7-4. Today they are now 4-5 to win a title. Somehow the Cavs are still 3-1. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted July 4, 2016 He should have ripped his team's heart out live on ESPN. Missed opportunity. This. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willis McGahee's Dentist 61 Posted July 4, 2016 Anybody calling this a dumb move on KD's part is a blithering idiot. You may not like the move, or think it is weak but, it's anything but dumb.it's totally stupid. Any rings he finally wins are going to come with skepticism since the Warriors would have been favorites to win even without him. And if they fail to make the finals, he's the biggest bust in league history. He made them worse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
posty 2,296 Posted July 4, 2016 Usually. Not with the Warriors though. It's a the perfect system to handle this. It really is ridiculous how good they could be. Warriors were the favorites to win the title yesterday at 7-4. Today they are now 4-5 to win a title. Somehow the Cavs are still 3-1. Maybe, but it will be interesting to see if the system still can handle it... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted July 4, 2016 it's totally stupid Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CantTouchThis 23 Posted July 4, 2016 it's totally stupid. Any rings he finally wins are going to come with skepticism since the Warriors would have been favorites to win even without him. And if they fail to make the finals, he's the biggest bust in league history. He made them worse. Right when I first heard this rumor months ago(or even last summer), my first thought was why mess with what the Warriors have? However, you CANNOT get someone on Durant's level, keep your entire all-time great core of players together, and say they are worse off. You just can't. Durant is way too good. Their system is all about versatility and no one, maybe in the history of the game, is more versatile than Kevin Durant. He is an absolute perfect fit for their system. If he wasn't, they wouldn't of signed him, because why would mess up a potential dynasty? Unless it's a player who really buys into what your doing and can play in the system you've created. The Warriors know what they're doing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hardcore troubadour 12,588 Posted July 4, 2016 Reminds me of when Clemens went to the Yankees. At least that was a trade and the Yankees gave up some good players Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willis McGahee's Dentist 61 Posted July 4, 2016 it's smart if he just wants an easy way to get a ring. It just won't be very impressive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CantTouchThis 23 Posted July 4, 2016 PG: Curry SG: Klay SF: Iggy PF: Durant C: Draymond That is nasty. But their bench has been depleted and will have to consist of rookies, veteran minimum guys and NBDL regects. They still need some depth up front. The thing is there is going to be no shortage of veteran players who will take a discount to go play there. If they, somehow, someway, get Pau Gasol......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willis McGahee's Dentist 61 Posted July 4, 2016 Right when I first heard this rumor months ago(or even last summer), my first thought was why mess with what the Warriors have? However, you CANNOT get someone on Durant's level, keep your entire all-time great core of players together, and say they are worse off. You just can't. Durant is way too good. Their system is all about versatility and no one, maybe in the history of the game, is more versatile than Kevin Durant. He is an absolute perfect fit for their system. If he wasn't, they wouldn't of signed him, because why would mess up a potential dynasty? Unless it's a player who really buys into what your doing and can play in the system you've created. The Warriors know what they're doing. I dont mean that it was a bad move by golden state. It was a bad move by Durant. If they sign Anthony Davis and Westbrook, it's smart too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,300 Posted July 4, 2016 He hates Russell Westbrook. End of story. Can't blame him for that, I'm sure Westbrook is tough to play with especially when you're vying for alpha-dog status. But he should've gone to the Celtics or somewhere else he could make it his team and his team alone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,300 Posted July 4, 2016 That's a pretty weak retort. Newbie has a point - this is a losing proposition for Durant. Warriors win = they would've won anyway Warriors lose = Durant focked up what they had Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
