Durant to GSW

[trailblazer18]

It took some foresight to set things up such that they could absorb Durant. They didn't extend Barnes last year because they wanted to keep the cap space open. They signed guys that would expire this year, like Speights and Barbosa and Livingston (though they'll likely keep Livingston if they can find a buyer for Bogut). Even Bogut is an expiring contract next year, so he shouldn't be super hard to move. Obviously, it took some luck too--they got Curry on a bargain deal due to signing him when his health-related value was lowest, but that also proved to be a smart gamble.

I don't think "deciding to sign Durant if he's willing" counts as brilliant, but they set this up intelligently and obviously made a great sales pitch to a guy who said he was "90% sure" he was returning to Oklahoma City.

They offered Barnes. He turned it down waiting for the big money this year. Even if he would have signed for less money it would have been easy to trade him on a good contract, so either way they could have still signed Durant.

 

[Minstrel]

Here was the meeting:

GSW: "We have Curry, Thompson, and Green.... Sorry about Adams, again."

Durant: "Okay. Talk to you on Monday."

I wouldn't surprised if it was actually Jerry West's call on Saturday that made a bigger difference. In addition to the gigantic cred West has a former great player and one of the greatest executives, he told Durant how it feels to have a legacy of always coming up short (West lost 7 Finals to the Celtics dynasty of the '60s) and how the losses still eat at him. People can talk about how being part of a "superteam" cheapens wins, but it really doesn't. Russell is seen as the great winner of that era, West is often ignored when it comes to lists of the ten greatest players (whereas, if he had won all those titles the Celtics won, he'd probably be a fixture in the top five).

It probably had an impact.

 

[craigehlo]

That Ibaka trade looks great to rebuild now at least for OKC.

 

[Natebishop3]

The only reason this was possible is because Steph is on a stupid silly contract. If he was getting paid what he SHOULD be getting paid, they couldn't afford Durant.

 

[Ripcity4life77]

You gotta think there are some old Sonic fans who are just laughing at the Thunder for losing there best player specially at Clay who they hate for moving the Sonics from Seattle.

 

[Natebishop3]

That Ibaka trade looks great to rebuild now at least for OKC.

Almost like the Batum trade, no?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Durant hasn't won shit yet.

 

[EGame]

There has to be something done so that a small market team losing a franchise type player is compensated in someway. To just keep having players leave over and over does nothing to make the league better. Can't imagine how boring this season will be with it's feel of fait accompli.

The NFL has it so nice in that when you franhcise someone, but may not end up with your team next season, you get additional draft pick compensation for him. I get the NFL has a lot more rounds than the NBA, but this is something that should happen. How do small market teams that aren't immediate championship contenders succeed in the league? Answer: They don't. My interest with this move in the NBA is as low as it gets. May not even care to watch the league because we know it will be Warriors vs Cavs again and again and again. Love the Blazers, but they are made to flounder like most small market teams.

 

[santeesioux]

So Westbrook is totally gone next year, right? That team is going to be a cellar dweller for a few years. Be interesting to so how many of their fans stick around.

 

[Natebishop3]

At least we get to watch OKC whither and die.

Those fans won't support a shit team. Next season Westbrook will leave. They need to trade Westbrook. They could potentially lose two top 5 talents and get nothing in return. As much as LMA stung, can you imagine if Dame had left the following summer?

 

[e_blazer]

Translation, "Durant and others like him are wusses. More wood on the fire."

 

[Minstrel]

They offered Barnes. He turned it down waiting for the big money this year. Even if he would have signed for less money it would have been easy to trade him on a good contract, so either way they could have still signed Durant.

They offered Barnes a trade-able contract. He turned it down because he wanted the max, which he would have signed. That was his demand to the Warriors, and the Warriors chose not to do that. Barnes even at last year's max might not have been trade-able...supposedly, the Thunder could have acquired Al Horford if they could have dumped Kanter's max deal (and replacing Kanter with Horford would have propelled the Thunder to the top of the NBA heap and surely meant Durant stayed). But they couldn't find a buyer. That's the risk--not all "cheaper maxes" are trade-able.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[e_blazer]

When does the plan change?

When all of the other teams suck? Yeah, I can't figure this one out either.

 

[Ripcity4life77]

Via Stein
Marc Stein

✔ @ESPNSteinLine
Sources say Dallas, furthermore, has emerged as a strong potential trade destination for Andrew Bogut, who the Warriors must now move.

Cuban i have always been a fan of as a personality but if he does this then F him and the Mavs

 

[crowTrobot]

Now I'm not salty we chose Oden. KD fucked OKC worse.

Not taking Durant started a chain of events by which we ended up with Lillard, who wants to be a Blazer for life

 

[Hobbesarable]

Via Stein
Marc Stein

✔ @ESPNSteinLine
Sources say Dallas, furthermore, has emerged as a strong potential trade destination for Andrew Bogut, who the Warriors must now move.

Cuban i have always been a fan of as a personality but if he does this then F him and the Mavs

I wonder what kind of compensation they would be giving him for taking on Bogut's expiring contract.

Maybe draft picks are involved as part of the deal.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Not taking Durant started a chain of events by which we ended up with Lillard, who wants to be a Blazer for life

Hey..this will start a chain of events where OKC will get Dangelo Russell.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Via Stein
Marc Stein

✔ @ESPNSteinLine
Sources say Dallas, furthermore, has emerged as a strong potential trade destination for Andrew Bogut, who the Warriors must now move.

Cuban i have always been a fan of as a personality but if he does this then F him and the Mavs

Cuban thinks he is competing for a championship! lol

 

[Mediocre Man]

I wonder what kind of compensation they would be giving him for taking on Bogut's expiring contract.

Maybe draft picks are involved as part of the deal.

2nd rounder

 

[PDXFonz]

Adam Silver is a complete failure.

I won't be able to watch the Oracle Mega Circle Jerk next year, i just can't do it. Do any of you realize how obnoxious the GS Moving Screens and their fans are going to be? we're talking Steph,Klay and Durat dancing with each other while taking endless amount of threes.

No more NBA for me, this is too much. I rather follow the Champions League instead.

Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you.

 

[Minstrel]

Via Stein
Marc Stein

✔ @ESPNSteinLine
Sources say Dallas, furthermore, has emerged as a strong potential trade destination for Andrew Bogut, who the Warriors must now move.

Cuban i have always been a fan of as a personality but if he does this then F him and the Mavs

Why would Cuban care? His team is not a title contender right now. Getting a decent center for "free" (I can't imagine the Warriors want anything for Bogut except salary relief) is a move that a lot of teams who want to put competitive teams on the floor next year will find attractive.

 

[Ripcity4life77]

Also Barnes has now become an unrestricted FA -- Pull Turner Offer and go after Barnes -- i am not a fan of Barnes but do it to screw with the Mavs or at least put feelers out to Barnes camp and see if he would be interested.

 

[e_blazer]

You ARE the biggest loser.


Well, until next year, when you dump OKC and make their fans the biggest losers.

 

[PDXFonz]

Might as well tank now

So we are finally back to where we started last year!

 

[santeesioux]

Also Barnes has now become an unrestricted FA -- Pull Turner Offer and go after Barnes -- i am not a fan of Barnes but do it to screw with the Mavs or at least put feelers out to Barnes camp and see if he would be interested.

But then no free agent would want to come here if we did something like that!

 

[Minstrel]

I can't deny that it adds a little bit that the Thunder, specifically, got screwed. I still dislike that they're the stolen Sonics.

 

[Natebishop3]

Fuck Cuban. Pathetic loser. Won't face reality.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you.

Have fun watching the most boring league in the world!

 

[Natebishop3]

It's amazing because I used to like the Warriors... they were my second favorite team about ten years ago.

Now I can't stand them.