Durant to Golden State

[Coolbreeze44]

I wonder what the thinking is behind the two year deal.

[Lipoli390]

Holy shit!! I read the reports that he was seriously considering GS, but I'm still really surprised. I'm also really disappointed. I feel bad for Thunder fans and it's troubling from the perspective of any smaller market fan. I don't know all the factors that went into it. It bugs me when a star bolts the team built around him for what he considers an easier route to a championship. Then again, I'm not sure he's better off with the Warriors than he'd be with the Thunder team that has Westbrook, Oladipo, Adams and Kanter.

We may never know all the factors that influenced Durant's final decision. My suspicion is that Durant talked to Westbrook and that Westbrook told him he'd likely leave OKC after next season no matter what or that he wasn't sure he'd be back. Even if Westbrook just expressed uncertainty, as a practical matter Durant would understandably want to do a 1 year deal and that carries substantial risk for a player who's had some serious foot issues. Westbrook's temperament doesn't seem suited to a small market or community like OKC and we've all read reports already that he was inclined to leave for somewhere more cosmopolitan after next season. In the end, I think it was uncertainty over Westbrook what drove Durant into the arms of the Warriors.

Is there a lesson for the Wolves? Yes, I believe there is. That lesson is to draft and acquire players who, by temperament or personality, will be comfortable in your market/community. That was one of Flip's guiding principles. Fortunately, I think our young core is comprised of guys who will be comfortable staying in Minneapolis and playing for the Wolves provided we remain on an upward trajectory and look like an eventual title contender. Wiggins has already said he wants to stay with the Wolves long term and, as someone raised in Canada, he can't be too troubled by our weather. He's a quieter guy and doesn't seem like someone attracted to glitz and glamour. Zach is just a basketball guy and seems like another player who won't be looking for a bigger or sexier city. KAT seems to like it here as well and seems like a guy whose sole focus will be basketball and winning. These are all solid family-oriented players seem to fit the Twin Cities community. I'll add that Minneapolis is far more cosmopolitan than OKC as well as a number of other NBA cities.

This next season will be key.

[TheFuture]

Lots of thoughts running through my head:

Does this put Westbrook on the trade market?

Where does Russell end up next offseason?

How long before OKC is the worst team in the West?

I'm not one who believes Durant makes the Warriors that much better. They already shoot as many threes as possible. Durant will just take shots from Curry and Klay.

If OKC is smart, they'll look to move Westbrook now. They need to get something for him while they can. LA has a ton of assets, as does Boston. Blow it up and rebuild. You already got great value for Ibaka, you should be able to get a kings ransom for Westbrook. Take advantage.

I agree, they can't lose Russell for nothing. A few teams could make plays that would make sense. I'd offer Dunn, Ricky, and Gorgui for him.

Not for a one year rental. Westbrook has to commit to us long term for me to even consider it. I don't want to lose 3 good players for a rental and we can't beat GS next year anyway.

Of course not for a rental. It doesn't matter, I see him forcing his way to the Lakers.

I'd trade them Ricky, Dieng, and Bazz if he agreed to sign here long term but that's never going to happen.

[TheFuture]

I wonder what the thinking is behind the two year deal.

I wonder what the thinking is behind the two year deal.

Player option for 2nd. Protection against injury/market I guess.

[Coolbreeze44]

I wonder what the thinking is behind the two year deal.

I wonder what the thinking is behind the two year deal.

Player option for 2nd. Protection against injury/market I guess.

But why not four with an opt out after the first year?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

This isn't going to be popular here, but I have no problem with Durant choosing to go wherever he wants. He's earned his free agent status, he gave the Thunder everything he had, and he handled his free agency with class. I don't begrudge anybody for making the best choice for them.

I don't either. I posted a few weeks ago that I would choose GS over all the other options if I were KD. Max money (albeit for one less year than in OkC), a good chance to win multiple championships with a young core, and a much better city to live in than OkC. It's the smart choice. As fans we want players to make choices that please us, but that's not realistic. Ultimately they should make the choice that pleases them, not us.

Now, do we know if he is signing a 1-year deal or a 4? The best move for him (not considering the injury risk) is to sign a 1-year deal, and then sign a max deal next year when the cap is at its peak.

Edit: OK, I see the deal terms now.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I NEVER, OH WAIT, CAPS LOCK . . . I never saw that coming. I always thought it was kind of a whim that he would go there, but that he wouldn't actually do it. I thought for sure he'd give it one more go with Russ and see if they could do finally do it together.

I bet this is in part why Silver didn't want the cap to jump so much in one year. It would create exactly this situation, where an already-stacked team could add another superstar.

[60WinTim]

I wonder what the thinking is behind the two year deal.

I wonder what the thinking is behind the two year deal.

Player option for 2nd. Protection against injury/market I guess.

But why not four with an opt out after the first year?

Pretty sure that type of contract (ETO) is no longer allowed. Only the last year can have an option.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

I wonder what the thinking is behind the two year deal.

I wonder what the thinking is behind the two year deal.

Player option for 2nd. Protection against injury/market I guess.

But why not four with an opt out after the first year?

Whoa, could a player actually get that deal?! A four year deal with an opt out after 1 year?!

[Porckchop]

Holy shit!! I read the reports that he was seriously considering GS, but I'm still really surprised. I'm also really disappointed. I feel bad for Thunder fans and it's troubling from the perspective of any smaller market fan. I don't know all the factors that went into it. It bugs me when a star bolts the team built around him for what he considers an easier route to a championship. Then again, I'm not sure he's better off with the Warriors than he'd be with the Thunder team that has Westbrook, Oladipo, Adams and Kanter.

We may never know all the factors that influenced Durant's final decision. My suspicion is that Durant talked to Westbrook and that Westbrook told him he'd likely leave OKC after next season no matter what or that he wasn't sure he'd be back. Even if Westbrook just expressed uncertainty, as a practical matter Durant would understandably want to do a 1 year deal and that carries substantial risk for a player who's had some serious foot issues. Westbrook's temperament doesn't seem suited to a small market or community like OKC and we've all read reports already that he was inclined to leave for somewhere more cosmopolitan after next season. In the end, I think it was uncertainty over Westbrook what drove Durant into the arms of the Warriors.

Is there a lesson for the Wolves? Yes, I believe there is. That lesson is to draft and acquire players who, by temperament or personality, will be comfortable in your market/community. That was one of Flip's guiding principles. Fortunately, I think our young core is comprised of guys who will be comfortable staying in Minneapolis and playing for the Wolves provided we remain on an upward trajectory and look like an eventual title contender. Wiggins has already said he wants to stay with the Wolves long term and, as someone raised in Canada, he can't be too troubled by our weather. He's a quieter guy and doesn't seem like someone attracted to glitz and glamour. Zach is just a basketball guy and seems like another player who won't be looking for a bigger or sexier city. KAT seems to like it here as well and seems like a guy whose sole focus will be basketball and winning. These are all solid family-oriented players seem to fit the Twin Cities community. I'll add that Minneapolis is far more cosmopolitan than OKC as well as a number of other NBA cities.

By all accounts Durant was more than comfortable in his community, and up until the last couple years seemed to have the right personality for small market basketball. I don't think you can draft players thinking youll know what kind of people they'll be 5 /10 years down the road. We all change, sometimes for the good, in this case the bad.