Kevin Durant going home campaign has officially started

[col63onel]

I just want to understand your reasoning for why you want a Cleveland title. I know it sounds like a stupid question, I just want to see your answer...

 

[tristan+kyrie=$]

man Durant to Washington would be scary but come on people...still have two seasons and a lot can happen...the pacers went from a eastern conference contender to a lottery team in one day...

 

[blommen]

I have never been too fond of the Thunder, especially after they almost got carried by the refs to a finals appearance in 2011. I honestly think that it is the most over hyped team in the league and has been for years. ESPN keeps pushing this team as some incredible offensive dynamo, when they no shit play the ugliest brand of offensive basketball I've ever seen, relative to their talent. Ibacka and Perkins are dirty, Westbrook is a fucking nutcase and Durant has grown into being one of the biggest whiners in the league. their entire offense relies on Durant Westbrook driving into the lane to get fouls if their shooters aren't on target. I honestly would love to see Durant go to the east, just so we could see Westbrook run them into the ground and see Durant lose to us in the eastern conference finals year after year after year.

 

[shoes22]

I have never been too fond of the Thunder, especially after they almost got carried by the refs to a finals appearance in 2011. I honestly think that it is the most over hyped team in the league and has been for years. ESPN keeps pushing this team as some incredible offensive dynamo, when they no shit play the ugliest brand of offensive basketball I've ever seen, relative to their talent. Ibacka and Perkins are dirty, Westbrook is a fucking nutcase and Durant has grown into being one of the biggest whiners in the league. their entire offense relies on Durant Westbrook driving into the lane to get fouls if their shooters aren't on target. I honestly would love to see Durant go to the east, just so we could see Westbrook run them into the ground and see Durant lose to us in the eastern conference finals year after year after year.

I honestly think the Thunder would look much better if they just had a better coach. No idea how Brooks is still around...

 

[blommen]

I honestly think the Thunder would look much better if they just had a better coach. No idea how Brooks is still around...

it's as if the entire franchise is terrified of messing with the structure of the team and have been so, since they made the finals. they should have been tweaking their formula the off-season after losing in 12 and realized what they needed to change to get better. Brooks is a good defensive minded coach, but he is too scared stray from his set rotations in regards to their match-ups and he's incapable of making adjustments between games rendering him a major liability in a 7-game series. they needed to add offensive options so Durant and Westbrook weren't the only real offensive threats on their team, and instead they banked on Ibaka and his mid-range game. it all goes back to a franchise being scared shitless of wanting fix what they think isn't broke, and while it may not be broke it will never land them a championship.

 

[rabman_gold]

Got some thought provoking questions for you guys:

1) Wouldn't this be akin to the Cleveland Browns (Seattle Supersonics) in a football loving town (basketball) somehow had the original Jim Brown (Kevin Durant), but not only lost their team to Baltimore (Oklahoma City) but that city lost their star player. Now, ask yourself, how bad do you really feel for Balti- I mean Oklahoma City?

2) Oklahoma City had spent between 2006 and 2010 building up that team with smart decision making, only to fall back to Pistons level basketball since 2013. Why would we care if Durant stayed or not?

3) Washington Wizards have built up talent, but are virtually still coached by the lovable Randy Wittman... what? Doesn't anybody realize that probably brings them to the top 4 in the East, top 2 at best. Until they get a better coach?

Last thought provoking statement: Cavaliers playoffs, getting the Bullets/Wizards' number since 1976. 'Nuff said.

 

[Cashius X]

It appears increasingly likely that Kevin Durant will be leaving longtime basketball king Nike for hoops upstart Under Armour. The biggest question on the basketball world’s mind now is if he’ll do the same with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards in the summer of 2016. Durant reportedly cancelled a trip to Nike headquarters and is on the verge of accepting a mind-numbing $325 million endorsement contract with Under Armour, which happens to be located in Baltimore, MD right near his hometown.

http://dimemag.com/2014/08/report-kevin-durant-close-325-million-endorsement-deal-armour/

Really think this KD to Wizards rumor has legs. If OKC keeps getting unlucky breaks in the playoffs and continues to fall short I wouldn't be surprised to see KD go home.

 

[Kbiz]

Another small market team facing rumors. I really can't blame Durant for leaving if OKC doesn't make any noise the next two years. I think the only way he stays is if they make it to the Finals while he is still under contract.

With Scott Brooks leading the way, i do not see that happening. Wouldn't be surprised to see a shake-up, either with the coaching staff or players, if they don't get there next year.

 

[Kizzle]

Another small market team facing rumors. I really can't blame Durant for leaving if OKC doesn't make any noise the next two years. I think the only way he stays is if they make it to the Finals while he is still under contract.

With Scott Brooks leading the way, i do not see that happening. Wouldn't be surprised to see a shake-up, either with the coaching staff or players, if they don't get there next year.

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see a first round exit for them the next 2 years. West is crazy

 

[col63onel]

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see a first round exit for them the next 2 years. West is crazy

If OKC doesn't at least make the Finals this year, I'd be interested to see what OKC does. 2010 taught us not to let a superstar go into a walk year. OKC will have to at least look at trading him.

 

[czvo]

The idea that Durant would leave OKC for Washington makes no sense to me. I get that Durant is from the area, but so what? Do the Wizards realistically give him a better chance to win than the Thunder? Russ is better than Wall. He's only two years older than Wall, so it's not like he's leaving an old D-Wade for Kyrie. I realize Russ has had injury issues, but he seems to be back to normal*. Then they have Serge, who's only 24, and makes more sense from a team-building standpoint than Beal. Ibaka is definitely more valuable than a guy like Beal. Don't try to tell me Gortat and Nene have any appeal either. By 2016, those guys will be 32 and 34 respectively. They're on their way out.

Not to mention the fact that the Thunder have been to the WCF three of the last four years. This isn't a team that's aging and on the decline. They should be at the top of the conference for the foreseeable future. This isn't like when LeBron was here the last time playing with old guys like Z, Shaq, Anthony Parker, and the like. Those guys weren't getting any better, and in several cases, they were getting worse. It made sense for LeBron to leave to play with Bosh and Wade.

The only two reasons I've seen for why Durant would go to Washington are that it's "home" and the Eastern Conference is weaker. But the Eastern Conference is loaded with young talent. The Cavs are good. The Bulls will be there, provided Rose stays healthy. Toronto is younger. Charlotte is younger. Philly and Milwaukee are loaded with young talent. I only see this conference getting better. I just don't see Durant leaving Russ and Ibaka for Wall and Beal. The salary cap argument doesn't make much sense either because the Thunder would have room to sign another max guy if they wanted too (if the cap really does go up as much as people think it will). Yes they traded away Harden, but let's not act like the Wizards have an impeccable track record when it comes to roster management.

To me, this makes no sense at all.


(*- This is the only way I see Durant looking for an out, and God forbid it happens. If Russ gets hurt again, then it would make sense for KD to see what's out there. I still think, when healthy, Russ is a top-10 player in this league and someone KD would be foolish to leave. That being said, if the guy can't stay on the court, it doesn't matter how good he is.)

 

[Triumph36]

http://dimemag.com/2014/08/report-kevin-durant-close-325-million-endorsement-deal-armour/

Really think this KD to Wizards rumor has legs. If OKC keeps getting unlucky breaks in the playoffs and continues to fall short I wouldn't be surprised to see KD go home.

there is no way the location of UA's hq is relevant at all to his decision. durant would be getting super paid of course, but by going to UA he's able to do something lebron never did - make his own path and elevate a relatively unknown brand in the basketball world to the forefront of the league. going to UA is a really smart decision for a lot of reasons, none of which are related to the wizards.

i mean, the rumors make some sense for obvious reasons - washington is a good young team on the rise and okc's future is in question (not because of the caliber of the team, more so the ownerships willingness to pay for it) - but his shoe/apparel sponsor doesn't have any impact.

The idea that Durant would leave OKC for Washington makes no sense to me. I get that Durant is from the area, but so what? Do the Wizards realistically give him a better chance to win than the Thunder? Russ is better than Wall. He's only two years older than Wall, so it's not like he's leaving an old D-Wade for Kyrie. I realize Russ has had injury issues, but he seems to be back to normal*. Then they have Serge, who's only 24, and makes more sense from a team-building standpoint than Beal. Ibaka is definitely more valuable than a guy like Beal. Don't try to tell me Gortat and Nene have any appeal either. By 2016, those guys will be 32 and 34 respectively. They're on their way out.

Not to mention the fact that the Thunder have been to the WCF three of the last four years. This isn't a team that's aging and on the decline. They should be at the top of the conference for the foreseeable future. This isn't like when LeBron was here the last time playing with old guys like Z, Shaq, Anthony Parker, and the like. Those guys weren't getting any better, and in several cases, they were getting worse. It made sense for LeBron to leave to play with Bosh and Wade.

The only two reasons I've seen for why Durant would go to Washington are that it's "home" and the Eastern Conference is weaker. But the Eastern Conference is loaded with young talent. The Cavs are good. The Bulls will be there, provided Rose stays healthy. Toronto is younger. Charlotte is younger. Philly and Milwaukee are loaded with young talent. I only see this conference getting better. I just don't see Durant leaving Russ and Ibaka for Wall and Beal. The salary cap argument doesn't make much sense either because the Thunder would have room to sign another max guy if they wanted too (if the cap really does go up as much as people think it will). Yes they traded away Harden, but let's not act like the Wizards have an impeccable track record when it comes to roster management.

To me, this makes no sense at all.


(*- This is the only way I see Durant looking for an out, and God forbid it happens. If Russ gets hurt again, then it would make sense for KD to see what's out there. I still think, when healthy, Russ is a top-10 player in this league and someone KD would be foolish to leave. That being said, if the guy can't stay on the court, it doesn't matter how good he is.)

yes and no.

from an on-court standpoint, it's hard to imagine leaving okc being logical. maybe if the wizards find younger core players up front, but otherwise okc is likely a better option as you noted. the problem is their ownership. how much are they willing to pay? we already saw them trade away arguably their second best player for financial reasons, and they then didn't even manage to retain one of the major pieces in that trade (martin) because they did not want to pay. if they continue the excessively cost-conscious trend, how much will durant withstand before bailing? it's not about poor roster management per se, but rather poor ownership management because their front office can only do so much with the [seemingly limited] resources they are given.

that said, i'm glad you mentioned the future of the east as it's a very important point - i've even mentioned it a few times before. the east is bad now yes, but they have an incredibly bright future. that is particularly relevant when durant hits free agency, at that point the gap will be far smaller.

 

[czvo]

there is no way the location of UA's hq is relevant at all to his decision. durant would be getting super paid of course, but by going to UA he's able to do something lebron never did - make his own path and elevate a relatively unknown brand in the basketball world to the forefront of the league. going to UA is a really smart decision for a lot of reasons, none of which are related to the wizards.

i mean, the rumors make some sense for obvious reasons - washington is a good young team on the rise and okc's future is in question (not because of the caliber of the team, more so the ownerships willingness to pay for it) - but his shoe/apparel sponsor doesn't have any impact.

yes and no.

from an on-court standpoint, it's hard to imagine leaving okc being logical. maybe if the wizards find younger core players up front, but otherwise okc is likely a better option as you noted. the problem is their ownership. how much are they willing to pay? we already saw them trade away arguably their second best player for financial reasons, and they then didn't even manage to retain one of the major pieces in that trade (martin) because they did not want to pay. if they continue the excessively cost-conscious trend, how much will durant withstand before bailing? it's not about poor roster management per se, but rather poor ownership management because their front office can only do so much with the [seemingly limited] resources they are given.

that said, i'm glad you mentioned the future of the east as it's a very important point - i've even mentioned it a few times before. the east is bad now yes, but they have an incredibly bright future. that is particularly relevant when durant hits free agency, at that point the gap will be far smaller.

I'm skeptical of this argument until we see how much the cap goes up the next few years. The Harden trade is the only one, however, that I would rate as indefensible. I see the logic behind letting Martin go. Why overpay him when you can get almost the same amount of production for almost nothing in Reggie Jackson (that's another interesting wrinkle. Jackson should continue to get better, and if the Thunder can lock him up to something at or below market level, it will be a steal provided the cap jumps as much as expected). Jeremy Lamb has also shown enough flashes of being able to provide some of what Martin did, plus he's only 22. We also forget this was his first season of getting real minutes.

I just think the situation Durant is in now is being portrayed as something far more dire than it really is. Yes, management screwed up in the Harden trade. But there are really good, young pieces on this team that should continue to improve. They have two top-10 players in Durant and Russ. They have a top-flight big man in Serge. They have young guys in Adams, Lamb, and Jackson that have shown improvement from game to game and year to year. And next summer, with Perk coming off the books, and the salary cap set to go up again, they should be set up to make some serious moves.

 

[Powerslave]

I want Durant to play for the Seattle Supersonics.

 

[Man Called X]

Should've drafted Adams #1. But then we wouldn't be getting Love... Oh well.