CelticsStrong
Around the League => Around the NBA => Topic started by: KG Living Legend on September 18, 2018, 11:53:25 AM
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https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/1019175/NBA-news-Kevin-Durant-LeBron-James-Los-Angeles-Lakers-Golden-State-Warriors-gossip-rumours
Hearing this more and more. Unreal.
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That's not news. It's speculation.
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I doubt it very much. I'm being adamant about it. We'll see what KD has to say about it once TC starts. I'm sure he'll deny it.
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It's possible. People thought they knew KD, then he turned out to be completely different than they thought he was.
Maybe after this year he'll desire a different challenge. The lure of LA is stronger than people want to admit. And LeBron still seemingly has a lot of pull around the league (obviously not with everyone).
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What really gets me about Lebron going to the lakers is that it fuels this false narrative that big name free agents always go to the lakers. The last big free agency signing they had was Shaq and that was over 20 years ago (Karl Malone and Gary Payton were mercenaries at that point in their careers).
Is that guy a legitimate reporter?
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Do people really fear a 35 year old Lebron?
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Do people really fear a 35 year old Lebron?
With KD and perhaps Leonard? Yes. That's easily better than what GSW has now.
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Why would he leave GS and the opportunity to keep collecting titles? He has to substantiate his signing with a handful of rings.
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Do people really fear a 35 year old Lebron?
I think there's a legitimate chance LeBron could be just as good a Karl Malone was at that age. Malone was still averaging 25/9 at age 36 and was MVP at age 35.
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Do people really fear a 35 year old Lebron?
I think there's a legitimate chance LeBron could be just as good a Karl Malone was at that age. Malone was still averaging 25/9 at age 36 and was MVP at age 35.
Yeah, look at the way Lebron is built. He can definitely remain a force for the foreseeable future.
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KD made his bed in Golden State. He should just sleep in it. Remaining loyal to GSW is the most admirable thing to do for his reputation. Ring hopping around is a bad look for him.
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This is very speculative speculation KGLL.
Not blaming KGLL for sharing, rather the media that carelessly reproduces this stuff.
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I don't see it. KD is really involved with the Silicon Valley business community, and if I remember correctly, he's said he doesn't want to play forever. I think he's planning the next chapter post-basketball. Not saying that he's retiring in the next couple years, I just think he's content where he is, rather than chasing rings elsewhere. It's not like he's on a losing team, either.
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I could totally see Durant leaving the Warriors this summer, but find the Lakers to be highly unlikely as a landing spot.
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I can’t see KD leaving a championship team like the Warriors. He is in the best situation he could ever be in. Why leave? I think it’s total bs to just get people to read something.
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We ought to be concerned as Lakers' cap space in 2019-2020 is $38.2M and Durant's projecting max salary that same season will be $38.3M.
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https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/1019175/NBA-news-Kevin-Durant-LeBron-James-Los-Angeles-Lakers-Golden-State-Warriors-gossip-rumours
Hearing this more and more. Unreal.
The NBA offseason and all these absurd stories are meant to keep you talking about the NBA all the time. WWE style. Its all nonsense. Watch baseball until the league comes back and ignore all of this clickbait nonsense.
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Did we ever really have a chance with Durant? Or did he use us to get Golden State interested?
Now that he has a few rings he's off to La La Land to chase LeBron? Hopefully, this is BS.
If true... I wonder if he ever had enough character to even play with the Boston Celtics?
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https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/1019175/NBA-news-Kevin-Durant-LeBron-James-Los-Angeles-Lakers-Golden-State-Warriors-gossip-rumours
Hearing this more and more. Unreal.
Trust me, as someone who lives in the UK, this tabloid rag is not a source to be trusted.
Also, trust me, as someone who lives in the UK, there is not a single good outlet here that covers the NBA or a good source from here.
Disregard.
Although I wouldn't be that shocked if Durant went there, I think he'll stay in GS and would be crazy to leave while they're perennial favourites to win it all.
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Did we ever really have a chance with Durant? Or did he use us to get Golden State interested?
Now that he has a few rings he's off to La La Land to chase LeBron? Hopefully, this is BS.
If true... I wonder if he ever had enough character to even play with the Boston Celtics?
He does have character.
Just because he chose differently 2 years ago, he didn't become a lesser player at that moment. He is top 30 of all time.
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Did we ever really have a chance with Durant? Or did he use us to get Golden State interested?
Now that he has a few rings he's off to La La Land to chase LeBron? Hopefully, this is BS.
If true... I wonder if he ever had enough character to even play with the Boston Celtics?
He does have character.
Just because he chose differently 2 years ago, he didn't become a lesser player at that moment. He is top 30 of all time.
If by character you mean a reprehensible one, then yeah, you’re right.
His talent doesn’t make him any less of a snake
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Did we ever really have a chance with Durant? Or did he use us to get Golden State interested?
Now that he has a few rings he's off to La La Land to chase LeBron? Hopefully, this is BS.
If true... I wonder if he ever had enough character to even play with the Boston Celtics?
He does have character.
Just because he chose differently 2 years ago, he didn't become a lesser player at that moment. He is top 30 of all time.
If by character you mean a reprehensible one, then yeah, you’re right.
His talent doesn’t make him any less of a snake
I believe that the type of success KD made in his whole career doesn't come without a resilient and hard working character.
Fans diss players, even the elite ones, if they don't win the chip. LBJ and KD went to teams that give them a great chance do to so, as the didn't want that label. I don't hold it against them. IMO Kyrie, GH and Horford did the same thing, they just didn't win one - yet.
Imagine if Dirk or Hakeem didn't win one. They would be considered as good but not the best players. After they won they became a "revaluation" to the majority of the fans, when in fact they were the same players.
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Durant’s manager, Rich Kleiman, is a big Knicks fan, and has openly talked about wanting to restore the Knicks franchise to glory. Durant to the Knicks is where I’m leaning, that’s assuming they use all their assets, hold Zinger and Knox, to clear their cap.
https://nypost.com/2018/06/30/durants-expected-new-deal-gives-knicks-glimmer-of-hope/
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Durant’s manager, Rich Kleiman, is a big Knicks fan, and has openly talked about wanting to restore the Knicks franchise to glory
What glory their sole championship? Knicks glory is a myth created by the NYC media, the truth is they have been roadblocked by us a whole lot more than any fake glory.
Durant also decides where he goes not his agent. He can fire the agent at any time.
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I believe that the type of success KD made in his whole career doesn't come without a resilient and hard working character.
Fans diss players, even the elite ones, if they don't win the chip. LBJ and KD went to teams that give them a great chance do to so, as the didn't want that label. I don't hold it against them. IMO Kyrie, GH and Horford did the same thing, they just didn't win one - yet.
Imagine if Dirk or Hakeem didn't win one. They would be considered as good but not the best players. After they won they became a "revaluation" to the majority of the fans, when in fact they were the same players.
I don't think a lot of people think of Durant as a horrible person, just somebody who took the easy way out. In all of your examples, including Lebron, the team the player went to had not yet experienced much success, let alone won any recent championships. Durant didn't do much to help a 73 win championship team; they were already very successful without him. What he did do was 'ruin' the NBA for several years by bringing his all-world talents to an already elite team...just after losing to that team in embarrassing fashion in the WCF about a month before joining them.
You can't blame somebody like Durant for wanting to win championships, but you also can't celebrate him like he was part of this organic rise to glory. He deserves all of the criticism he receives - that move was the definition of weak.
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I believe that the type of success KD made in his whole career doesn't come without a resilient and hard working character.
Fans diss players, even the elite ones, if they don't win the chip. LBJ and KD went to teams that give them a great chance do to so, as the didn't want that label. I don't hold it against them. IMO Kyrie, GH and Horford did the same thing, they just didn't win one - yet.
Imagine if Dirk or Hakeem didn't win one. They would be considered as good but not the best players. After they won they became a "revaluation" to the majority of the fans, when in fact they were the same players.
I don't think a lot of people think of Durant as a horrible person, just somebody who took the easy way out. In all of your examples, including Lebron, the team the player went to had not yet experienced much success, let alone won any recent championships. Durant didn't do much to help a 73 win championship team; they were already very successful without him. What he did do was 'ruin' the NBA for several years by bringing his all-world talents to an already elite team...just after losing to that team in embarrassing fashion in the WCF about a month before joining them.
You can't blame somebody like Durant for wanting to win championships, but you also can't celebrate him like he was part of this organic rise to glory. He deserves all of the criticism he receives - that move was the definition of weak.
TP - said exactly what I was thinking but didn't get to respond
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I believe that the type of success KD made in his whole career doesn't come without a resilient and hard working character.
Fans diss players, even the elite ones, if they don't win the chip. LBJ and KD went to teams that give them a great chance do to so, as the didn't want that label. I don't hold it against them. IMO Kyrie, GH and Horford did the same thing, they just didn't win one - yet.
Imagine if Dirk or Hakeem didn't win one. They would be considered as good but not the best players. After they won they became a "revaluation" to the majority of the fans, when in fact they were the same players.
I don't think a lot of people think of Durant as a horrible person, just somebody who took the easy way out. In all of your examples, including Lebron, the team the player went to had not yet experienced much success, let alone won any recent championships. Durant didn't do much to help a 73 win championship team; they were already very successful without him. What he did do was 'ruin' the NBA for several years by bringing his all-world talents to an already elite team...just after losing to that team in embarrassing fashion in the WCF about a month before joining them.
You can't blame somebody like Durant for wanting to win championships, but you also can't celebrate him like he was part of this organic rise to glory. He deserves all of the criticism he receives - that move was the definition of weak.
I am not defending KD or celebrating his decision. I wanted him here. I just think that ringless greats get undeserved bash a lot of the times. This is mostly fan driven.
"Ruining the league" is and always was an overstatement. They won 2 in a row. Big deal. What the Russel's Celts did was ruining the league if such thing even exists. B2B chips is something that happened many times. Did Bad boys destroy the league? Bulls? Rockets? Bulls? Shaqobe Lakers? The league has never been better, it is not deteriorated however you look at it. GSW was also hanging b a thread down 2:3 Vs Houston some months back. "Ruining the league" is a mere clickbait material.
I also think we will win it this year and as I wrote when KD signed, it will just be sweeter to beat GSW with him at the other side.
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Yep, you are right - the phrase, 'ruin the league,' is a bit of an overstatement, but you get the point. The last 4 Finals' have had the same two teams. It's not simply that an all-star chose a new FA destination; it's that due to an unprecedented rise in the cap two years ago, the best team was able to get one of the top 2-3 players in the NBA. It's especially frustrating to a team like the Cs who, due to DA's incredible cap management, would have been able to add Horford (or Durant) regardless of the spike.
Also, take into account that GSW was able to sign all of their star FAs to pre-spike long-term max contracts and it created the perfect storm of sorts. I understand it from GSW's perspective (obviously, they weren't going to say no), but they were already awesome, they didn't need - or, really, deserve - Kevin Durant.
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Yep, you are right - the phrase, 'ruin the league,' is a bit of an overstatement, but you get the point. The last 4 Finals' have had the same two teams. It's not simply that an all-star chose a new FA destination; it's that due to an unprecedented rise in the cap two years ago, the best team was able to get one of the top 2-3 players in the NBA. It's especially frustrating to a team like the Cs who, due to DA's incredible cap management, would have been able to add Horford (or Durant) regardless of the spike.
Also, take into account that GSW was able to sign all of their star FAs to pre-spike long-term max contracts and it created the perfect storm of sorts. I understand it from GSW's perspective (obviously, they weren't going to say no), but they were already awesome, they didn't need - or, really, deserve - Kevin Durant.
This can all be summed up nicely in one word: jealousy.
Durant did nothing wrong, nothing dishonorable, and in fact should be lauded for his willingness to sacrifice money to chase after his goals. Instead, a league of jealous fans condemn him when had it been their team in the same position would be signing a totally different tune.
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I don't see it. KD is really involved with the Silicon Valley business community, and if I remember correctly, he's said he doesn't want to play forever. I think he's planning the next chapter post-basketball. Not saying that he's retiring in the next couple years, I just think he's content where he is, rather than chasing rings elsewhere. It's not like he's on a losing team, either.
This is my thinking as well. Part of the reason KD is so ok with taking less than the max is (along with playing for a great team that he has fun playing for) that he makes so much money off the court with his investments tied to that area.
That doesn't mean he definitely won't leave but I think it's a substantial reason that brought him there and could keep him there.
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Yep, you are right - the phrase, 'ruin the league,' is a bit of an overstatement, but you get the point. The last 4 Finals' have had the same two teams. It's not simply that an all-star chose a new FA destination; it's that due to an unprecedented rise in the cap two years ago, the best team was able to get one of the top 2-3 players in the NBA. It's especially frustrating to a team like the Cs who, due to DA's incredible cap management, would have been able to add Horford (or Durant) regardless of the spike.
Also, take into account that GSW was able to sign all of their star FAs to pre-spike long-term max contracts and it created the perfect storm of sorts. I understand it from GSW's perspective (obviously, they weren't going to say no), but they were already awesome, they didn't need - or, really, deserve - Kevin Durant.
This can all be summed up nicely in one word: jealousy.
Durant did nothing wrong, nothing dishonorable, and in fact should be lauded for his willingness to sacrifice money to chase after his goals. Instead, a league of jealous fans condemn him when had it been their team in the same position would be signing a totally different tune.
Yep, totally jealous. I love the position DA and the Cs have put themselves into, but I would gladly trade positions with GSW (including their 3 recent championships). I would love to have a 20-16 lead over the Lakers right now.
But I disagree that it's all about jealousy. A top player joining up with an all-time great team after your team was knocked out by that team is a little 'dishonorable.' And, even though Durant has proven that he is indeed weak with his [somewhat] recent Twitter activity, I am sure he knows that history will be on his side in a few years when he has 5-6 championships next to his name and people are calling him a top 10 all-time player because of that hardware.
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Yep, you are right - the phrase, 'ruin the league,' is a bit of an overstatement, but you get the point. The last 4 Finals' have had the same two teams. It's not simply that an all-star chose a new FA destination; it's that due to an unprecedented rise in the cap two years ago, the best team was able to get one of the top 2-3 players in the NBA. It's especially frustrating to a team like the Cs who, due to DA's incredible cap management, would have been able to add Horford (or Durant) regardless of the spike.
Also, take into account that GSW was able to sign all of their star FAs to pre-spike long-term max contracts and it created the perfect storm of sorts. I understand it from GSW's perspective (obviously, they weren't going to say no), but they were already awesome, they didn't need - or, really, deserve - Kevin Durant.
This can all be summed up nicely in one word: jealousy.
Durant did nothing wrong, nothing dishonorable, and in fact should be lauded for his willingness to sacrifice money to chase after his goals. Instead, a league of jealous fans condemn him when had it been their team in the same position would be signing a totally different tune.
Yep, totally jealous. I love the position DA and the Cs have put themselves into, but I would gladly trade positions with GSW (including their 3 recent championships). I would love to have a 20-16 lead over the Lakers right now.
But I disagree that it's all about jealousy. A top player joining up with an all-time great team after your team was knocked out by that team is a little 'dishonorable.' And, even though Durant has proven that he is indeed weak with his [somewhat] recent Twitter activity, I am sure he knows that history will be on his side in a few years when he has 5-6 championships next to his name and people are calling him a top 10 all-time player because of that hardware.
But GSW wasn't an all-time great team. The year they set the record for most single season wins they didn't even win the championship and were beat by a better team. People can make up whatever excuse they want for why GSW didn't win that year, but the undeniable fact is they didn't win. In the two seasons prior to Durant joining GSW they only were able to beat the Cavs when Kyrie and Love were injured.
Heck, even last season when GSW did have Durant, Houston had a better record and was one Chris Paul injury away from beating GSW in the WCF. The bottom line is GSW has absolutely needed Durant to win the last two titles, he was the piece that put them where they are, and if Durant wasn't there it's very possible GSW still only has the one title from the year they beat an injured Cavs team.
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But GSW wasn't an all-time great team. The year they set the record for most single season wins they didn't even win the championship and were beat by a better team. People can make up whatever excuse they want for why GSW didn't win that year, but the undeniable fact is they didn't win. In the two seasons prior to Durant joining GSW they only were able to beat the Cavs when Kyrie and Love were injured.
Heck, even last season when GSW did have Durant, Houston had a better record and was one Chris Paul injury away from beating GSW in the WCF. The bottom line is GSW has absolutely needed Durant to win the last two titles, he was the piece that put them where they are, and if Durant wasn't there it's very possible GSW still only has the one title from the year they beat an injured Cavs team.
Don't forget there are other ways GSW could have continued to get better (or at least stayed at the same level) since they did have max cap space. The last two championships the Cavs were absolutely trounced so I doubt Durant was the real difference maker...But, I don't want to make this a thing, so I guess we will just have to agree to disagree.
One thing I think we can all agree on is that Durant is an excellent player who very well may have eventually led a different team to a championship and GSW was a very good team before he got there.
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But GSW wasn't an all-time great team. The year they set the record for most single season wins they didn't even win the championship and were beat by a better team. People can make up whatever excuse they want for why GSW didn't win that year, but the undeniable fact is they didn't win. In the two seasons prior to Durant joining GSW they only were able to beat the Cavs when Kyrie and Love were injured.
Heck, even last season when GSW did have Durant, Houston had a better record and was one Chris Paul injury away from beating GSW in the WCF. The bottom line is GSW has absolutely needed Durant to win the last two titles, he was the piece that put them where they are, and if Durant wasn't there it's very possible GSW still only has the one title from the year they beat an injured Cavs team.
Don't forget there are other ways GSW could have continued to get better (or at least stayed at the same level) since they did have max cap space. The last two championships the Cavs were absolutely trounced so I doubt Durant was the real difference maker...But, I don't want to make this a thing, so I guess we will just have to agree to disagree.
One thing I think we can all agree on is that Durant is an excellent player who very well may have eventually led a different team to a championship and GSW was a very good team before he got there.
Durant was absolutely the difference maker. The Cavs strategy in the prior two seasons, were to get physical with and double Curry and Thompson and just leave Barnes, Green, and/or the center open (they kept a man on Iggy). By adding Durant instead of Barnes, the Cavs could no longer employ that strategy and that was absolutely the difference in those series.