I have a hard time seeing Durant leaving this offseason. If he did, I wouldn't compare him leaving OKC to Lebron leaving Cleveland, more like Aldridge leaving Portland.
GSW getting him could be devastating to the league, but GSW also doesn't need Durant. They are historically good without him. Durant would just look like a really, really good sidekick on a Championship roster.
Durant and Westbrook together are near championship talent. If GSW and San Antonio didn't exist, they would be favorites. Why would you leave a situation like that? He only leaves if Westbrook goes. That's not happening this year. Unless......
A SUPER RISKY/SNEAKY move would be Ainge throwing the Kitchen Sink at OKC for Westbrook in the summer, prior to KD signing. Not that I would favor this, but something like all the Brooklyn Picks, the Mavs pick, and Marcus Smart...that gets OKC thinking right?
You get Westbroook here with an extension and KD would follow right along. How does a lineup with IT, Westbrook, KD, Crowder, and Olynyk look offensively? That team can compete with GSW.
I don't see Westbrook being traded. If anything, if KD does leave, OKC will do whatever it can before trading Westbrook away for young superstar prospects/picks to retain him.
But Durant could also be thinking of going to the Lakers, and Westbrook will just automatically follow him there.
Ainge will have to step up on his game to prevent Durant from going to LA, and instead come to Boston.
The Lakers are very bad this year, what makes you think Druant wants join them?
The fans, Hollywood, weather, and of course they have D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson. They just need at least one superstar and a coach and they would be back to contention.
OKC is already in contention. Why would Durant/Westbrook leave to risk that?
I see 6 teams as contenders.
Top 3
GSW
Spurs
Cleveland
Top 6 contenders or pretenders/dark horses?
OKC
Clippers
Boston
While OKC matches up well against GSW, they simply do not have the bench or the firepower to win in the playoffs.
If Durant is serious about winning, I would definitely choose Boston over OKC especially if Durant feels like beating GSW is impossible or if they get an early playoff exit, I can see Durant being frustrated enough to leave.
If we added Horford, that would instantaneously make us the 2nd top team in the East.
Let's say Durant resigns on a 1-year deal to align his contract status with Westbrook. They are best friends and together make any team in the NBA an instant contender. So they want to make this big decision together...
You are the GM of OKC. You know this is going one of two ways: they are both staying or they are both leaving. What do you think is more probable? If they both wanted to stay, wouldn't Durant resign long-term and get Westbrook to do the same? Of course he would. You aren't feeling so great about your chances of keeping them on your team.
However, the one advantage OKC has that most if not all other teams will not have: they can sign both Durant and Westbrook to max deals. So now you have to compare yourself and your roster to only those teams that have enough cap space to sign both of them at max level. Chances are that the teams who could afford both are very bad teams. Durant and Westbrook would make those teams contenders, but as good as OKC? Maybe not. You are the GM, and now you are feeling a bit better about your chances of keeping them.
But then you realize that the main reason Durant signed the one year deal is so him and Westbrook could LEAVE together, not stay together. You have to assume that both are going away. It is your job then to get maximum value and not let them walk away for nothing.
Do not be surprised if Westbrook is traded this summer or this during the next season, especially if OKC doesn't do much in the playoffs and GSW dominates again next year early on. And if that is in play...Danny Ainge will be right there. Trust me.
Topic: Maybe it's time we took the next step. (Read 6433 times)