Durant may not have had it in him

[saltlover]

Minny was going to lose KG.  Why they traded him to us for Al J before it even got to free agency.  He was at the end of his contract. They were going to lose him.  We signed him to a huge extension when we traded for him.

That was the whole reason we got him because rather than lose him for nothing Minny took Al J.

KG agreed to come here once we got Ray Allen.

I mean this politely, but do you know what you're talking about?  KG had two years left on his Minny deal.  They weren't losing him to free agency any time soon.

It isn't remotely similar.  At all.  You can apologize and excuse KD all you want.  He made the decision he thought was best for him.  But IT IS NOTHING LIKE the KG situation.  The only thing in common is their first name.  That's it.

Yes I do because that was part of why they were possibly going to move him at that time.  We jumped ahead of the curve is why we were able to get him.  We also signed him to an extension when we traded for him.  He was not willing to do that with Minny at that point.

I'm not saying he would have left but most of this stuff people are complaining abut with durant is just sour grapes.

Some situations go our way.  Some don't.  The west coast won this one.

Different time.  Different players.

The whole reason KG was available was because he was coming up on the end of his contract and Minny was possibly going to lose him. I remember it well.  We were able to trade for him because we jumped ahead of the curve instead of it getting to that point.

You might as well compare George Washington crossing the Delaware with the Tet offensive.  Different time, different wars.  (And actually, they'd be better comps than KD and KG.)

[walker834]

Teams used to  approach their players to sign extensions much earlier in the process then. There was even question whether he would sign an extension with us.  He wouldn't do that at first.  Once we got ray he agreed to  waive his no trade clause and signed an extension with us.

Look i'm not saying kg was forcing his way out.  It was a different time.  Very different than Lebron I mean doing what he did going on TV making a spectacle out of it and leaving teams out to dry and lying to cleveland while he was trying to assemble his own super team.

Kg for all intent and purposes wasn't looking to be traded. He was just playing basketball and trying to do what was best for them, but wasn't overly happy in Minny either.

he agreed to come here though once it was a situation he liked.

Whether Minny was even trying to resign him is in question but who knows. But even Pierce has gone on record saying at times he wanted out. Totally different than forcing a situation.

But it's not like Durant forced this to happen either.   He was a free agent.  YEah maybe he declined offers to get to be one so he could leave.

Did Minny or OKC even offer Durant or KG extensions? That we don't know.  I'm assuming they did.

[CroCorvus]

Morning! I kinda stayed away from the Blog this past two days just refreshing my twitter, so this is my first comment on this matter. I have problem with his decision choosing the Warriors. First one is of subjective nature. When I play bball I always want to play against stronger teams becacause I believe that is the way to improve myself. When I played pick up games I always picked the weaker team because to me it represents more of a challenge, I've been more focused on winning and in the end I would be the one making clutch plays. Of course this is not comparable to the NBA, only speaks to my character. But you get my point. If I was in his place the Celtics were the perfect option. You have stability in management, great young coach, tradition like no other, great fans and city, very good and promissing team with two all stars, and if you come in, you get to be the Man. Just like some perfect movie if you ask me. The way I would like it. But, he chooses the better team where he will be only one of many. Just like OP said, he may not have it in him. This is not bashing... Also, the thing I didn't like was how many people we involved in this. To me is simple. If you wanna come to play for us, then you just come. It would be enough to speak to Danny and Brad. No entourage, no nothing. But, the times have changed obviously... I was very very p---ed yesterday. My wife was mad at me because she don't understand how we get through all this. And I don't blame her, because all the people who now see positive things of him choosing the warriors over Boston, or even OKC, they don't get it either... He lost all respect I had for him, and from now on I cheer against them. I hope they never get that ring... That would be difficult, very difficult, but it may only take them first two years. If they don't win it in first two years, they may fall apart... Let's go Celtics!!!!

[walker834]

That's a good point.  That's what I'm saying too where we have to use that to our advantage. No sense crying over Durant.   More reason to win and know what we are up against and how we can beat a team like that.

More reason for our guys to develop and play hard to where we can add enough talent to win. That was more my point anyways.

[walker834]

I am not a huge fan of what players do myself how they just up and leave and go to greener pastures but that's what free agency is.  Different strokes for different folks.  Durant was in a better position than Lebron too.  Lebron just handled that horribly.  He made a spectacle out of it like he was the victim as he was trying to assemble his own super team and lying to teams to play the process.  And like we are all racist for disagreeing with him.  I don't.  To each their own.  He did it.  He has a right to do that.  It's absurd but yeah.

Durant just more went through the process and chose to join the warriors. West fed him something.

That's what these guys are doing though.  We just have to be aware of who jerry west is.

That's the whole west vs east thing anyways.  The west will make it out like we are trying to keep them captive when that's not even it.  They are just idiots.

Maybe there are some racist people out there. There definately are. I'm not one of them.  I'm just trying to do what is best for the celtics and everyone really.

[walker834]

I don't think people have to make it so hard on themselves to be better players though. That's sort of masochistic. I get it and its a way to improve but I don't know. I'm the same way where i dont take the easy way out at the expense of other people.  I'll fight till the end against supposedly better competition.  I love comebacks.  I dont really think you need to make it so hard on yourself though. There are people who will do that at the expense of you.

KG was that.  He was great that way. So was pierce.  We just need to work hard is all and be aware of what we are up against.

I'm more like that though where I think abut how my actions affect others.  A lot of people aren't.

Knowing when to walk away is smart too.  With Durant it basically is that. He's not waiting around for us.

Some of these teams and ownership are really terrible anyways and  players should walk away. That's what free agency is for. The Celtics are not that.

[passesofftodj]

It boggles the mind, especially Celtic Fans who still don't know what went down when KG was traded here to the Celtics.

Some still think he was a Free Agent looking to get big money or get free rings lol. Amazing stuff here on the board. Disappointing at many posters here. Many lost credentials in this thread already.

I'm fully aware of what went down.  Are you?  You just lost credibility though.

KG was stuck in Minny and waived his no trade clause to come here once we got ray allen.

Yup, because KG and Ray Allen were both still in their 20s, and were joining a team that had won a championship in 2006, and had nearly won a second after winning 73 regular season games. Oh yeah, I forgot...we also had the 2-time reigning, unanimous MVP that year too! Yup, it's the same exact thing.

You should have stopped the moment you began to compare Russell to Durant

Don't forget the Celtics had just totally came back from being down 3 to 1 against the Wolves with KG chucking up clanking three-pointers to cost the immortal Troy Hudson a championship.

[LGC88]

Durant may not have had it in him...
That's my conclusion too after a good night sleep.
I was furious of his decision because I was disapointed in the man.
What he portrait is not the man he is.
Now I understand, I don't hold any more grudge.
Maybe it's a blessing in disguise for us, he shouldn't have work out the way we tought it would.

Now speaking of the nba more generally, this is horrible for basketball reason.
Now, more players will start to do the same.
For instance "ok I go to the cavs and take a pay cut because I'll get huge shoe contract in return".
I can see 2 teams with 10 talents each fighting for a decade.
That's a scary thought.

[walker834]

KG had similar issues in Minny that Durant had in OkC. I never said Durant was better than Russell or KG.  He was a free agent though. All of them put themselves in position to win regardless.

Always liked KG better than Durant.  Why I'm not worried a bout it too much.

This Durant thing to me honestly wasn't that exciting. It was more a chore.  I was really excited when we were going after kg.  Like i said earlier when it's right it feels right.

I don't think Durant is a bad guy.  I really don't.  Just different time and players.

Lebron on the other hand is absurd sometimes.  It's like racism in reverse with some of these guys.

[walker834]

That's part  of Durants issue in ways too is he is too likeable.  Maybe being the villain will be good for him.  I wouldn't give him that edge though.

I'd more be trying to assassinate him quietly.

[mr. dee]

I've already moved on the Durant saga. No use crying over spilled milk. That said, he deserves all the flack he had. He now comes off as a hypocrite and a coward, taking the easy way out. What happened to the spirit of competition?

This is the only era where top superstars joining each other to compe... errr win for a ring.

[walker834]

lebron eats the hate up that's the thing.  I wouldn't give these guys that edge.  The celtics have enough issues trying to match their talent. We don't need to give them more motivation.

I genuinally like durant too. I have no issue with him or what he chose to do.  I wish he came here but oh well.  would have been better for him i feel.  We need to just do our own thing and show him that.

[LGC88]

lebron eats the hate up that's the thing.  I wouldn't give these guys that edge.  The celtics have enough issues trying to match their talent. We don't need to give them more motivation.

TP

Let's show them what competition means.

[RockinRyA]

Durant may not have had it in him...
That's my conclusion too after a good night sleep.
I was furious of his decision because I was disapointed in the man.
What he portrait is not the man he is.
Now I understand, I don't hold any more grudge.
Maybe it's a blessing in disguise for us, he shouldn't have work out the way we tought it would.

Now speaking of the nba more generally, this is horrible for basketball reason.
Now, more players will start to do the same.
For instance "ok I go to the cavs and take a pay cut because I'll get huge shoe contract in return".
I can see 2 teams with 10 talents each fighting for a decade.
That's a scary thought.

If Durant went to any other team than GSW and Cavs it would be fine. At least when Lebron joined the Heat he was clear cut the best player on the team. Durant joining current 2 time MVP? it screams weak.