Kevin Durant: "Rising Cap 'Makes Everything Wide Open' On Decision"

[D Dub]

For what its worth I'm starting to see a lot of chatter from fans of other teams suggesting that Boston is the logical choice for Durant.

Doesn't mean he's been linked here, just that people are starting to realize that he could slot right in and contend. Many out there are proposing that all a Durant lead Celtics team would need is an upgrade to the 5 spot and we'd be legitimately the best situation for KD.

Seems like another common sentiment is that it would be good for the league for Lebron to have a legitimate road block on the way to the finals. Nothing to get excited about mind you just a bit of a change in the narrative that he's guaranteed to go to GS or one of the big markets.

Coincidentally, according to Lowe Durant has made it known to some people that Horford would be one of the potential players that he'd like to play with. (http://www.celticslife.com/2016/02/celtics-sign-al-horford-kevin-durant.html)

Combine that with Woj's news that the C's think they have a good chance at signing Horford this summer, and it really seems like the perfect storm to add two excellent star fits to our roster this summer.

Imagine if we could sign Durant and Horford without giving up any assets ?

IT            / Smart
AB          / Hunter
Jae         / Jaylen Brown
KD          / KO
Horford    /Mickey

 

I don't see KD starting at the 4.  If anything I see Crowder as our new 6th man.  With the rumored reports of trying to trade for a star before the deadline I could see another attempt for someone like Love or Butler by draft night that would help lure Horford and Durant in free agency.

           Thomas
  Bradley        Durant
      Horford  Amir

Smart, Crowder, Turner
     KO, Mickey, Zeller

Easily better than any of his OKC teams and you didn't even include the Brooklyn pick.

Maybe we end up with the 1st pick and give OKC Brandon Ingram in a sign and trade. Greatest star player compensation ever.

how could I forget the BK pick?  LOL

seriously though, adding a scorer like Durant while keeping our current defense in place?  we'd be nearly impossible to beat, and for some time.

[Rosco917]

I would hope Durant would want to do his own thing on his own terms, rather than doing what Lebron would do. Injecting himself in an already winning situation to collect another ring.

He could come to saaaaay...the Celtics, and have the satisfaction of knowing he is the intricate player that put them over the top.

[KeepRondo]

I would hope Durant would want to do his own thing on his own terms, rather than doing what Lebron would do. Injecting himself in an already winning situation to collect another ring.

He could come to saaaaay...the Celtics, and have the satisfaction of knowing he is the intricate player that put them over the top.

Like JPotts mentioned. We probably need to get Horford before landing Durant. So I'm not sure there's much of a difference with what Lebron did since its pretty obvious we are title contenders with those two.

Another thought to add.

Durant will have to choose if he wants to go through GS or the Cavs to get to the finals. I think we got a leg up on OKC there.

[LarBrd33]

I think Durant can go to basically any team OTHER than Golden State and be embraced for it.   Nobody gives a crap about him breaking the hearts of Oklahoma City fans.  They stole the Sonics... many people are actively rooting for him to leave them.   Pretty much the only team that he could join and get backlash for it is Golden State.  As much flack as LeBron/Wade/Bosh got for joining forces in some "can't beat em/join em" move,  leaving your team for the defending champion that might break the win record and win back-to-back championships wouldn't go over well.   Definitely would come across like he couldn't win with his own team so he'd just jump on a champion instead.

[jpotter33]

For what its worth I'm starting to see a lot of chatter from fans of other teams suggesting that Boston is the logical choice for Durant.

Doesn't mean he's been linked here, just that people are starting to realize that he could slot right in and contend. Many out there are proposing that all a Durant lead Celtics team would need is an upgrade to the 5 spot and we'd be legitimately the best situation for KD.

Seems like another common sentiment is that it would be good for the league for Lebron to have a legitimate road block on the way to the finals. Nothing to get excited about mind you just a bit of a change in the narrative that he's guaranteed to go to GS or one of the big markets.

Coincidentally, according to Lowe Durant has made it known to some people that Horford would be one of the potential players that he'd like to play with. (http://www.celticslife.com/2016/02/celtics-sign-al-horford-kevin-durant.html)

Combine that with Woj's news that the C's think they have a good chance at signing Horford this summer, and it really seems like the perfect storm to add two excellent star fits to our roster this summer.

Imagine if we could sign Durant and Horford without giving up any assets ?

IT            / Smart
AB          / Hunter
Jae         / Jaylen Brown
KD          / KO
Horford    /Mickey

 

I don't see KD starting at the 4.  If anything I see Crowder as our new 6th man.  With the rumored reports of trying to trade for a star before the deadline I could see another attempt for someone like Love or Butler by draft night that would help lure Horford and Durant in free agency.

           Thomas
  Bradley        Durant
      Horford  Amir

Smart, Crowder, Turner
     KO, Mickey, Zeller

Easily better than any of his OKC teams and you didn't even include the Brooklyn pick.

Maybe we end up with the 1st pick and give OKC Brandon Ingram in a sign and trade. Greatest star player compensation ever.

how could I forget the BK pick?  LOL

seriously though, adding a scorer like Durant while keeping our current defense in place?  we'd be nearly impossible to beat, and for some time.

I don't think we can keep Amir if we're going to try and land both Horford and Durant.

However, in an earlier thread a week or so ago I think we all came to the conclusion that it would technically be possible to trade for Butler and still sign both Horford and KD to max deals in the offseason. You'd have to do something like this, though:

Trade Bradley, Rozier, Young, JJ (non-guaranteed salary filler), Brooklyn 2016 pick, Dallas 2016 pick, Boston 2016 pick (future picks if needed) for Butler. Then you'd have to waive Amir's non-guaranteed contract and renounce Sully, Zeller, and Turner (I think that's what you'd do with them - not too well-versed on cap holds with pending free agents). This would leave you with the following lineup:
PG: IT, Smart
SG: Crowder, Hunter
SF: Butler,
PF: Durant, Mickey
C: Horford, KO

No more Big 3's for us - it's now the Fab 4 with the mega-jump in the cap! I wouldn't feel right leaving Crowder out of that equation, though, so let's just go with the Fantastic 5! 

I do still think we could keep one or more of Sully, Zeller, and Turner somehow, though I'm just not sure how the capholds work in their case. Could someone correct me on that? Is there a way to make the trade for Butler and still have room for max contracts for Horford and Durant, while being able to go over the cap to sign one or more of our own free agents in Sully or Turner? Here's the numbers I used - http://www.celticslife.com/2016/02/celtics-sign-al-horford-kevin-durant.html

[KeepRondo]

I think Durant can go to basically any team OTHER than Golden State and be embraced for it.   Nobody gives a crap about him breaking the hearts of Oklahoma City fans.  They stole the Sonics... many people are actively rooting for him to leave them.   Pretty much the only team that he could join and get backlash for it is Golden State.  As much flack as LeBron/Wade/Bosh got for joining forces in some "can't beat em/join em" move,  leaving your team for the defending champion that might break the win record and win back-to-back championships wouldn't go over well.   Definitely would come across like he couldn't win with his own team so he'd just jump on a champion instead.

Not to mention OKC never resigns their players. They let Harden and Jackson go for not much back in return. So it's not like the owner or GM has gone out of their way to build a team for him.

[KeepRondo]

For what its worth I'm starting to see a lot of chatter from fans of other teams suggesting that Boston is the logical choice for Durant.

Doesn't mean he's been linked here, just that people are starting to realize that he could slot right in and contend. Many out there are proposing that all a Durant lead Celtics team would need is an upgrade to the 5 spot and we'd be legitimately the best situation for KD.

Seems like another common sentiment is that it would be good for the league for Lebron to have a legitimate road block on the way to the finals. Nothing to get excited about mind you just a bit of a change in the narrative that he's guaranteed to go to GS or one of the big markets.

Coincidentally, according to Lowe Durant has made it known to some people that Horford would be one of the potential players that he'd like to play with. (http://www.celticslife.com/2016/02/celtics-sign-al-horford-kevin-durant.html)

Combine that with Woj's news that the C's think they have a good chance at signing Horford this summer, and it really seems like the perfect storm to add two excellent star fits to our roster this summer.

Imagine if we could sign Durant and Horford without giving up any assets ?

IT            / Smart
AB          / Hunter
Jae         / Jaylen Brown
KD          / KO
Horford    /Mickey

 

I don't see KD starting at the 4.  If anything I see Crowder as our new 6th man.  With the rumored reports of trying to trade for a star before the deadline I could see another attempt for someone like Love or Butler by draft night that would help lure Horford and Durant in free agency.

           Thomas
  Bradley        Durant
      Horford  Amir

Smart, Crowder, Turner
     KO, Mickey, Zeller

Easily better than any of his OKC teams and you didn't even include the Brooklyn pick.

Maybe we end up with the 1st pick and give OKC Brandon Ingram in a sign and trade. Greatest star player compensation ever.

how could I forget the BK pick?  LOL

seriously though, adding a scorer like Durant while keeping our current defense in place?  we'd be nearly impossible to beat, and for some time.

I don't think we can keep Amir if we're going to try and land both Horford and Durant.

However, in an earlier thread a week or so ago I think we all came to the conclusion that it would technically be possible to trade for Butler and still sign both Horford and KD to max deals in the offseason. You'd have to do something like this, though:

Trade Bradley, Rozier, Young, JJ (non-guaranteed salary filler), Brooklyn 2016 pick, Dallas 2016 pick, Boston 2016 pick (future picks if needed) for Butler. Then you'd have to waive Amir's non-guaranteed contract and renounce Sully, Zeller, and Turner (I think that's what you'd do with them - not too well-versed on cap holds with pending free agents). This would leave you with the following lineup:
PG: IT, Smart
SG: Crowder, Hunter
SF: Butler,
PF: Durant, Mickey
C: Horford, KO

Though I still think we could keep one or more of Sully, Zeller, and Turner somehow, though I'm just not sure how the capholds work. Could someone correct me on that? Is there a way to make the trade for Butler and still have room for max contracts for Horford and Durant, while being able to go over the cap to sign one or more of our own free agents in Sully or Turner? Here's the numbers I used - http://www.celticslife.com/2016/02/celtics-sign-al-horford-kevin-durant.html

Butler and Durant? My mind just exploded.