Woj- Cs one of 6 teams to get a meeting with Durant

[fantankerous]

Honestly the best chances for Cs to get Durant are to impress/ intrigue him this summer, but that he ultimately signs a one year deal with OKC, then Cs sign one max FA this offseason (Hordord) and Cs go on to outperform expectations in regular season and playoffs whereas the Thunder and Warriors (biggest threat IMO) underperform. Then I think we have a good shot next summer.

Basically my biggest worry now is that Durant signs with GSW this summer. They are so much closer than we are. They are a loaded contender.

They could but howe would they be able to fit him under the cap?

Renounce Barnes and Ezeli and trade a contract, like AI.  Pretty easy for them to get max space.

Also, depending on how our FA goes, I'd gladly help GS sign Durant by absorbing Boguts contract.

[SHAQATTACK]

I think the thought of comming east , to compete against a new set of guys , whole change of senery , might be enticing . 

I was thinking KD and Ibaka were very tight . Surprised they were separated.

Boston offers a clean slate and serious atmosphere to concentrate on Basketball and not celebrity hose bags , TV weirdo s ,  etc.   

KD like KG before him needs to go to a team that wants to play championship basketball as bad as he does.

OKC ..first ......GS 2nd ....Spurs 3 rd ....Clippers / Celtics 4 choice ......Heat last last.

Durrant has money , and fame ......he needs rings .    It all about basketball at this point in his life.

[knuckleballer]

Honestly the best chances for Cs to get Durant are to impress/ intrigue him this summer, but that he ultimately signs a one year deal with OKC, then Cs sign one max FA this offseason (Hordord) and Cs go on to outperform expectations in regular season and playoffs whereas the Thunder and Warriors (biggest threat IMO) underperform. Then I think we have a good shot next summer.

Basically my biggest worry now is that Durant signs with GSW this summer. They are so much closer than we are. They are a loaded contender.

It would be lame if he went to GS.  It would look like a couldn't beat them so join them type of thing.  If he goes to SA, he will be partnering up with Leonard and Aldridge and to a lesser extent, Duncan and Parker.  If he comes to Boston, it will be his team.  He will be the stand alone alpha with a great supporting cast.  A supporting cast strong enough to win a title assuming we can add one more piece. 

[Cman]

Honestly the best chances for Cs to get Durant are to impress/ intrigue him this summer, but that he ultimately signs a one year deal with OKC, then Cs sign one max FA this offseason (Hordord) and Cs go on to outperform expectations in regular season and playoffs whereas the Thunder and Warriors (biggest threat IMO) underperform. Then I think we have a good shot next summer.

Basically my biggest worry now is that Durant signs with GSW this summer. They are so much closer than we are. They are a loaded contender.

It would be lame if he went to GS.  It would look like a couldn't beat them so join them type of thing.  If he goes to SA, he will be partnering up with Leonard and Aldridge and to a lesser extent, Duncan and Parker.  If he comes to Boston, it will be his team.  He will be the stand alone alpha with a great supporting cast.  A supporting cast strong enough to win a title assuming we can add one more piece.

Yes but that's a big IF. Or he could sign with GSW and probably win 3-4 rings.

[knuckleballer]

Honestly the best chances for Cs to get Durant are to impress/ intrigue him this summer, but that he ultimately signs a one year deal with OKC, then Cs sign one max FA this offseason (Hordord) and Cs go on to outperform expectations in regular season and playoffs whereas the Thunder and Warriors (biggest threat IMO) underperform. Then I think we have a good shot next summer.

Basically my biggest worry now is that Durant signs with GSW this summer. They are so much closer than we are. They are a loaded contender.

It would be lame if he went to GS.  It would look like a couldn't beat them so join them type of thing.  If he goes to SA, he will be partnering up with Leonard and Aldridge and to a lesser extent, Duncan and Parker.  If he comes to Boston, it will be his team.  He will be the stand alone alpha with a great supporting cast.  A supporting cast strong enough to win a title assuming we can add one more piece.

Yes but that's a big IF. Or he could sign with GSW and probably win 3-4 rings.

And forever his legacy will be "he won a lot of rings, but..." 

[Cman]

Honestly the best chances for Cs to get Durant are to impress/ intrigue him this summer, but that he ultimately signs a one year deal with OKC, then Cs sign one max FA this offseason (Hordord) and Cs go on to outperform expectations in regular season and playoffs whereas the Thunder and Warriors (biggest threat IMO) underperform. Then I think we have a good shot next summer.

Basically my biggest worry now is that Durant signs with GSW this summer. They are so much closer than we are. They are a loaded contender.

It would be lame if he went to GS.  It would look like a couldn't beat them so join them type of thing.  If he goes to SA, he will be partnering up with Leonard and Aldridge and to a lesser extent, Duncan and Parker.  If he comes to Boston, it will be his team.  He will be the stand alone alpha with a great supporting cast.  A supporting cast strong enough to win a title assuming we can add one more piece.

Yes but that's a big IF. Or he could sign with GSW and probably win 3-4 rings.

And forever his legacy will be "he won a lot of rings, but..."

He's one of the best scorers and probably the most well liked person in the NBA. And he won a bunch of rings. See, nice guys can finish first.

^^that would be his legacy.

Look I want him to come to Boston. But I'm not sure I buy the "it would be his team" narrative will pull him to Boston.

[PAOBoston]

Honestly the best chances for Cs to get Durant are to impress/ intrigue him this summer, but that he ultimately signs a one year deal with OKC, then Cs sign one max FA this offseason (Hordord) and Cs go on to outperform expectations in regular season and playoffs whereas the Thunder and Warriors (biggest threat IMO) underperform. Then I think we have a good shot next summer.

Basically my biggest worry now is that Durant signs with GSW this summer. They are so much closer than we are. They are a loaded contender.

They could but howe would they be able to fit him under the cap?

Renounce Barnes and Ezeli and trade a contract, like AI.  Pretty easy for them to get max space.

Also, depending on how our FA goes, I'd gladly help GS sign Durant by absorbing Boguts contract.

Right but GS would have zero depth on there roster. Something good that has been a huge strength for them the past couple of years. I mean, they lost game 7 in the last minute. They won 73 games. Do they really "need" him? Do they risk blowing up their 73 win roster?

[MBunge]

Honestly the best chances for Cs to get Durant are to impress/ intrigue him this summer, but that he ultimately signs a one year deal with OKC, then Cs sign one max FA this offseason (Hordord) and Cs go on to outperform expectations in regular season and playoffs whereas the Thunder and Warriors (biggest threat IMO) underperform. Then I think we have a good shot next summer.

Basically my biggest worry now is that Durant signs with GSW this summer. They are so much closer than we are. They are a loaded contender.

They could but howe would they be able to fit him under the cap?

Renounce Barnes and Ezeli and trade a contract, like AI.  Pretty easy for them to get max space.

Also, depending on how our FA goes, I'd gladly help GS sign Durant by absorbing Boguts contract.

The issue with GSW is the culture change.  I know Barnes and Ezeli stunk it up in the Finals but they and AI made up a big chunk of their regular season rotation.  Having Durant would also mean taking the ball out of Draymond's hands a lot.  There is no way Durant is going to be running around off screens like Curry and Thompson.

It seems like a no-brainer but getting Durant would force GSW to become a very different team.

The big advantage we would seem to have is that no one else in that group has the ability to improve their team as much as Boston.  We'll have both the cap space to sign and assets to trade for anyone Durant wants without damaging our core group of players.

Mike

[Boris Badenov]

Yahoo Sports


Sources: KD to host free-agent meetings starting July 1

Yahoo Sports By Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical 6 hours ago

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant is planning to host free-agency meetings at a singular location starting July 1, league sources told The Vertical.

Durant’s representatives at Roc Nation are working to solidify invitations with the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Thunder, league sources said.
The meetings are expected to take place in New York, but teams are still awaiting word on a location.

The Thunder remain the frontrunners to re-sign Durant, likely on a one-plus-one-year deal that will allow Durant to return to free agency in the summer of 2017, league sources said. But more than any other rival suitor, the Warriors have Durant's attention, league sources said.

Durant’s public and private criteria for the free-agent selection process have pertained to a singular focus: the chance to win titles immediately.

Several teams that have interest in Durant – the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards – could still find audiences with him, but appear to be outsiders in the process now.

Durant is planning to leave on a publicity tour in the Far East on July 9, and a decision is expected before the departure date, league sources said.

For anyone doubting Ainge's performance during this second rebuild: look at the teams on that list.

(In particular it gives me such great satisfaction to see that we are on it, and the Lakers, the darlings of the free agent market since forever, are not.)

[knuckleballer]

Honestly the best chances for Cs to get Durant are to impress/ intrigue him this summer, but that he ultimately signs a one year deal with OKC, then Cs sign one max FA this offseason (Hordord) and Cs go on to outperform expectations in regular season and playoffs whereas the Thunder and Warriors (biggest threat IMO) underperform. Then I think we have a good shot next summer.

Basically my biggest worry now is that Durant signs with GSW this summer. They are so much closer than we are. They are a loaded contender.

It would be lame if he went to GS.  It would look like a couldn't beat them so join them type of thing.  If he goes to SA, he will be partnering up with Leonard and Aldridge and to a lesser extent, Duncan and Parker.  If he comes to Boston, it will be his team.  He will be the stand alone alpha with a great supporting cast.  A supporting cast strong enough to win a title assuming we can add one more piece.

Yes but that's a big IF. Or he could sign with GSW and probably win 3-4 rings.

And forever his legacy will be "he won a lot of rings, but..."

He's one of the best scorers and probably the most well liked person in the NBA. And he won a bunch of rings. See, nice guys can finish first.

^^that would be his legacy.

Look I want him to come to Boston. But I'm not sure I buy the "it would be his team" narrative will pull him to Boston.

I just think he would fit really well on Boston considering the players we already have.  We have depth and guys that will take the load off him defensively.  We won 48 games without a star and his skills are exactly what we were most missing.  The team would fit well together while bringing out his best.  He would have to sacrifice his game to fit in on those other teams while he won't need to on Boston.  Add a guy like Horford and I think we can win a title.

[Sketch5]

When KD came to Boston he said he was impressed with the city and the fans, and how it was a family feel. Which I found weird he was either saying it or just noticing it. Meaning he's really eyeing Boston as a final landing spot.

He also talked about how Perk would talk to him about how he loved playing in Boston. And when KD walked the halls he looked at all the pictures and commented about how much history there was.

I think OKC is first, it's hard to leave home. But I don't think we are far behind GSW or the Clipps. Both of those teams could only add KD and small pieces. Boston has a great cap controlled core. You add KD and you still can add an other max and still have some room with vet min, etc. Plus DA can move guys for other guys that are closer to helping how now. Plus one plus side, we just drafted Brown who could be a really good player, and have two more potential 1st rounders that DA can either draft to take over the mantle when KD gets older, or trade for vet help.

While it's a long shot, its still a shot.

[GreenWarrior]

so he's not traveling to each city? he's going to meet with these 6 teams gm's(I suppose)? and meet with them in one location?

yeah this will end just like every other free agent, the team before us will blow 'em away and he'll cancel the rest of the meetings.

[mctyson]

I think of all the teams mentioned, the one that has the best chance to pull him from OKC right now is San Antonio.

[JOMVP]

I think in terms of pure basketball logic, we should make the most sense for Durant. Young core that will be together for awhile that made noise in the east without a top dog, mostly because of how well coached they are. Cap flexibility to add more veteran talent to the young core without changing the team identity, with draft assests that could turn in more special players to the core keeping us contenders even longer. We would be a crazy deep team, much deeper than any other team in the league, Durant wouldn't have to do it alone but he would get all of the spotlight because everyone else are just very good role players.

Warriors and Spurs would have to deplete their depth to get it done and I don't know how it makes sense for all of those guys to need the ball in their hands. Clippers and Heat also make sense but don't have the kind of young core and future assets we contain.

With all that being said. He's going back to OKC, unless he's bothered by that Ibaka trade.

[vjcsmoke]

That's very cool news.  I feel like our best chance of signing him is if we never allow him to leave Boston.  We have to woo him and convincing him that this is his next step to a championship. 

Being on KD's visit list definitely gives us a chance at least.  And even if he doesn't decide to sign up the first visit... if we leave a very strong impression, he might come back to us next year if he signs the opt out type of deal with OKC.