Series Thread: WCF: 1) Golden State Warriors vs 3) Portland Trail Blazers

yoga≈surfing said:

Continually bringing up OKC/Durant's departure from them/Warrior shaming for signing him.... is tantamount to...

+ =

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To be fair, there's some truth to the idea that KD is ready to move on and try to get a ring somewhere else. But that doesn't make his Warriors run any less valued and it certainly doesn't have anything to do with asterisks. We got the parades and they didn't

thunderc said:

Yeah my opinion of what he did has nothing to do with him leaving OKC, that was his right. I hope the guy goes and wins a real title, I really do. He won’t be satisfied if he doesn’t, no matter what he says.

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I’d say he has no problem winning titles at GSW. He could have left twice already and he is still there, with two rings and two finals MVP. Could go three for three this year and if I’m not mistaken — he took less money than he could have had.

OKC would have been SO much better off if Westbrook walked and Durant was who they built around. Westbrook is too selfish to ever win anything.

msgkings322 said:

To be fair, there's some truth to the idea that KD is ready to move on and try to get a ring somewhere else. But that doesn't make his Warriors run any less valued and it certainly doesn't have anything to do with asterisks. We got the parades and they didn't

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Durant is ready to move because he can go play in any major market and still have the team surround him with other superstars, especially with this upcoming Free Agent class.

Unless Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are willing to accept contracts worth less than their value — GSW will have to break the team up.

Klay makes 18 million, Draymond makes 16 million. Hell — even Durant takes less. He is paid 5 million less than Curry.

One has to go, possibly two. Will be interesting what GSW will do. Durant can hit FA this year again. Klay hits FA market this year and Draymond hits open market in 2020.

msgkings322 said:

To be fair, there's some truth to the idea that KD is ready to move on and try to get a ring somewhere else. But that doesn't make his Warriors run any less valued and it certainly doesn't have anything to do with asterisks. We got the parades and they didn't

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Honestly it wouldn't really bother me *if he did leave.
The Warriors will be okay either way.

TrustMeIamRight said:

I’d say he has no problem winning titles at GSW. He could have left twice already and he is still there, with two rings and two finals MVP. Could go three for three this year and if I’m not mistaken — he took less money than he could have had.

OKC would have been SO much better off if Westbrook walked and Durant was who they built around. Westbrook is too selfish to ever win anything.

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I would never disagree that they would be better off, didn’t go down that way though.

yoga≈surfing said:

Honestly it wouldn't really bother me *if he did leave.
The Warriors will be okay either way.

Spoiler

*disclaimer: just as long as it's to my Knicks...

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Conflict of interest

Warriors finish them off

msgkings322 said:

Conflict of interest

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Who knows for sure what KD is thinking?

I wonder what the current Warrior run does to his chances of leaving?

I could see I though both ways:

1) I need to go, so I can beat them and prove they needed me for those titles.
2) If I go, they might win without me. Damn. I better stay.

msgkings322 said:

Conflict of interest

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Nope....not at all.

I grew up in NYC and been a Knicks fan since 1967-8.

Also been a fan of the Warriors ever since the '72-3 season...
The Nate Thurmond,Rick Barry,Cazzie Russell, Jim Barnett ,Walt Hazzard era.

Thru thick & thin on both teams.
And there's been a lot of thin over the years....lol

tlance said:

Who knows for sure what KD is thinking?

I wonder what the current Warrior run does to his chances of leaving?

I could see I though both ways:

1) I need to go, so I can beat them and prove they needed me for those titles.
2) If I go, they might win without me. Damn. I better stay.

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2nd option much more damning, IMO.

Just imagine if he goes out East and KD doesn't win, but the Warriors somehow pull of another ship. His legacy is tarnished even further than if he stayed.

msgkings322 said:

Yes I'm just afraid of the truth about asterisks. Just another sheeple.

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lol, stealing "sheeple" for life...

so, is today gonna be sweep day...?

CitySushi said:

2nd option much more damning, IMO.

Just imagine if he goes out East and KD doesn't win, but the Warriors somehow pull of another ship. His legacy is tarnished even further than if he stayed.

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So, you saying KD about to re-up?

Better question.

What do the Warriors do if forced to choose between KD and Klay?

Could they possibly tell KD to walk?

tlance said:

Who knows for sure what KD is thinking?

I wonder what the current Warrior run does to his chances of leaving?

I could see I though both ways:

1) I need to go, so I can beat them and prove they needed me for those titles.
2) If I go, they might win without me. Damn. I better stay.

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He already knows they can win without him. They did it before he signed on.

I think Durant’s decision will come down to the other FA’s and if he can find the right fit with the right team. If NY or LA can put together another superstar or two along with Durant — I think he goes.

It is fiscally impossible for GSW to sign Green and Thompson to max deals, where both will have suitors making them the offers. GSW would be laying a luxury tax of 100+ million the first year and 150+ million the second year. So that isn’t happening.

ChiefsLakers67 said:

lol, stealing "sheeple" for life...

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I wish I could say it's mine but that's a pretty common word in overheated political debates

tlance said:

So, you saying KD about to re-up?

Better question.

What do the Warriors do if forced to choose between KD and Klay?

Could they possibly tell KD to walk?

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How would they be forced to choose?

TrustMeIamRight said:

He already knows they can win without him. They did it before he signed on.

I think Durant’s decision will come down to the other FA’s and if he can find the right fit with the right team. If NY or LA can put together another superstar or two along with Durant — I think he goes.

It is fiscally impossible for GSW to sign Green and Thompson to max deals, where both will have suitors making them the offers. GSW would be laying a luxury tax of 100+ million the first year and 150+ million the second year. So that isn’t happening.

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Green has one more year before he gets paid. They can afford to keep the band together one more year, but that's it. If KD does stay will it be for a long term deal? Doubt it.

tlance said:

So, you saying KD about to re-up?

Better question.

What do the Warriors do if forced to choose between KD and Klay?

Could they possibly tell KD to walk?

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In all honestly...maybe. Team dynamic has always been something the Warriors have factored in. Even before signing Boogie to a MLE (which still boggles my mind that it was able to happen), Bob Myers didn't SNAP accept it. He called the players to ask if they would mind. And if I had to bet money on it, I'd say Steph was the first guy he called.

Klay is one of the lowest maintenance, high performance players in NBA history. Him and Steph have a clear chemistry where even with KD and Steph it's mixed results. They make it work because of the deferential nature of Steph, but it's not completely seamless. There are hiccups at times with those two. But Klay is always Klay. You know what you're going to get from him.

Plus the Warriors are always forward thinkers. If they don't keep KD this time around, I doubt the team will stay complacent. They will look 2-3 years down the road and see what the next options available for them might be. Giannis is obviously a pipe dream, but I'd bet every single dollar I have that the Warriors have somewhere locked away in a drawer somewhere a plan where they believe they might be able to get him. Not saying it's realistic, but they've for sure thought about it.

The Warriors planned to go after KD years before he was a free agent. I wouldn't put it past them thinking they could reel in someone else in the future too.

TrustMeIamRight said:

I love LeBron, but he went back to Cleveland for one reason — it gave him the best chance to win a title.

If Bosh and Wade were healthy and still in their prime — he’d have stayed where he was. Cleveland had another star in Kyrie and a deal in place to bring in Kevin Love. That’s why he went back to Cleveland. If Cleveland hadn’t had the #1 pick in the draft 3 times in 4 years — James never would have went back there.

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Nobody is going to a place that has nobody.

I mean, yea they had Kyrie, but that was good for 33 wins the year before. And Kevin Love is OK.

I mean, nothing of the magnitude of the 2nd best player in the league going to the team that broke the record for most wins in history.

Seriously though, it just depends what kind of fan you are.

I like seeing competition. I like underdogs. I like inspirational stories. Other people just want to see their team crush every team in their path.

I was the person who called BS when the original Dream Team came out. Who the hell wants to see the USA crush every country by 55 points. With the college kids, you had some damn good games, and they could still have won for another 10 years or so before prep to pros.

msgkings322 said:

How would they be forced to choose?

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If KLay said he was tired of being 3rd option and would go elsewhere if KD returned.

That would force GS to choose if both wanted to resign.