Welcome to San Antonio, KD!!!

[Uriel]

no, he didn't..Lebron's supporting casts were never in the same universe as Durant's..

1. Durant isn't joining a team he just defeated in the playoffs, despite having a terribly flawed OKC team with a rookie coach and no HCA
2. OKC's core is better than San Antonio's
3. Durant-Aldridge would be sooooooo soft

I thought so too at first, but Durant clearly dislikes his OKC teammates. Plus, he obviously has a lot of admiration for Pop. That's the same combination that motivated Aldridge to leave Portland for San Antonio.

[coachmac87]

no, he didn't..Lebron's supporting casts were never in the same universe as Durant's..

1. Durant isn't joining a team he just defeated in the playoffs, despite having a terribly flawed OKC team with a rookie coach and no HCA
2. OKC's core is better than San Antonio's
3. Durant-Aldridge would be sooooooo soft

You're wrong in so many ways...

1. Durant, Kawhi, LMA core would have a guaranteed 3-5 yr window due to locked in contracts. OKC can't pitch that because Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams could all possibly be free agents in same offseason. So what core are you referring to? Next year? Sure. But if Durant is for real coming maybe Duncan, Manu and other ring chasers come along on the cheap.

2. Just because he beats us doesn't mean he won't join. Fine don't join us...Spurs will move on and you'll have to compete the next 3-4 years with Kawhi and LMA and the Warriors. Buttttt if he joins the Spurs that would eliminate Thunder as a contender and pretty much boils down to GSW-SA.

3. What does KD and LMA being soft have anything to do with him coming to SA? Seems like your personsal agenda on a hot ty take

[Uriel]

Unfortunately have to agree. Even if we had smashed OKC and went on to win a le, I don't think KD was coming here. Seems even more unlikely now.

Why? Did you see his body language as he left the court? He clearly had a lot of acrimony for his teammates. If blowing a 3-1 lead in the WCF won't depress the out of you and make you seek change, I don't know what will.

Couple that with his deep admiration for Popovich and the Spurs culture and...

[soxxx]

You're wrong in so many ways...

1. Durant, Kawhi, LMA core would have a guaranteed 3-5 yr window due to locked in contracts. OKC can't pitch that because Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams could all possibly be free agents in same offseason. So what core are you referring to? Next year? Sure. But if Durant is for real coming maybe Duncan, Manu and other ring chasers come along on the cheap.

2. Just because he beats us doesn't mean he won't join. Fine don't join us...Spurs will move on and you'll have to compete the next 3-4 years with Kawhi and LMA and the Warriors. Buttttt if he joins the Spurs that would eliminate Thunder as a contender and pretty much boils down to GSW-SA.

3. What does KD and LMA being soft have anything to do with him coming to SA? Seems like your personsal agenda on a hot ty take

And if KD goes to San Antonio its basically a 2 horse race in the West and not a 3.......... Lot of factors but the ultimate one is stability, OKC does not off stability because the future of Westbrook is very much in the air. KD's worst nightmare would be to sign long term with OKC only to lose Westbrook after one year. It would bury his chances of winning a le in his prime.

[Robz4000]

Starting to think he might leave OKC, but it won't be for the Spurs. Just might land in Boston or even LAC.

[Hoops Czar]

I thought so too at first, but Durant clearly dislikes his OKC teammates. Plus, he obviously has a lot of admiration for Pop. That's the same combination that motivated Aldridge to leave Portland for San Antonio.

I'd like to see some kind of proof or this is just more Spurstalk related hyperbolic garbage

[HarlemHeat37]

Spurs fans have become delusional because the team signed a 3rd or 4th tier name like Lamarcus Aldridge..Aldridge is a top 15-20 player, but he's completely irrelevant to non-hardcore NBA fans, his legacy is irrelevant, and his move doesn't affect endorsements or marketing power..

Durant, while a choker and today's version of Karl Malone, is a generational talent and a top 3 "name" in the NBA..it would be shocking if he decides to join a declining franchise that his team just easily defeated without HCA IMO..not to mention 1 of the building blocks is going to be 31 soon..

[Captivus]

I he leaves OKC and doesnt go to the Spurs, please go East!!! That conference is a joke...and KD knows that

[024]

Why would KD leave OKC for the Spurs? The Spurs bench and supporting cast were outplayed by OKC's players.

Other than swapping Westbrook for Leonard, the Spurs can offer no extra advantages. A cast of Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams, and Kanter is better than Leonard, Aldridge, Parker, and Green. Green might even be gone to make room for a max contract. Other than Leonard, the Spurs' future looks bleak while Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams, and Kanter are all well under 30.

Durant would really have to hate playing with Westbrook to leave.

[Captivus]

I do not like the argument that he is not coming to the Spurs because OKC beat us.

This is how I think it, in math terms, lets give each team a number 1-10 (10 being the best)

Spurs 7
OKC 8
GSW 10

So, GSW is the best of them.

Now...From OKC 8 Pts Durant is 4, If he comes to the Spurs, they will have 11 Pts...so...better than the OKC 8 Pts..

I know this is dumm..bet saying he wont come because he beat the Spurs...thats not rational.

[Uriel]

I'd like to see some kind of proof or this is just more Spurstalk related hyperbolic garbage

Did you watch the game? Throughout the game, Durant's teammates were yelling at each other, pointing fingers, blaming each other for mistakes they made. Even Reggie Miller called it out in the telecast.

If there's one thing that will motivate a man to leave his job to work someplace else, it's working with people one deeply dislikes.

[HarlemHeat37]

The fans see Westbrook taking questionable shots and assume it would persuade Dominos to depart, but we have never heard this from a legit source..

From everything we have seen, Durant loves him and he probably cherishes Russ taking all the heat away from him..he's in a perfect situation, he receives most of the credit when he plays well, but none of the blame when he struggles(which has been the case in their past 2 playoff runs)..the media and fans treat him like a sidekick(in regards to allocating blame), despite being a generational talent..

[Uriel]

Why would KD leave OKC for the Spurs? The Spurs bench and supporting cast were outplayed by OKC's players.

Other than swapping Westbrook for Leonard, the Spurs can offer no extra advantages. A cast of Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams, and Kanter is better than Leonard, Aldridge, Parker, and Green. Green might even be gone to make room for a max contract. Other than Leonard, the Spurs' future looks bleak while Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams, and Kanter are all well under 30.

Durant would really have to hate playing with Westbrook to leave.

Reasons to think Durant will leave OKC to join the Spurs:

1. Played for years in OKC without winning a championship
2. Animosity for his teammates, including having to play with a superstar PG who continually hogs the spotlight
3. Acrimonious end to an otherwise promising playoff run
4. Connection with the state of Texas
5. A deep admiration for Popovich and the culture he's built within the Spurs organization

[coachmac87]

Spurs fans have become delusional because the team signed a 3rd or 4th tier name like Lamarcus Aldridge..Aldridge is a top 15-20 player, but he's completely irrelevant to non-hardcore NBA fans, his legacy is irrelevant, and his move doesn't affect endorsements or marketing power..

Durant, while a choker and today's version of Karl Malone, is a generational talent and a top 3 "name" in the NBA..it would be shocking if he decides to join a declining franchise that his team just easily defeated without HCA IMO..not to mention 1 of the building blocks is going to be 31 soon..

Again you're just stating personal agenda ty takes. LMA is an ALL-NBA player..so in other words he's a very good basketball player and one of the best at his position. How are Spurs fans being delusional? They didn't create the buzz..respected league sources did.

You personally just don't want KD...

[tbdog]

The fans see Westbrook taking questionable shots and assume it would persuade Dominos to depart, but we have never heard this from a legit source..

From everything we have seen, Durant loves him and he probably cherishes Russ taking all the heat away from him..he's in a perfect situation, he receives most of the credit when he plays well, but none of the blame when he struggles(which has been the case in their past 2 playoff runs)..the media and fans treat him like a sidekick(in regards to allocating blame), despite being a generational talent..

Lebron loved Wade, and walked out on him too. There are millions why he will stay and a million reasons why he would go.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

No way Durant leaves this year. He'd have to take less money to move teams, and he'd be doing it a year before the cap peaks.

He'll sign for one year, or two with a player option on the second, then decide in 2017.

[HarlemHeat37]

Again you're just stating personal agenda ty takes. LMA is an ALL-NBA player..so in other words he's a very good basketball player and one of the best at his position. How are Spurs fans being delusional? They didn't create the buzz..respected league sources did.

You personally just don't want KD...

my "take" was correct, Aldridge is not a player you can build a contender around..it has been proven throughout his career, he's 30, time is running out..

But anyways, that's irrelevant..my point wasn't about Aldridge as a player, it's about Aldridge as a name..you can't make an argument that he's relevant to non-hardcore NBA fans..IIRC, he has never even finished in the top 15-20 in jersey sales..for comparison's sake, Tim Duncan was still finishing in the top 15 just 2 years ago, despite being "boring" and way past his prime..that's a real "name" and "star"..Durant is even bigger than prime Tim, from a star perspective..

[HarlemHeat37]

Lebron loved Wade, and walked out on him too. There are millions why he will stay and a million reasons why he would go.

Lebron's situation isn't comparable, though..from a marketing standpoint, his "return home" has generated more positive press than his entire time in Miami..

From a basketball standpoint, he didn't join a team that just defeated him and is on the decline..

[Hoops Czar]

Again you're just stating personal agenda ty takes. LMA is an ALL-NBA player..so in other words he's a very good basketball player and one of the best at his position. How are Spurs fans being delusional? They didn't create the buzz..respected league sources did.

You personally just don't want KD...

In 9 years, LMA has successfully made it out of the first round of the playoffs 1 time. And in that 1 year that LMA had finally succeeded in defeating his 1st round demons, it was because Liliard took over.

[SAGirl]

Spurs fans have become delusional because the team signed a 3rd or 4th tier name like Lamarcus Aldridge..Aldridge is a top 15-20 player, but he's completely irrelevant to non-hardcore NBA fans, his legacy is irrelevant, and his move doesn't affect endorsements or marketing power..

Durant, while a choker and today's version of Karl Malone, is a generational talent and a top 3 "name" in the NBA..it would be shocking if he decides to join a declining franchise that his team just easily defeated without HCA IMO..not to mention 1 of the building blocks is going to be 31 soon..

Not to mention issues of fit and redundancies, all forwards ideally.
Beyond that, a decrepit cast and a bare cupboard on young roleplayers--or so ppl keep telling me anyways.
I really, really doubt he joins us, and I have doubts he would make us that much better too, which makes me not even want him.
We would probably be made much better by getting Adams instead of him.
We would probably improve a lot getting a younger stud of a PG.
My wish list is not available in FA... Durant is not in that list.

To those who say he can play as a SG or PG, his legacy of TO in the crux of games is not something we need to add to our own lot.

[K...]

I do not like the argument that he is not coming to the Spurs because OKC beat us.

This is how I think it, in math terms, lets give each team a number 1-10 (10 being the best)

Spurs 7
OKC 8
GSW 10

So, GSW is the best of them.

Now...From OKC 8 Pts Durant is 4, If he comes to the Spurs, they will have 11 Pts...so...better than the OKC 8 Pts..

I know this is dumm..bet saying he wont come because he beat the Spurs...thats not rational.

this sounds nice, but the spurs lose 2 in the trades to free up space....so 5+4 = 9 and we still lose

[Captivus]

this sounds nice, but the spurs lose 2 in the trades to free up space....so 5+4 = 9 and we still lose

Well...maybe thay add 2 because KD gets double teamed...haha...

I just wanted to make that comment...I do not like that argument (OKC beat us..so he is not coming)

[coachmac87]

my "take" was correct, Aldridge is not a player you can build a contender around..it has been proven throughout his career, he's 30, time is running out..

But anyways, that's irrelevant..my point wasn't about Aldridge as a player, it's about Aldridge as a name..you can't make an argument that he's relevant to non-hardcore NBA fans..IIRC, he has never even finished in the top 15-20 in jersey sales..for comparison's sake, Tim Duncan was still finishing in the top 15 just 2 years ago, despite being "boring" and way past his prime..that's a real "name" and "star"..Durant is even bigger than prime Tim, from a star perspective..

Aldridge is pretty relevant in Durants eyes..he's an All Pro. Aldridge may not be the go to guy to build a championship team is but maybe Kawhi is..and Durant is as well. LMA is the best 3rd option any team can offer right now.

Your take has NOTHING to do with Durant coming to SA..just a personal hot ty take on Aldridge.

[K...]

Trading westbrook for kawhi is actually a big deal. Kawhi is the better complementary player allowing durant to focus on offense. Like parker and green. Westbrook and Durant is a compe ion for touches. Nothing in that relationship is easy.

Maybe russ and KD are friends and maybe they just appear to be as they've been linked together for half a decade in their young lives. Based on personality you'd imagine they are not friends.

[Hoops Czar]

Did you watch the game? Throughout the game, Durant's teammates were yelling at each other, pointing fingers, blaming each other for mistakes they made. Even Reggie Miller called it out in the telecast.

If there's one thing that will motivate a man to leave his job to work someplace else, it's working with people one deeply dislikes.

What you call arguing, I call demonstrating leadership. I wish the Spurs had a player on the court that didn't mind getting in player's faces. Instead, Pop has to do it from the sidelines. It's not uncommon for two alpha players like Westbrook and Durant to go at on the court. Problem, it doesn't have a carry over effect. I don't see any pure hatred between Durant and his teammates. If he had a problem with a role player, that player will be gone in the offseason.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Thunder shop Ibaka in the offseason, The makes Danny Green look like Einstein. How the you foul two three point shooters with the game on the line in successive series is beyond me.