Welcome to San Antonio, KD!!!

[Leetonidas]

Durant seems like the kind of beta who cares greatly about his perception. he knows he will look like a massive chump joining the 73-9 warriors imo. I'm guessing he will stay in OKC but if he leaves for one of the few winning teams in the league he has to know that joining SA would tarnish his legacy the least

[RD2191]

KD is a beta got. I'll ride or die with lma, kawhi and the porkster next season. Idgaf.

[TheDoctor]

I suppose..Warriors are much more popular than the Spurs, though, which negates that IMO(not to mention Durant is better than Curry, and just as popular)..

The Spurs culture isn't really built for players worrying about their personal brands, though..

From a branding perspective going from OKC to SA it's a lateral move at worst.

[look_at_g_shred]

KD is a beta got. I'll ride or die with lma, kawhi and the porkster next season. Idgaf.

sucks that we missed out on MVP Ulis tbh..

[BatManu20]

[RD2191]

sucks that we missed out on MVP Ulis tbh..

, don't remind me.

[r0drig0lac]

Because he's joining the 2x MVP. Durant would be the face of the Spurs...

Pretty simple tbh

Would you like me to get more specific or you get it?

if he really go to the Golden State or San Antonio, is signal that do not care about the negative media, then the obvious choice would be the best situation in terms of basketball (golden state logically), anyway this is just an opnion .

ps: the fact of being in contact with so many euros (Nikola, Lorbek, etc.) it makes me think there is something next season, perhaps Durant, who knows

[8FOR!3]

I don't get the notion that us losing to them ruined our chances. If anything I think that series made it pretty clear that OKC is better than us if we don't have Durant, but the Spurs with Durant could easily beat OKC with Durant.

[coachmac87]

I don't get the notion that us losing to them ruined our chances. If anything I think that series made it pretty clear that OKC is better than us if we don't have Durant, but the Spurs with Durant could easily beat OKC with Durant.

It didn't. Buck Harvey needs to stop writing articles...he's about to eat just like the last one he wrote

[Keepin' it real]

When Pop meets with KD, I expect him to be like Coach Norman Dale in Hoosiers when he talked to Jimmy, "I don't care whether you play on the team or not."

[SpursforSix]

When Pop meets with KD, I expect him to be like Coach Norman Dale in Hoosiers when he talked to Jimmy, "I don't care whether you play on the team or not."

I don't care. As long as we're done by middle of May.

[Ron Swanson]

I don't care. As long as we're done by middle of May.

Napa Valley is really nice that time of year.

[tbdog]

I don't get the notion that us losing to them ruined our chances. If anything I think that series made it pretty clear that OKC is better than us if we don't have Durant, but the Spurs with Durant could easily beat OKC with Durant.

Exactly. Spurs losing means we decrease our chances. Warriors losing in the finals increases their chances. That logic /s

[BillMc]

I can only read a snipped of Kevin Pelton's ESPN Insider article but here is what it says about the Spurs:

Kevin Pelton writes that a San Antonio roster with Kevin Durant replacing Danny Green should set a franchise record for wins next season before regressing following the retirements of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobilli

Full article is here (for anyone with Insider, unlike me): http://espn.go.com/nba/insider/story...ba-free-agency

[spurtech09]

Well I don't think KD will sign with the Spurs buy hey it doesn't hurt to try......

[raybies]

[.G.]

Niggz is saving the best for last.

[cutewizard]

best decision is still the Spurs, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED!

[cutewizard]

TO KEVIN DURANT, here let a wizard help you man................

this is the year 2016, now think of one hundred years from this date.......

one hundred years from now, there will be dozens of NBA champions

but basketball experts and researchers will still rave about the accomplishments of the San Antonio Spurs!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[soxxx]

Im still optimistic about this whole thing, it kinda feels the same with Aldridge last year

[YGWHI]

I can only read a snipped of Kevin Pelton's ESPN Insider article but here is what it says about the Spurs:

Full article is here (for anyone with Insider, unlike me): http://espn.go.com/nba/insider/story...ba-free-agency

Full Kevin Pelton's article.


Who will give Kevin Durant the best chance to win a le? What about multiple les? We have six teams for KD to consider.

Last week, the Oklahoma City Thunder star told reporters that he plans to make "a basketball decision" about his future when he becomes an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career on July 1.

Durant clarified that, to him, a basketball decision means, "Just who I'm going to be playing with and the people I'm going to be around every single day, that's what it's all about for me."
When it comes to the people he might play with, we can't be of much help. But when it comes to teams and players, we can provide input here.
My multiyear player projections can help shed light on which of the six teams Durant plans to meet with -- the Thunder, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, L.A. Clippers, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs -- gives him the best chance of winning in the near future.

---

Heat: Only here because of Pat Riley and South Beach

Unlike 2010, when the Heat could afford to sign the best free agent on the market ( LeBron James) plus another All-Star ( Chris Bosh) and bring back a third star ( Dwyane Wade), Miami's cap position is not as strong this time around.
Barring Wade taking another huge pay cut, signing Durant would almost certainly mean letting go of unrestricted free agents Luol Deng and Hassan Whiteside, two of the Heat's top players. Free agent Joe Johnson also isn't included in this projection. That's three of the five players who logged the most minutes in the Heat's playoff series win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Without Whiteside, the 27-year-old Durant would be hitching his fortunes to a team led by players in their 30s: Wade (34), Bosh (32) and Goran Dragic (30). As a result, even with Durant and assuming a return by Bosh, Miami is projected as about a 50-win team next season, declining from there.
If Durant really wants to play in South Beach, his better bet might be waiting until next summer. If Bosh is forced into medical retirement, the Heat could probably find enough room to sign Durant next year while also retaining Whiteside this summer.

Clippers: Bad long-term play

Of the six teams that have reportedly set up meetings with Durant, only the Clippers don't have a path to sign him outright using cap space. The Clippers would need to work a sign-and-trade to bring Durant to Los Angeles, and my projections have them sending Oklahoma native Blake Griffin to the Thunder in return.
Because the Clippers would be giving up one of their stars, their 2016-17 projection doesn't call for huge improvement: about 62 wins, which would be a franchise record but would have been good for only third in the West in 2015-16.
Alas, 62 wins looks like the high-water mark. Acquiring Durant and re-signing Chris Paul when he can opt out of his contract next summer would exhaust the Clippers' cap space and lock them into an aging core with few avenues for improvement. The star power on the roster and the allure of L.A. would surely help the Clippers sign ring-chasing free agents, but those players would also likely be in their 30s, making it difficult to build sustainable success.
As a result, my projections suggest the Clippers dipping to 56 wins in 2017-18 and dropping to 52 wins the following season -- one fewer than they actually won in 2015-16.

Spurs: Short window for big success

Now we're talking. Under the assumption the Spurs would clear the necessary cap space to sign Durant by trading guard Danny Green and forward Boris Diaw, with veterans Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili returning and taking smaller salaries to facilitate the move, I estimate San Antonio winning 70 games next season -- three more than this year's franchise-record total.
Durant would essentially replace Green in the Spurs' starting lineup, an enormous upgrade after Green slumped to 33.2 percent 3-point shooting in 2015-16. With Durant, San Antonio would surely be favored to win the le.
The window might close quickly, however. The likely departure of Diaw and backup center Boban Marjanovic would only put more importance on the 40-year-old Duncan, and Ginobili (who turns 39 in July) remains a key reserve. In the event both retire after next season, as I project, the Spurs would have little flexibility to replace them.
As a result of their departures and the decline of other veterans on the roster, I project San Antonio dropping to 53 wins in 2017-18 and 52 the following season -- similar to the Clippers' projection.

Celtics: Sustainable success

While the Celtics are considered long shots to land Durant, they might have the most interesting pitch from one standpoint: Boston could sign Durant without sacrificing anything from a roster that won 48 games last season.
Even without factoring in free agents Jared Sullinger ( and his lofty projection), Evan Turner and Tyler Zeller, the Celtics are pegged for approximately 62 wins next season with Durant. And unlike the aging rosters of other Durant suitors, Boston figures to move up from there.
After all, the Celtics could still add a high lottery pick thanks to the ability to swap with the Brooklyn Nets next year (with another unprotected Nets pick on the way in 2018). And the Celtics could pay Durant his new, higher maximum in the summer of 2017, re-sign Kelly Olynyk and still have some $20 million in cap room based on current projections.
By 2018-19, the projections have Boston (with Durant) topping out at 67 wins.

---

Thunder: Gambling on Westbrook's return

As I noted in comparing the Thunder to the Washington Wizards last November, when the Wizards' hopes of bringing Durant back home seemed much more realistic, any projection for Oklahoma City has to take into account the wild card that is Russell Westbrook's unrestricted free agency next summer.
If Westbrook re-signs, the Thunder should remain a top contender in the West for the foreseeable future with Durant. Dealing 26-year-old Serge Ibaka (who also can become an unrestricted free agent after next season) for a package headlined by 24-year-old Victor Oladipo last week only enhanced Oklahoma City's long-term outlook. With both stars, the Thunder are forecast for 60-plus wins each of the next three seasons.
Without Westbrook, however, it will be tougher for the Thunder to compete. If Westbrook leaves outright via free agency, Oklahoma City's projection (with Durant) drops to around 49 wins in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The Thunder could potentially recoup value by trading Westbrook instead, but it would be hard to replace a top-10 player in the league.
Westbrook's free agency is an additional reason, along with the chance to make more money next summer, why a two-year contract with a player option on the second season would make sense if Durant re-signs in Oklahoma City.

Warriors: The most compelling 'what-if?'

All the other lofty projections pale in comparison to what the Warriors might be able to do with Durant. I've assumed that to clear the necessary space, they'd allow Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli to leave as free agents and trade Andrew Bogut. Such a scenario would leave Golden State woefully thin at center, but keeping Ezeli and trading Shaun Livingston instead doesn't change the analysis much.
With 2013-14 MVP Durant joining Stephen Curry (who has won the last two MVP awards) along with All-Stars Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, I project the 2016-17 Warriors for 76 wins -- three more than Golden State won during a record-setting 2015-16 regular season.
In reality, the Warriors would almost certainly fall short of that standard. This kind of projection can't take into account the diminishing returns when superstars team up, because there's only one ball to go around (and from a statistical standpoint, only a fixed number of possessions to use). But consider that the upside for a Warriors team with Durant.
Depending on the free agents the team could sign for the minimum, Golden State could be perilously thin. Still, the possibility of staggering minutes to have either Curry or Durant on the floor at all times would be terrifying for opponents. And the cap math works out remarkably well for the Warriors, who could max out Durant, re-sign Curry and still have about $12 million left over next summer to re-sign Andre Iguodala and Livingston or find replacements.
There are plenty of reasons Durant to Golden State might not happen, including how rare it would be for a superstar signing with the team that just beat his in the conference finals. Still, from a basketball standpoint, there's no doubt the Warriors give Durant the best chance of success, both short-term and long-term.

---

[BillMc]

Full Kevin Pelton's article.


Who will give Kevin Durant the best chance to win a le? What about multiple les? We have six teams for KD to consider.

Last week, the Oklahoma City Thunder star told reporters that he plans to make "a basketball decision" about his future when he becomes an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career on July 1.

Durant clarified that, to him, a basketball decision means, "Just who I'm going to be playing with and the people I'm going to be around every single day, that's what it's all about for me."
When it comes to the people he might play with, we can't be of much help. But when it comes to teams and players, we can provide input here.
My multiyear player projections can help shed light on which of the six teams Durant plans to meet with -- the Thunder, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, L.A. Clippers, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs -- gives him the best chance of winning in the near future.

---

Heat: Only here because of Pat Riley and South Beach

Unlike 2010, when the Heat could afford to sign the best free agent on the market ( LeBron James) plus another All-Star ( Chris Bosh) and bring back a third star ( Dwyane Wade), Miami's cap position is not as strong this time around.
Barring Wade taking another huge pay cut, signing Durant would almost certainly mean letting go of unrestricted free agents Luol Deng and Hassan Whiteside, two of the Heat's top players. Free agent Joe Johnson also isn't included in this projection. That's three of the five players who logged the most minutes in the Heat's playoff series win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Without Whiteside, the 27-year-old Durant would be hitching his fortunes to a team led by players in their 30s: Wade (34), Bosh (32) and Goran Dragic (30). As a result, even with Durant and assuming a return by Bosh, Miami is projected as about a 50-win team next season, declining from there.
If Durant really wants to play in South Beach, his better bet might be waiting until next summer. If Bosh is forced into medical retirement, the Heat could probably find enough room to sign Durant next year while also retaining Whiteside this summer.

Clippers: Bad long-term play

Of the six teams that have reportedly set up meetings with Durant, only the Clippers don't have a path to sign him outright using cap space. The Clippers would need to work a sign-and-trade to bring Durant to Los Angeles, and my projections have them sending Oklahoma native Blake Griffin to the Thunder in return.
Because the Clippers would be giving up one of their stars, their 2016-17 projection doesn't call for huge improvement: about 62 wins, which would be a franchise record but would have been good for only third in the West in 2015-16.
Alas, 62 wins looks like the high-water mark. Acquiring Durant and re-signing Chris Paul when he can opt out of his contract next summer would exhaust the Clippers' cap space and lock them into an aging core with few avenues for improvement. The star power on the roster and the allure of L.A. would surely help the Clippers sign ring-chasing free agents, but those players would also likely be in their 30s, making it difficult to build sustainable success.
As a result, my projections suggest the Clippers dipping to 56 wins in 2017-18 and dropping to 52 wins the following season -- one fewer than they actually won in 2015-16.

Spurs: Short window for big success

Now we're talking. Under the assumption the Spurs would clear the necessary cap space to sign Durant by trading guard Danny Green and forward Boris Diaw, with veterans Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili returning and taking smaller salaries to facilitate the move, I estimate San Antonio winning 70 games next season -- three more than this year's franchise-record total.
Durant would essentially replace Green in the Spurs' starting lineup, an enormous upgrade after Green slumped to 33.2 percent 3-point shooting in 2015-16. With Durant, San Antonio would surely be favored to win the le.
The window might close quickly, however. The likely departure of Diaw and backup center Boban Marjanovic would only put more importance on the 40-year-old Duncan, and Ginobili (who turns 39 in July) remains a key reserve. In the event both retire after next season, as I project, the Spurs would have little flexibility to replace them.
As a result of their departures and the decline of other veterans on the roster, I project San Antonio dropping to 53 wins in 2017-18 and 52 the following season -- similar to the Clippers' projection.

Celtics: Sustainable success

While the Celtics are considered long shots to land Durant, they might have the most interesting pitch from one standpoint: Boston could sign Durant without sacrificing anything from a roster that won 48 games last season.
Even without factoring in free agents Jared Sullinger ( and his lofty projection), Evan Turner and Tyler Zeller, the Celtics are pegged for approximately 62 wins next season with Durant. And unlike the aging rosters of other Durant suitors, Boston figures to move up from there.
After all, the Celtics could still add a high lottery pick thanks to the ability to swap with the Brooklyn Nets next year (with another unprotected Nets pick on the way in 2018). And the Celtics could pay Durant his new, higher maximum in the summer of 2017, re-sign Kelly Olynyk and still have some $20 million in cap room based on current projections.
By 2018-19, the projections have Boston (with Durant) topping out at 67 wins.

---

Thunder: Gambling on Westbrook's return

As I noted in comparing the Thunder to the Washington Wizards last November, when the Wizards' hopes of bringing Durant back home seemed much more realistic, any projection for Oklahoma City has to take into account the wild card that is Russell Westbrook's unrestricted free agency next summer.
If Westbrook re-signs, the Thunder should remain a top contender in the West for the foreseeable future with Durant. Dealing 26-year-old Serge Ibaka (who also can become an unrestricted free agent after next season) for a package headlined by 24-year-old Victor Oladipo last week only enhanced Oklahoma City's long-term outlook. With both stars, the Thunder are forecast for 60-plus wins each of the next three seasons.
Without Westbrook, however, it will be tougher for the Thunder to compete. If Westbrook leaves outright via free agency, Oklahoma City's projection (with Durant) drops to around 49 wins in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The Thunder could potentially recoup value by trading Westbrook instead, but it would be hard to replace a top-10 player in the league.
Westbrook's free agency is an additional reason, along with the chance to make more money next summer, why a two-year contract with a player option on the second season would make sense if Durant re-signs in Oklahoma City.

Warriors: The most compelling 'what-if?'

All the other lofty projections pale in comparison to what the Warriors might be able to do with Durant. I've assumed that to clear the necessary space, they'd allow Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli to leave as free agents and trade Andrew Bogut. Such a scenario would leave Golden State woefully thin at center, but keeping Ezeli and trading Shaun Livingston instead doesn't change the analysis much.
With 2013-14 MVP Durant joining Stephen Curry (who has won the last two MVP awards) along with All-Stars Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, I project the 2016-17 Warriors for 76 wins -- three more than Golden State won during a record-setting 2015-16 regular season.
In reality, the Warriors would almost certainly fall short of that standard. This kind of projection can't take into account the diminishing returns when superstars team up, because there's only one ball to go around (and from a statistical standpoint, only a fixed number of possessions to use). But consider that the upside for a Warriors team with Durant.
Depending on the free agents the team could sign for the minimum, Golden State could be perilously thin. Still, the possibility of staggering minutes to have either Curry or Durant on the floor at all times would be terrifying for opponents. And the cap math works out remarkably well for the Warriors, who could max out Durant, re-sign Curry and still have about $12 million left over next summer to re-sign Andre Iguodala and Livingston or find replacements.
There are plenty of reasons Durant to Golden State might not happen, including how rare it would be for a superstar signing with the team that just beat his in the conference finals. Still, from a basketball standpoint, there's no doubt the Warriors give Durant the best chance of success, both short-term and long-term.

---

Many thanks for posting this!

[kobyz]

If he go to warriors it's a sure le for him cause they almost a perfect team even without him, if he go to the spurs there is a risk spurs to still blow it with their soft mentality, so going to spurs it's too much pressure for him as he could end up the biggest joke all time if not winning the le after the ring chasing... So no way he come to spurs... End thread!

He is going to GSW! They can offer him the amazing chance for like a 5peat and that will charm him!!

Once again for like the million times I'm the only bright person here around all of you ers and morons... lol you all not saw it coming! You should have learn by now to start listen to me!!!

[Budkin]

.

[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..