Was Durant worth it, TBH?

[Mr. Body]

Or even the trade deadline. With the bigs they currently have, Dubs would have no chance against the Cavs.

They'd have a massive handful with the Spurs first.

[sasaint]

They'd have a massive handful with the Spurs first.

It would seem so after tonight. Bottom line is the Dubs will have to make a move before next off-season if they expect to win a le this season.

[Captivus]

They should start Iggy, and move KD to 6th man to accommodate the bench issue.

I do agree that MAYBE Curry, Klay and Durant is not the best lineup...still..is gonna be hard to tell one of them to start in the bench.

Having said that...the Spurs kicked ass tonight...lets see how they continue. I bet many teams are gonna watch this game to see what the Spurs did.

[DMC]

Too early to tell, but how do you get better than they were? I don't think you can. I don't understand the move, but you cannot pass on KD. You cannot. They should have kept Bogut though.

[DMC]

When you have a chance to add someone like KD, regardless of fit, it'd be hard for someone to convince you it's a bad idea. However they did gut their bench for him, moreso than the Spurs did last season for Aldridge.

They should start Iggy, and move KD to 6th man to accommodate the bench issue.

Not only did they lose Bogut(Funny how they lost the finals because they lost Bogut, then ship him off...."Light years ahead") and to add insult to injury they add David West. Not sure sure they're going to be able to manage with their ty big situation.

Nevertheless, they'll still be the favorites, and win 60+ games...If they make some moves like the 2014-2015 Cavs did, they could easily trot to a le.

I don't think you can bench KD. I don't see it happening. He's much better than AI was when he agreed to go to that slot.

[Kawhitstorm]

They need to trade Iggy for Ibaka & convert Klay into a 6th man like Manu. They could start McCaw at the 2 & have him play the Harrison Barnes role on offense.

[spursreport]

Bogut was a huge loss. All his moving screens and pushing/holding in the paint that was never called is a huge advantage. Durant's great offense takes possessions away from other already great offense. Then there is a lot of downgrades at other positions.

I fully expect them to crush the league come playoff time though. Hope I'm wrong.

With who as their alpha? A ing point guard? Kevin "Peyton Manning" Durant? I'll wait for a legit answer.

[AaronY]

Yes bc the rest of the league trots out Rodney Hood and Khris Middleton

Middleton is a damn good player.

[spursreport]

Too early to tell, but how do you get better than they were? I don't think you can. I don't understand the move, but you cannot pass on KD. You cannot. They should have kept Bogut though.

You can't pass on KD like you can't pass on Peyton Manning. Both do amazing things in the regular season, but fold in the playoffs and rely on someone else to bail them out. The only issue is the other alpha is a ing point guard.

[timtonymanu]

One game obviously, but is Iguodala done? He was a non factor tonight.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

They need to trade Iggy for Ibaka & convert Klay into a 6th man like Manu. They could start McCaw at the 2 & have him play the Harrison Barnes role on offense.

That will never in happen. NO TEAMS are going to help GS at this point mark my words. Most execs this offseason were pissed that even Zaza got only 2mil a year when other teams were offering him 5mil more (full MLE).

Iggy is done. Look at his stats tonight. Nobody in his salary range is remotely worth giving up to get Iggy. Plus Lebron would totally crap on this team w/o him. GS is stuck with what they have this year. Next year, after paying Curry his 30 mil a year. they will have about 20-25mil to fill out 7 roster spots. Considering that Ibaka is going to demand an 18-20 mil a year salary, GS would improve w/ Ibaka but their bench would be even worse off than it is already.

Signing Durant was a huge roll of the dice for the Warriors and right now, it looks like they took the wrong gamble as they have no rim protectors on that team. Spurs got 21 off rebounds and that wasn't a fluke, that's called not having any superior rebounders. , David Lee is better than any rebounder currently on GS roster.

[Kawhitstorm]

That will never in happen. NO TEAMS are going to help GS at this point mark my words. Most execs this offseason were pissed that even Zaza got only 2mil a year when other teams were offering him 5mil more (full MLE). Iggy is done. Look at his stats tonight. Nobody in his salary range is remotely worth giving up to get Iggy.

The Magic gave Jeff Green 15 mill b/c they were desperate for anything resembling a 3&D player. They would take Iggy in a heartbeat.

Plus Lebron would totally crap on this team w/o him. GS is stuck with what they have this year. Next year, after paying Curry his 30 mil a year. they will have about 20-25mil to fill out 7 roster spots. Considering that Ibaka is going to demand an 18-20 mil a year salary, GS would improve w/ Ibaka but their bench would be even worse off than it is already.

They can try combating LeBron by fighting fire w/ fire: Durant outscored LeBron in the 2012 Finals. As far as their bench, McCaw is probably a better scorer than Iggy & Looney is their best rebounder, much better than D-Worst. Livingston can replace Iggy in the Death Lineup & allow Curry to play off the ball.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

The Magic gave Jeff Green 15 mill b/c they were desperate for anything resembling a 3&D player. They would take Iggy in a heartbeat.

But the Magic have been playing Green as their 6th man during the last part of the preseason. I read the article when this trade went down as I was surprised OKC traded him as he was the MAIN advantage OKC had over the Spurs (that was until LMA came to the Spurs). Knowing how much Vogel values defense over anything, I don't see him trading Ibaka unless its for Someone like Drummond.

"The defense we played at Indiana that we hope to bring here to Orlando is predicated on having a guy like Serge Ibaka that can protect the rim and be that lead shot-blocker," said coach Frank Vogel, who joined the Magic last month after his contract with the Pacers was not renewed. "The way the NBA is going, defensive versatility is huge."

[313]

I don't think you can bench KD. I don't see it happening. He's much better than AI was when he agreed to go to that slot.

Well, without trying to overreact too much to one game, I'd say they have two options.

Option one is to trade for pieces to fill out bench. Curry and Durant are untouchable, so they'd likely have to trade Klay or Dray + one of their trash PFs(West, Kevon Looney, McAdoo), and maybe a pick.

If they traded Klay, the only other SG on the team is Ian Clark, so they would still need to get a decent SG in return before even getting a piece for the bench. Their back up PF situation is just as bleak so they would face the same struggle trading Draymond.

Option two, which is more viable IMO, is to move Curry or Durant to the bench to help balance the team. Both have decent back ups in Livingston and Iggy that can be solid in the starting role. Would their ego let them? Probably not.

[313]

They need to trade Iggy for Ibaka & convert Klay into a 6th man like Manu. They could start McCaw at the 2 & have him play the Harrison Barnes role on offense.

No way Orlando would go for that IMO and I'm not sure it would be worth it for GS.

In a potential match up with the Cavs the Dubs would now be short their past two best LeBron defenders in Barnes, and Iggy. KD can't hold him.

[Kawhitstorm]

But the Magic have been playing Green as their 6th man during the last part of the preseason. I read the article when this trade went down as I was surprised OKC traded him as he was the MAIN advantage OKC had over the Spurs (that was until LMA came to the Spurs). Knowing how much Vogel values defense over anything, I don't see him trading Ibaka unless its for Someone like Drummond.

"The defense we played at Indiana that we hope to bring here to Orlando is predicated on having a guy like Serge Ibaka that can protect the rim and be that lead shot-blocker," said coach Frank Vogel, who joined the Magic last month after his contract with the Pacers was not renewed. "The way the NBA is going, defensive versatility is huge."

They gave Biyombo a 4 yr contract & have Vuc as the starting center. I'm not sure they can play Biyombo/Ibaka together considering their starting point guard & wing aren't exactly Curry/Durant.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

They gave Biyombo a 4 yr contract & have Vuc as the starting center. I'm not sure they can play Biyombo/Ibaka together considering their starting point guard & wing aren't exactly Curry/Durant.

Biyombo was the worse out of the 4 bigs in the preseason. I could see him getting traded first, but not Ibaka, who was the Magic 2nd best player in the preseason overall.

[Kawhitstorm]

No way Orlando would go for that IMO and I'm not sure it would be worth it for GS.

In a potential match up with the Cavs the Dubs would now be short their past two best LeBron defenders in Barnes, and Iggy. KD can't hold him.

Barnes was absolutely horrific against LeBron, Curry fared better when they were switched onto LeBron. In any case, LeBron/Durant were matched up against each other in the 2012 Finals:

[808]

[Kawhitstorm]

Biyombo was the worse out of the 4 bigs in the preseason. I could see him getting traded first, but not Ibaka, who was the Magic 2nd best player in the preseason overall.

I'm not sure teams are in a hurry to trade for 30 yr old Biyombo & his 70 mill salary when 21 year old Noel is on the trading blocks.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

I'm not sure teams are in a hurry to trade for 30 yr old Biyombo & his 70 mill salary when 21 year old Noel is on the trading blocks.

He is only 24 yo and he is a better rebounder and rim protector than any player currently on the GS roster. He is actually a very similar player to Bogut, not as big but more athletic and more geared to the defensive side of the ball.

And that's the stupid thing of trading Bogut, now to get someone of similar production, you have to get overpriced player like Biyombo. This is a player I could see GS getting and helping them this year. And boy, do they need it around the rim.

[Kawhitstorm]

He is only 24 yo and he is a better rebounder and rim protector than any player currently on the GS roster. He is actually a very similar player to Bogut, not as big but more athletic and more geared to the defensive side of the ball.

Biyombo can't be traded until December & his salary doesn't match w/ Iggy. Besides, Biyombo's contract would up their cap space next summer when they have to re-sign Durant to a super-max like Lebron. (Ibaka has a lower cap hold)

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Biyombo can't be traded until December & his salary doesn't match w/ Iggy. Besides, Biyombo's contract would up their cap space next summer when they have to re-sign Durant to a super-max like Lebron. (Ibaka has a lower cap hold)

I know this, which is why there is no way in Magic are going to trade a guy whose playing value far exceeds his salary at this point in Ibaka for a player whose playing value is lower than his current salary. GS is stuck with what they have this year unless they want to move Klay Thompson, and that is more than likely not going to happen.

[Kawhitstorm]

I know this, which is why there is no way in Magic are going to trade a guy whose playing value far exceeds his salary at this point in Ibaka for a player whose playing value is lower than his current salary. GS is stuck with what they have this year unless they want to move Klay Thompson, and that is more than likely not going to happen.

What in the are the Magic going to do when Ibaka is a free-agent in the Summer?

Seems to me like they signed Biyombo to a long term contract b/c they aren't willing to max out Ibaka.

The Duds could also trade for Tyson Chandler who has a cheaper contract than Biyombo & also get someone like TJ Warren to replace Iggy: http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ha2gbmd

[TheGreatYacht]

OP with the goods, per par