Was Durant worth it, TBH?

[NameLess Scrub]

Lets assume what happend yesterday is a real problem...GSW cant rebound and they have big issues in the next games.
What do they really have to offer to other teams to get another big presence in the paint?
I dont see what player they have that could be traded...

Lets see what happens, if this is a problem (and not against most temas, agasint the best teams) they will start looking for big men in the development league.

They have Klay to offer. Questions is if they will dare to trade him, and if other teams are willing to help them or actually could use Klay as the missing piece.

[024]

of course it was worth it. Not only did they add an MVP player in his prime but they also weakened the WC team that almost eliminated them in the playoffs.

They might suffer this year since they had to gut the bench but they'll get stronger in the future with more FA signings and more drafts/younger players developing. Some above average ring chasing big nearing his mid 30's will inevitably sign with the Warriors through the MLE and the Warriors will have plugged that weakness. Just like how Ray Allen ran to the Heat. The Warriors have all the time in the world since their core is 26-28.

[spursistan]

Bump..

getting raped inside by Nance and Randle ..

The Warriors might have shot themselves in the foot (at least for this season)..Short of a trade for legit big, I am confident in saying they won't reach the heights of last year--and not just defensively, their offense flows from the stops they get..Durant elite volume-scoring won't offset the intangibles guys Bogut/Eezli brought to the table in screening/rolling to open up the corner 3s for shooters. Curry efficiency has already dipped and Klaynus is just barfing up off-rythym shots to get his.

[SAGirl]

good points spursistan... keep preaching...

[MaNu4Tres]

Bump..

getting raped inside by Nance and Randle ..

The Warriors might have shot themselves in the foot (at least for this season)..Short of a trade for legit big, I am confident in saying they won't reach the heights of last year--and not just defensively, their offense flows from the stops they get..Durant elite volume-scoring won't offset the intangibles guys Bogut/Eezli brought to the table in screening/rolling to open up the corner 3s for shooters. Curry efficiency has already dipped and Klaynus is just barfing up off-rythym shots to get his.

Glad people are starting to recognize this aspect of the game.

I think its inevitable that the Warriors make a move at the deadline to bring in help in the front-court. They have S Liv and Iggy to use as semi-expendable pieces.

[timtonymanu]

gutting your team that was one win away from a championship. A team that was dominant for two seasons in a row.

Of course, if I chose between getting Durant or Barnes, I go with Durant. But the Dubs lost a lot of their chemistry and depth (bogut/ezeli/speights/barbosa). They still have a whole season to figure it out, but I'm not one to call the Dubs the favorites just yet just because they have Durant and Curry.

[spursistan]

Glad people are starting to recognize this aspect of the game.

I think its inevitable that the Warriors make a move at the deadline to bring in help in the front-court. They have S Liv and Iggy to use as semi-expendable pieces.

The Spurs suffered a similar dip with the shipping of Tiago/Baynes and later decline of Timmy-- almost zero rolling to suck in the weakside defenders from shooters. Hopefully these Warriors become Exhibit A for "if aint broke don't fix it" Championship teams ..

[SpurPadre]

The real question for the Dubs is: which team(s) will they use as their farm system by the trade deadline, when they will get the big(s) they need for a bag of chips?

[TD 21]

No matter how this turns out, I don't care how good you are, you don't pass up the consensus 2nd or 3rd best player in the world, especially when it decimates your closest conference compe ion.

It might take 1-2 years to find the type of center they need (Jones could grow into it) and they might lose out on a le because of it, but it'll be worth it if it leads to more long term, which is likely.

Besides, Bogut is so broken down that he's probably nearing the end of his best before date and despite his relative youth, Ezeli might be too.

[spursistan]

[james evans]

No matter how this turns out, I don't care how good you are, you don't pass up the consensus 2nd or 3rd best player in the world, especially when it decimates your closest conference compe ion.

It might take 1-2 years to find the type of center they need (Jones could grow into it) and they might lose out on a le because of it, but it'll be worth it if it leads to more long term, which is likely.

Besides, Bogut is so broken down that he's probably nearing the end of his best before date and despite his relative youth, Ezeli might be too.

yes you do turn it down. When you've been to the finals 2 years in a row and had the best record in the league 2 years in a row, you don't gut your defense and entire bench to sign another offensive player that DOESN'T PLAY GOOD DEFENSE to add to your team when you're already the best offensive team in the league. For example, had the 92-93 bulls at the start of the season picked up one of the best scorers in the league at the time(and in NBA history) Dominique Wilkins, but got rid of Grant, Armstrong, Perdue, King, and Williams, who does the dirty work? All of you thought that just because they were adding Durant that his 29 ppg were just going to be added to their current scoring hahaha. Now all of you see what I meant all summer when I was saying, "THERE IS ONLY ONE BALL!!!!"

[TampaDude]

Cavs-Spurs Finals.

Y'all know it's coming.

[BillMc]

Cavs-Spurs Finals.

Y'all know it's coming.

[Nathan89]

Fetus is done so the deal changes more in favor of acquiring Durant. Bogut is injury prone as well and old. They kept their best 2 bench players. West replaces Speights. Basically you get Durant for Barnes, Barbosa, and injury prone Bogut. Durant is the much safer choice.

[HarlemHeat37]

They've been ridiculously good, so far, tbh..#1 offense and #2 defense in the NBA, despite Curry being in a shooting slump(and Klay was in one earlier in the season)..

[spursistan]

They've been ridiculously good, so far, tbh..#1 offense and #2 defense in the NBA, despite Curry being in a shooting slump(and Klay was in one earlier in the season)..

Beating up on the dregs of the league...not as impressive vs.the elite this year (expect the Clippers per par)...

[james evans]

They've been ridiculously good, so far, tbh..#1 offense and #2 defense in the NBA, despite Curry being in a shooting slump(and Klay was in one earlier in the season)..

they've been HORRIBLE on interior defense(what I predicted this summer btw) and once the Cavs started driving the lane christmas day, there was nothing the could do to stop it.

[spursistan]

Durant with the triple double while Curry continues to look like (relatively)..Really surprised by the gulf of performance between these two..It is officially KD's team..

[Mr. Body]

Durant with the triple double while Curry continues to look like (relatively)..Really surprised by the gulf of performance between these two..It is officially KD's team..

Which is problematic for various reasons, but mostly because Durant hasn't had a great playoffs in years.

[cutewizard]

Cavs-Spurs Finals.

Y'all know it's coming.

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

[TD 21]

yes you do turn it down. When you've been to the finals 2 years in a row and had the best record in the league 2 years in a row, you don't gut your defense and entire bench to sign another offensive player that DOESN'T PLAY GOOD DEFENSE to add to your team when you're already the best offensive team in the league. For example, had the 92-93 bulls at the start of the season picked up one of the best scorers in the league at the time(and in NBA history) Dominique Wilkins, but got rid of Grant, Armstrong, Perdue, King, and Williams, who does the dirty work? All of you thought that just because they were adding Durant that his 29 ppg were just going to be added to their current scoring hahaha. Now all of you see what I meant all summer when I was saying, "THERE IS ONLY ONE BALL!!!!"

They're ranked 2nd in defensive rating, a locked in Durant is an above average defender (and a lesser offensive load helps to aid this) and the gutting of their bench, while somewhat true, is also being overblown, especially considering they will likely have at least one superstar and star on the court for all meaningful minutes in the playoffs.

Superstar talent is by far the most difficult and important asset in sports. Virtually everything else can be replaced. Even if their weakened depth costs them this season, in the long run, they'll be better off.

[Robz4000]

They're ranked 2nd in defensive rating, a locked in Durant is an above average defender (and a lesser offensive load helps to aid this) and the gutting of their bench, while somewhat true, is also being overblown, especially considering they will likely have at least one superstar and star on the court for all meaningful minutes in the playoffs.

Superstar talent is by far the most difficult and important asset in sports. Virtually everything else can be replaced. Even if their weakened depth costs them this season, in the long run, they'll be better off.

Not necessarily when you look at what Durant/Curry are going to command in the off season. Both will take up half of GS' salary cap with Raymond/Thompson taking another 35%. That's an exceptional core, but not unbeatable (especially if you take into mind their postseason choking habits). Outside those four they can only build the roster with draft picks/cheap vets. It worked out for the Heat because they had Lebron and all three of Lebron/Wade/Bosh took paycuts to afford better than average vets. Adding Durant was the right move, but unless they're willing to part with one of the other three they may not last as overwhelming Finals favorites.

As for this year it doesn't seem like it'll work out since their only true rival (Cleveland) now matches up much better.

[TD 21]

Not necessarily when you look at what Durant/Curry are going to command in the off season. Both will take up half of GS' salary cap with Raymond/Thompson taking another 35%. That's an exceptional core, but not unbeatable (especially if you take into mind their postseason choking habits). Outside those four they can only build the roster with draft picks/cheap vets. It worked out for the Heat because they had Lebron and all three of Lebron/Wade/Bosh took paycuts to afford better than average vets. Adding Durant was the right move, but unless they're willing to part with one of the other three they may not last as overwhelming Finals favorites.

As for this year it doesn't seem like it'll work out since their only true rival (Cleveland) now matches up much better.

Clark, Looney, McCaw and James, all have the makings of inexpensive rotation players and they'll always be ring chasing veterans willing to take the minimum. Unless James develops into it, starting center could be the one significant weakness for a while, but 29 other teams would trade for their "issues".

The previous 2 iterations of the Warriors weren't unbeatable either and both Bogut (age) and Ezeli (injury) are nearing their best before date anyway.

How does it not "seem like it'll work out" this season? Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but by every conceiveable metric, they're the clear cut best team in the league and unfortunately, barring the unforeseen, they're going to be championship favorites for the foreseeable future.

[Robz4000]

Clark, Looney, McCaw and James, all have the makings of inexpensive rotation players and they'll always be ring chasing veterans willing to take the minimum. Unless James develops into it, starting center could be the one significant weakness for a while, but 29 other teams would trade for their "issues".

The previous 2 iterations of the Warriors weren't unbeatable either and both Bogut (age) and Ezeli (injury) are nearing their best before date anyway.

How does it not "seem like it'll work out" this season? Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but by every conceiveable metric, they're the clear cut best team in the league and unfortunately, barring the unforeseen, they're going to be championship favorites for the foreseeable future.

Cleveland would beat them as of right now in a series if all things remained the same (sans JR Smith coming back from injury). Meanwhile, the Dubs were a Raymond suspension or Bogut injury away from winning in 5 last year. They managed to match up with Cleveland in the past due to their depth and cohesion/chemistry, but this year they've gone massively top-heavy instead. Unfortunately, going top-heavy against the team with the best player (and star players close enough to match their own) isn't the same. Too soon to tell if another team arises to challenge the Dubs out West, but the Cavs will be there to beat them down in the Finals for the next few years.

[TD 21]

Cleveland would beat them as of right now in a series if all things remained the same (sans JR Smith coming back from injury). Meanwhile, the Dubs were a Raymond suspension or Bogut injury away from winning in 5 last year. They managed to match up with Cleveland in the past due to their depth and cohesion/chemistry, but this year they've gone massively top-heavy instead. Unfortunately, going top-heavy against the team with the best player (and star players close enough to match their own) isn't the same. Too soon to tell if another team arises to challenge the Dubs out West, but the Cavs will be there to beat them down in the Finals for the next few years.

I'd lean Warriors, but if that ends up being true, was Barnes, another year older Bogut and Ezeli (who hasn't and won't play a game this season), changing that?

People talk about the Warriors bench, but the Cavaliers are paper thin and reliant on a bunch of old role players, who could (and in some cases, might already have) lose it at any time.