Kevin Durant announced his decision to join the Golden State Warriors in a The Players’ Tribune post on the 4th of July.
“The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction. But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.”
It’s not really fair, is it? I mean, as if the Warriors didn’t already possess outrageous offensive firepower, now this lineup will be downright unstoppable.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not down on this move. Not one little bit. I love it as a fan of offensive basketball.
Kevin Durant has been so close to tasting the fruit of victory, but he just couldn’t seal the deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, he’s joining a group of players in the Bay Area who have already achieved the goal and who have the talent to do it again.
We already know the great Jerry West appealed to Durant’s desire for a championship and related his own experience in the process (more on that here).
Now that Durant is on board, it’s safe to say the Warriors will be huge favorites to win the West and the NBA championship next season, despite losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers last month in the NBA Finals.
Harrison Barnes is gone. The Dallas Mavericks have agreed with Barnes on a max deal that Golden State could match, being that he’s a restricted free agent. But the Warriors have no intention of matching that four-year, $95 million deal.
Durant is signing, per Marc Stein of ESPN, a two-year deal worth 54.3 million with the second year being a player option.
So essentially this is a player-for-player swap. And clearly, the Warriors came out ahead.
Now we’re looking at a starting lineup where Stephen Curry runs point, Klay Thompson is the shooting guard, Durant is the small forward, Draymond Green plays power forward and a big man who has yet to be determined bangs around down low as the center.
One of the first orders of business now for Golden State, sources say, is finding a trade partner for Andrew Bogut to shed his $11 million.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 4, 2016
Taking a look at the average points totals put up by these four, and this starting lineup is capable of absolutely lighting up the scoreboard. Between the four, we’re looking at 94.4 points per game, based on last year’s averages.
Obviously, things might look a bit different when you throw them onto the court at the same time, but this lineup is going to be crazy hard to defend. All four guys can hit the outside shot. The floor will be incredibly spaced, and this team will run.
Durant’s ability to create his own shot and catch and shoot makes him a perfect player to fit into head coach Steve Kerr’s system.
You thought last year’s squad was potent? You haven’t seen anything yet. No team in the West will be able to keep up with this lineup in a seven-game series. And as good as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were in the Finals last month, they won’t stand a chance, either.