January 5, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35, front) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30, back) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 117-91. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors are currently the favorites to win the NBA title this year. The Cleveland Cavaliers were the favorite, but losing Kevin Love for the post-season has hurt their odds tremendously. They might not even be favored in their next series against the Chicago Bulls (if the Bulls can finish off the Bucks).
The Warriors have the Memphis Grizzlies up next and if they are able to get past them, a potential meeting with the defending champion Spurs is lurking around the corner. Regardless of the outcome this year, the Warriors will have some roster decisions to make this off-season. Some are already speculating what the Warriors will do in the coming years in free agency, not just this summer.
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The Warriors already have two Splash Brothers, but is there room for three? According to Mychal Thompson of ESPN LA 710, the Warriors will reportedly pursue Durant hard in free agency in 2016 (9:55):
“I also heard it on good authority from a team that plays in the Bay Area that they’re going to go hard after Kevin Durant.”
Mychal Thompson is Klay’s father, so not only is he a media personality, but he probably has more access to the Warriors than most. He seemed fairly confident when making that statement, so that only makes you believe him even more.
The salary cap will be going up these next two years, which will allow the Warriors to have some cap space next summer. Like Thompson said, David Lee is coming off the books and he is currently the highest paid player, so pursuing Durant makes sense.
Thompson chose his words very carefully and did not give his source, but as Klay’s father and a former player himself, why would he make this up? There is still a lot of time left before the Summer of 2016, but this is definitely an exciting rumor.
Would the Warriors need to clear more cap space? Or would they have to trade one of their valuable assets? That remains to be seen, but the Warriors are already in a position where they are contending for titles, so this could definitely be an appealing place to play for anybody in the league, including Kevin Durant.
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I do expect the Warriors to look at possibly improving at the 3 or 4 slot after these playoffs are over, depending on what happens with the signing of Draymond Green. I did not expect them to even look at Durant because I figured he would go elsewhere, although if he wants to come here, would there be enough basketballs to go around? What an offense this team would have.
Wheres david stern to veto this move. Lol…. non sense this will never happpen I agree with you Murphy831
I don’t think that’s a very good mix. Somebody’s production is going to go down. The W’s are the favorite to win it all this year without Durant, so why would they need to screw with the chemistry of the team to get a guy that 1. They don’t need, and 2. will sacrifice his scoring for the sake of Curry and Clay or 3. They sacrifice they’re scoring for KD. I don’t get it at all. If Durant leaves OKC, I see him going home to DC. He fits in perfectly with them. He’d have two excellent guards in Beal and Wall who don’t need to shoot as much as the splash bros who carry the offense for W’s. They’re also a very good defensive team right now. Besides, KD has a new coach in Billy D and he’s got Westbrook. He doesn’t need Golden State. If he’d been healthy this year OKC is probably the #2 or 3 seed in the west. I just don’t see it. He stays in OKC or moves to DC to be home. Either way he’s in the playoffs and is still the main scoring threat.
Not surprised, since Steph, Andre, and KD, were reported as hanging out together all the time during USA Basketball.