If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. In its purest form.

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Kinda creepy...

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Kevin Durant didn't take long to make himself at home with the Golden State Warriors.

"It's been hectic. A lot of attention comes with being in this position," Durant said of the free-agency process. "When I met these guys, I felt as comfortable as I've ever felt. It was organic. It was authentic. It was real. It was feelings I couldn't ignore.

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http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16867267/kevin-durant-comfortable-golden-state-warriors

I guess he liked Westbrook, but he didn't "like-like" him.

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He played with Westbrook for EIGHT YEARS. Maybe he simply was at a 'been there, done that' point and ready to play with some different guys rather than be hooked to Westbrook. And if Westbrook was likely leaving after next season anyways and Golden State was a place he was really interested in, then now was the time for Durant to jump while Golden State still had the cap space. If he waited one more season and then Westbrook is bolting, sure he could leave but Golden State would probably no longer be an option with Barnes under max, Curry now under max, etc. So Durant's choices would have been more limited had he waited another year.

I found the quote below pretty interesting. 3 billion dollars worth of contracts signed over the last week, and for the vast majority of teams the end result is probably just about the same as shuffling room furniture around. Could very well just be Cavs vs. Warriors in the NBA Finals yet again next season. The players sure made a lot of money though even if a lot of the shuffling around in the end didn't mean much.

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/07/07/nba-free-agency-winners-losers-kevin-durant-dwyane-wade-pat-riley

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NBA teams combined to hand out more than $3 billion in contracts over the first week of free agency. Three. Billion. Dollars. Even more remarkable than the total amount, however, is how few organizations actually improved their chances of winning the 2017 title. The Warriors did, for sure. But who else? The Cavaliers? Not really. The Celtics? Maybe. The Spurs, Thunder and Raptors? Not at all.

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With the talk of Ray Allen maybe oming out of retirement at 40 years old, here is a blast from the past...Michael Jordan at 40 years old torching the New York Knicks for 39 points, playing 43 minutes. Just look at that smooth shooting...ah the memories watching that guy play...

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I found the quote below pretty interesting. 3 billion dollars worth of contracts signed over the last week, and for the vast majority of teams the end result is probably just about the same as shuffling room furniture around. Could very well just be Cavs vs. Warriors in the NBA Finals yet again next season. The players sure made a lot of money though even if a lot of the shuffling around in the end didn't mean much.

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/07/07/nba-free-agency-winners-losers-kevin-durant-dwyane-wade-pat-riley

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NBA teams combined to hand out more than $3 billion in contracts over the first week of free agency. Three. Billion. Dollars. Even more remarkable than the total amount, however, is how few organizations actually improved their chances of winning the 2017 title. The Warriors did, for sure. But who else? The Cavaliers? Not really. The Celtics? Maybe. The Spurs, Thunder and Raptors? Not at all.

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Spurs traded Boris Diaw and Boban for Pau Gasol who put up 17/11 last year. How does that not improve their chances?

That is a nice upgrade, but Timmy might retire and Manu and Tony are a year older/slower.

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That is a nice upgrade, but Timmy might retire and Manu and Tony are a year older/slower.

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Don't know about Timmy, but he wasn't really a focal point of the team anymore. Manu wasn't either. Tony is the weakest link in the team and the only real upgrade out there for him was Conley who got the biggest contract in NBA history.

Team is still unquestionably upgraded.

Also picked up this new PG.

Allen Crabbe was drafted three years ago and has started 17 games and is about to make damn near 20 million a year.

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Allen Crabbe was drafted three years ago and has started 17 games and is about to make damn near 20 million a year.

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He's a beast on 2K16

https://www.facebook.com/gary.neal2/posts/10153892637564296


Gary Neal hasn't cashed in. Doesn't Neal with it.

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With the talk of Ray Allen maybe oming out of retirement at 40 years old, here is a blast from the past...Michael Jordan at 40 years old torching the New York Knicks for 39 points, playing 43 minutes. Just look at that smooth shooting...ah the memories watching that guy play...

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Is that Elliott calling the game?

Indubitably

Good player. Playing style would fit well with the Spurs. But he likes the weed too much

CJ McCollum was just signed to a 4-year, $106MM extension. That's roughly $26MM/year...for CJ McCollum. It's a good time to be a basketball player.

CJ can ball hard. That dude earned that money. Portland is well coached and will be a good team.

CJ is a great shooter and a good player, but is a minus defender.

Rather CJ for 106mm than Chandler for 94mm.

CJ is one of the worst defenders in the league

Oh I agree. It's just insane to see some of these guys making more than the highest paid player in the league last year.

Dion Waiters signs 2 year deal with Miami for $6 million? Dude must have REALLY wanted to be the number one option somewhere.

Russ Westbrook agrees to a 3y86mm extension.

Was about to post the same thing . What is he thinking? And how relieved does OKC have to feel?

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Was about to post the same thing . What is he thinking? And how relieved does OKC have to feel?

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Answer to question 1: He's thinking he wants to stay loyal to his franchise and give them a chance to restructure the roster around him before he considers bolting. Just because the national media wants to paint him as a "big city" guy doesn't mean he's desperate to get out of OKC. He had a chance to leave a few years ago when his rookie deal was up and chose to stay. Most people gloss over that fact.

Answer to question 2: Very relieved.

This is also the way he can make the most money I believe. The Vertical had an article about it a couple of weeks ago. Apparently he's been working out with Oladipo in LA quite a bit and Billy Donovan has been out there as well. Russ also has very good floor chemistry with Kanter and Adams, this is very good news for them.

Wouldn't he be able to make more next year?

Bill Simmons was saying last week that his best option would be to sign a two-year extension, which make him a 10-year vet with the same team in 2018, which would then enable to make 35% of the cap, which would be something like 5 year, $250MM contract.

$50mm a year? Good lord.

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Bill Simmons was saying last week that his best option would be to sign a two-year extension, which make him a 10-year vet with the same team in 2018, which would then enable to make 35% of the cap, which would be something like 5 year, $250MM contract.

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And you know this contract has a player option for year three, effectively making it a 2 year contract as long as he is healthy.

You're shocked by this?