Are the Warriors hurting themselves waiting for Durant?
The Golden State Warriors are waiting for Kevin Durant to make a decision. They could be hurting themselves in the long run if they don’t sign him and let other free agents pass them by.
Whenever you have a chance to acquire a top 3 player in the world, you go for it.
Especially when you already have one of the other ones, your team has one title, and came within two shots of securing a second one in a historic season. Signing Kevin Durant for most teams makes them an automatic contender. For the Golden State Warriors, however, they would surely become the NBA’s next great dynasty.
The basketball world waits for Durant to make a decision. Sure, there are other deals being made, but it’s like a bunch of small space rocks hitting the Earth as a planet-sized meteor is approaching the atmosphere. Many of the contenders are waiting for the former MVP to make his move before they turn to Plan B and C.
The Warriors might not even have those plans anymore. They’re at a point where they’re looking much farther down the alphabet, like Plan H as in “Harrison Barnes” and not “Al Horford.”
Golden State has a legitimate shot at acquiring Durant and, if they can convince him, should do whatever it takes to make the room for him. But they do have a hole at the small forward position, one that needs to be filled by someone who can also play the backup power forward spot as well. In today’s NBA, those guys are almost as valuable as a top-tier point guard. Versatility rules all.
Guys like Nicolas Batum, Chandler Parsons, and even Jared Dudley would have fit into Golden State’s plans. Those players have also all just agreed to deals. There aren’t a lot of great free agents in summer sixteen, but the ones that are useful are being scooped up quickly.
The Warriors also need a center, assuming they trade Andrew Bogut and are leaning towards letting Festus Ezeli walk. The top available center is Horford, who is reportedly nearing a deal with the Washington Wizards or the Boston Celtics. The former Atlanta Hawks big man would fit perfectly in Golden State, showcasing his abilities as one of the most skilled centers in the NBA.
But the Warriors haven’t made a push to acquire him because they’re waiting on Durant.
The Warriors would have to shed Barnes if they're fortunate enough to win the Durant Sweepstakes; Barnes has made it clear he hopes to stay.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 28, 2016
None of this matters if KD signs with the Warriors. Every other free agent acquisition in the league becomes insignificant as teams would just be re-tooling to eventually lose to the new-look Warriors. But if he doesn’t, then the Warriors are in trouble. Big trouble.
By the time Durant decides, Horford will probably be gone. All of the solid available small forward will most likely be on their way to new teams willing to pay them huge contracts. They’ll have to fall back on their worst case scenario and make Harrison Barnes their highest paid player.
They’re in a difficult position. The Warriors should still be all in on Durant, talking in his ear until the moment that his pen hits the paper on his new contract because that’s how damn special the superstar forward is. But they should also be paying attention to what else is left. They can’t quite tell a player “hey, can you hold tight because if this whole KD thing doesn’t work out, we totally want you?” But they should start making some plans with what’s available.
If the Warriors can make Kevin Durant Stephen Curry‘s teammate next season, then the NBA is in trouble. If they can’t, then they might be.