When Kevin Durant announced that he would be joining the Golden State Warriors, it was a big deal. The rich were getting richer as the Dubs would be adding a second MVP to go with the two-time award winner, Stephen Curry. People instantly brought up the idea of a dynasty.
But after that initial shock, fans and experts tried to “rationalize.” Of course, there were those that said he wouldn’t fit. That they gutted their bench and dismantled their defense for someone who would completely ruin the way the Warriors play basketball.
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Then, once they saw that adding a top three player in the world to the best team in the world actually made them better, they switched their argument. The idea then became that Durant wasn’t going to stay in the Bay. He would leave his team once again.
Durant is on a two year deal with a player option for the second. It’s the same deal that LeBron James does. Basically, he opts out after that first year to re-sign on another two year contract that allows him to earn more money.
Many speculated was that he could pack his bags if the Warriors don’t win the title. He has said that he plans on being with Golden State in the long run. He reiterated that point once again.
Durant joined Marcus Thompson and Tim Kawakami on their “Warriors Plus/Minus” podcast and cleared the air about his future. The only way he could have been more explicit was if he signed the paper on the spot. He told them “I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
Kevin Durant has not gone through all of the scrutiny that he has dealt with just to bolt again. His image, which he seems to care about a lot, only gets worse if he were to leave if the Warriors don’t win a championship. It doesn’t make sense for him to play somewhere else.
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Golden State gives Durant the best chance at winning and winning for several years. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are already locked up and Steph Curry, who is also a free agent this summer, will most likely re-sign with the Warriors. They have a chance to do something special.
It’s very possible Durant’s next move is to the Chase Center, Golden State’s future home in San Francisco. He’ll be a Warrior for several years and that’s scary for the rest of the league.