What's prince Harry's rewRd for playing like gutter trash in the finals? The FREEDOM to leave so GSW can bring in KD. LOADED
Harrison Barnes booted for Kevin durant
- Thread starter crazyduke3
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Good thing for Barnes is that he will be a better player after working with the GOAT this summer.
This disappoints me a bit. I wanted Durant to stay in OKC. I miss the days when star players didn't feel the need to move around.
As for the Barnes thing, I get we don't like him...but the obsession needs to end. This is a big NBA story that has zero to do with him.
As for the Barnes thing, I get we don't like him...but the obsession needs to end. This is a big NBA story that has zero to do with him.
Agreed. I just lose respect everytime one of these guys bails on their team to go get an easy championship.
Yeah, poor Barnes. He's going to get a max contract from the Mavs. Seems like most people think he's pretty darn good, except members of this Board, of course.
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Well, this will give me a reason to like Golden State more next season. I have to wonder what Curry thinks about this, good or bad? I have no idea.
x2, disappointed that Durant didn't just stick out another year or two before he and Russell Westbrook would both be able to leave if they wanted to
No question he's a heckuva talent....but Roy and him can both "Skype Me!"Yeah, poor Barnes. He's going to get a max contract from the Mavs. Seems like most people think he's pretty darn good, except members of this Board, of course.
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I don't really understand the blowback from Durant's decision. He's had 9 years worth of memories, success, and injuries in OKC. I am assuming that he views this move as the best opportunity to win the big prize. What's the difference between him leaving now as opposed to leaving in 17'-18'? OKC won't win it then either, so why not take advantage of the opportunity? From what I have read, he's had the desire to play in GS for at least the last 2 years.
This is the reality of today's NBA. The players and circumstances in the league are much, much different than years gone by. The days of teams winning with just their own exclusive talent (read: drafted) are gone. Additionally, while this maneuver makes GS a favorite to win the title, it is not a forgone conclusion. Moves like this make pro basketball far more interesting in my opinion.
This is the reality of today's NBA. The players and circumstances in the league are much, much different than years gone by. The days of teams winning with just their own exclusive talent (read: drafted) are gone. Additionally, while this maneuver makes GS a favorite to win the title, it is not a forgone conclusion. Moves like this make pro basketball far more interesting in my opinion.
Haha. I enjoy the Barnes ribbing, but I can see how it's getting on some people's nerves. I am impressed we can take the Durant story and make it about HB40 though. Haha.
I honestly don't care about the super teams at this point. The Cavs and Warriors even before Durant were clearly going to be the only two teams in the finals. I did honestly think the Thunder adding Oladipo was huge and they were better without Ibaka, a better guard and more time for Adams and Kanter. But now obviously none of that matters. The NBA is clearly satisfied with a Warriors/Cavs back and forth for the next few years. And frankly, the ratings say they were right.
I'm fine with that, but I want to see the regular season improve and in my opinion, the only to make that happen is to lose the conference structure and the top 16 get in. On top of that, no more lottery percentage. These tanking teams are killing the league. If you keep the percentage tier for the lottery, at least shrink the difference. Either way there definitely needs to be some reform to make the regular season meaningful across the board.
I honestly don't care about the super teams at this point. The Cavs and Warriors even before Durant were clearly going to be the only two teams in the finals. I did honestly think the Thunder adding Oladipo was huge and they were better without Ibaka, a better guard and more time for Adams and Kanter. But now obviously none of that matters. The NBA is clearly satisfied with a Warriors/Cavs back and forth for the next few years. And frankly, the ratings say they were right.
I'm fine with that, but I want to see the regular season improve and in my opinion, the only to make that happen is to lose the conference structure and the top 16 get in. On top of that, no more lottery percentage. These tanking teams are killing the league. If you keep the percentage tier for the lottery, at least shrink the difference. Either way there definitely needs to be some reform to make the regular season meaningful across the board.
Yeah. You got a point there. The Coach K ribbing, the J.J. ribbing, the Grayson ribbing, the Laettner ribbing, the Lance ribbing, the Battier ribbing, the Andre ribbing, the Wojo ribbing, the Collins ribbing, the Gerald ribbing is getting on my nerves too. OFC
But the question remains, is he truly bailing? What, should he stay and fight the good fight because fans think he should (no disrespect)? Should he stick around and not avail himself of opportunities to satisfy a professional goal?
He's won in OKC, but his goal is to win a championship while he is in his prime (with a history of injury). He was loyal to the people in OKC, and had a good career there.
Maybe he felt that Westbrook would leave after next year too. I don't see an enough balls problem at G.S. They will just score about 10 or 15 points more a game. as for barnes this is an OPPORTUNITY for him not having to worry about getting his share of points. Now he can go out and be :that dude" that he told all he was back in the day. Sorry dj and dukehokie I can't help it. I hope he is the worst unc/nba player ever. I just don't care for him but I will support him as a member of our Olympic team. OFC
Don't apologize to me sky. Like I said, I enjoy it, but I can see why other people don't. Any chance I get to rub salt in UNC's eyes I'll take. I don't respect them, I don't like them and I never wish success for any of them. What is it we say? GTHC, GTH. If we say it, let's keep some meaning behind it!
With full context, it us really really hard not to look at this as a completely gutless move. Maybe time and further reflection will change that, but that is certainly my initial reaction. "If you can't beat them, join them" is an old adage, but not one that lends itself to perseverance and toughness. OKC, with KD, would be right there with GSW, as the Western Conference Finals proved. His unwillingness to go toe-to-toe with the champs and dethrone them, which his team was more than capable of doing, is disappointing.
Once again skysdad the true tone of TDD. When he put on that sorry show and declared for the cheats, he became the enemy. I too hope he becomes the worst tar hole NBA product ever despite the fact he will be grossly overpaid to maintain that distinction.
I almost look at this situation with Durant as a concession that he is not a leader and is embracing that. And personally I am ok with that. Just because he's is uber talented does not mean he needs to lead a team. Not every great soldier becomes a general. Westbrook was the leader in OKC. Durant wants a title and I think he knows he wouldn't do it with him as the key guy. It is what it is. No one but the Warriors vs. LeBron was making the Finals anyway.
I can respect his decision. That's what I would've done. KD gets the same money anywhere he plays; why not play for the most fun team in a city that has much more to offer than OKC? Seems like a no brainer to me. He doesn't owe OKC or that franchise anything.
If you want to criticize, take a look at how the player contracts are required to be structured. Why do you have to have league experience to get the bigger contracts (no free market)? Why is there a length limit? Sure, it protects the veterans, but what about deserving young guys?
I remember ol Roy saying "I went to Ames 5 times, he (K) just went once."Count me among those who don't mind this thread one iota....Yeah ol Roy got his Skype, HB his preseason AA freshman status, and neither one of those yrs got to a FF....Love the thread!
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I don't have an issue with chasing a championship via superteams. Curry and Durant will both have to sacrifice some degree of individual glory for the sake of the team. Isn't that what we want out of Duke? When a top recruit like Bolden joins a team that already looks stacked, we respect him for putting team ahead of self. Do we really think more of Hardin for his departure from OKC, which was much more about the opportunity to be the man, despite OKC's potential if he stayed?
On the other hand, specific to Durant, I'm sorry he is leaving OKC. I think around the time of Lebron's regrettable "The Decision," KD quietly re-signed with OKC, saying he wanted to get it over with and do right by a team that had done right by him. I really liked that. I know it's a business, yeah, yeah, but I like the stories that let you forget that for a little while, like KD re-signing with OKC, or Wade or Duncan taking less $ specifically so they could afford a championship piece, or Lebron's return home.
On the other hand, specific to Durant, I'm sorry he is leaving OKC. I think around the time of Lebron's regrettable "The Decision," KD quietly re-signed with OKC, saying he wanted to get it over with and do right by a team that had done right by him. I really liked that. I know it's a business, yeah, yeah, but I like the stories that let you forget that for a little while, like KD re-signing with OKC, or Wade or Duncan taking less $ specifically so they could afford a championship piece, or Lebron's return home.
The story has a lot to do with Barnes. Golden State lucked into Durant. Had Barnes taken the deal GS offered to him last summer, they would not have had the cap room to bring in Durant. Barnes is directly responsible for Golden State's impending dynasty.
On a far more exciting note, Seth curry and lance just got nice deals for themselves. Both were given little to no NBA prospects and have EARNED themselves spots and contracts. Seth was really stuck in d league and climbed his way out. Hope for cook.
Harden was traded by OKC because they were not going to be able to pay him what he was going to command. Harden did not want to leave OKC.
It really has nothing to do with Barnes. It's about Durant. Those kinds of variables are prevalent in all sports....but it's so minute of a detail. The only reason Barnes is being talked about here (because he's not being talked about anyplace else) is because he went to UNC and he spurned us. It's not a blip on anybody else's radar except for Duke fans. This story is 100% about Durant and nobody else.
I actually think Barnes had a slight role in the KD signing. He stunk in the finals. In games 5-6, he went 2-22 and 1-11 from 3. The last three games overall, Barnes was 5-32 from the field, 3-15 from three.
If Barnes plays great in those games and GSW wins the title; or he plays awesome in game 5 and they win; or, if he had a great season overall and really became a more central player with GSW winning a title ... there's definitely a chance they don't make as big a push for KD in order to keep team continuity (though, given it's Durant, that's something they might have still decided to do). But, as it is, they've broken up a lot of their role players, and drafted players (Barnes, Ezeli), to sign Durant.
For me it has nothing to do with how things went down with Barnes' decision. I generally don't root for UNC players in the NBA and root for Duke players (though in the case of GSW, I love the way they play so much that I rooted for Barnes; just as I will root for Barnes to perform well for the USA National Team in the Olympics; but won't be cheering for him at Dallas).
Though I do wish for all those players to have a healthy, productive life and to be a person of good character. But the NBA isn't life, it's a game.
If Barnes plays great in those games and GSW wins the title; or he plays awesome in game 5 and they win; or, if he had a great season overall and really became a more central player with GSW winning a title ... there's definitely a chance they don't make as big a push for KD in order to keep team continuity (though, given it's Durant, that's something they might have still decided to do). But, as it is, they've broken up a lot of their role players, and drafted players (Barnes, Ezeli), to sign Durant.
For me it has nothing to do with how things went down with Barnes' decision. I generally don't root for UNC players in the NBA and root for Duke players (though in the case of GSW, I love the way they play so much that I rooted for Barnes; just as I will root for Barnes to perform well for the USA National Team in the Olympics; but won't be cheering for him at Dallas).
Though I do wish for all those players to have a healthy, productive life and to be a person of good character. But the NBA isn't life, it's a game.
I actually think Barnes had a slight role in the KD signing. He stunk in the finals. In games 5-6, he went 2-22 and 1-11 from 3. The last three games overall, Barnes was 5-32 from the field, 3-15 from three.
If Barnes plays great in those games and GSW wins the title; or he plays awesome in game 5 and they win; or, if he had a great season overall and really became a more central player with GSW winning a title ... there's definitely a chance they don't make as big a push for KD in order to keep team continuity (though, given it's Durant, that's something they might have still decided to do). But, as it is, they've broken up a lot of their role players, and drafted players (Barnes, Ezeli), to sign Durant.
For me it has nothing to do with how things went down with Barnes' decision. I generally don't root for UNC players in the NBA and root for Duke players (though in the case of GSW, I love the way they play so much that I rooted for Barnes; just as I will root for Barnes to perform well for the USA National Team in the Olympics; but won't be cheering for him at Dallas).
Though I do wish for all those players to have a healthy, productive life and to be a person of good character. But the NBA isn't life, it's a game.
Agree here on barnes. It was probably best for him individually that Durant went to the Warriors. I don't think G.S. would have gave him that much and now he has a chance to become more than the 4th or 5th option. Look for his numbers to go up and his supporters to be excited as he will be well on his way to stardom. OFC
I tend to agree with you. But it's an interesting anecdote worth pointing out. Anytime a big move is made, there were always dozens of little coincidences that allowed the move's potential to be realized. Barnes' rejection of last year's offer is one of those circumstances. Along with Curry signing his last contract coming off ankle injuries, the big cap hike this summer, and OKC blowing a 3-1 series lead in the WCF.
Nope, just the goes to UNC part. I've long been an advocate of the get over barnes recruitment task force. Didn't care then, don't care now.
But it does affect him. He played like trash, and were he more valuable they would have kept him. Heck many veteran writers are saying had GSW won the finals, Durant wouldn't have gone there, and certainly Barnes playing like trash was a BIG part of that.
Instead he thought he could do better than GSW and they said well go ahead buddy, we'll roll the dice on Durant. Now he can enjoy not competing for a Championship with the mavs.
I'm all for these young men making decisions that are best for them and their families. If owners can trade you to do whats best for their teams, why cant these young men do whats best for them when given the opportunity? I agree with one poster here, I think these "super teams" make for some interesting basketball.
Just saw the best Barnes comment on Facebook.
"Had Barnes shot tupac he'd still be alive"
"Had Barnes shot tupac he'd still be alive"