That combined with a major increase in the salary cap & floor, and there you go. Everybody said this was coming. I was watching SportsCenter the other day and one of the analysts said this was going to happen, tons of crazy contracts with all that space.

Mike Conley, who is a very solid player but not a superstar just agreed to 5 years at $153M. That is stupid money.

He's the most boring ****er ever to talk to. His interviews should be shown in sleep clinics.

Joins Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as the only players to make $30 million a year.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING NEWS: Hornets reach agreement with Stan Podolak in 4 year, $74 Million deal <a href="https://t.co/SG6D0b7Ydv">pic.twitter.com/SG6D0b7Ydv</a></p>&mdash; Marvelous David (@Marvelouspapi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marvelouspapi/status/749080504503115777">July 2, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It's crazy to see what's happened to the Lakers....can't even get guys like Al Horford to VISIT.

Man really thought with Kobe retiring, Walton coming in, and some young pieces that they might be an appealing option to FAs but boy was I wrong....

it was always the front office that kept Fa's away recently.. CP3 was excited to come to the lakers.. until stern and that bitch in Cleveland had something to say. It is what it is. I want some heads to roll.

ROFL

LMAO

You couldn't combine the Bulls and Lakers front office to make one good one. Absolute train wrecks

As I say that, the Lakers sign Luol Deng for $70 million lol

That Deng signing would have been great 5 years ago. Lakers are a laughing stock now. I think it's great.

The Celtics bringing in Tom Brady to make their pitch to Kevin Durant.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tom Brady heading to KD meeting as part of Celtics recruitment team (via <a href="https://twitter.com/RCH1I1">@RCH1I1</a>) <a href="https://t.co/eQstsmy946">pic.twitter.com/eQstsmy946</a></p>&mdash; Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/749324092684328960">July 2, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Durant is staying in the west.

Horford signs with the Celtics.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Courtney Lee has agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal with the Knicks.</p>&mdash; Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/749387648154820608">July 2, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Magic sign Bismack Biyombo 4 years 72 million lmao.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...702-story.html

The NBA would love for KD to go to the Warriors I bet. A LeBron/Durant annual NBA Finals matchup.

Looks like it's the Clippers or Thunder at this point.

I think he goes back to OKC for a year, opts out, then we're back at this again lol.

Looks like Clippers out on Durant after signing rivers and Wes Johnson back.

You should know that the Clippers weren't going to make it, because the guy reporting they did a great job was Chris Broussard.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Seems obvious by now but Clippers have been told that Kevin Durant will not be joining them.</p>&mdash; Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) <a href="https://twitter.com/latbbolch/status/749461244952780800">July 3, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Well this is deflating

His sauces are good.

I'd be very surprised if Durant leaves Oklahoma City, but Celtics fans seem to believe he will end up in Boston.

I hope not. God forbid the city of Boston has to endure a brutal 2 years without a championship.

They think everybody desperately wants to play for them. They're worse than Laker fans.

Jazz trade Trey Burke to the Wizards for a 2021 2nd round pick.

Remember when the Wolves were idiots for trading away Burke for Shabazz Muhammed and Gorgui Dieng during the draft?

@timkawakami The sense from Durant to GSWs, according to a source, continues to be that he likes their team but doesn't know if he can/should leave OKC.

Rondo to the Bulls. And to think, they were unhappy with Rose and wanted him gone. Careful what you wish for.

Just don't think he can leave OKC. I'd be shocked.

Thought Clipps would be the perfect place for Durant.

I still think Durant sticks with OKC, might not be long term but there's no reason not to give it another go. I also get a kick out of everyone wanting Durant to go to Golden State after talking shit for a few years about the Cavs having to sign big free agents LMAO

Rondo is a great fit for Fred Hoiberg.

Matt Barnes agree on a 2 year deal 12 million deal with the Kings.

I think he's going to the Warriors now.

That's what sources are saying.

Haha

I wouldn't be surprised either way. When The Logo calls, you listen though.

They may never lose next year.

I miss 90's NBA.

For the most part stars in their prime stayed in their cities.

Unless they played for the Charlotte Hornets.

The Lakers ability to lure free agents left when Jerry West left. Mitch could make trades with no issue, but West was the closer.

We're getting a decision this morning on Durant.

NBA Off-season 2016 thread
 

Kevin Durant is going to sign with Golden State

Do me a solid on this one brah

I was thinking the other day if I had to pick a guy at his peak at each position to go into a Finals series with I'm taking

PG Magic
SG Jordan
SF Bird
PF Malone
C Shaq

All guys that that were in the league in that late 80s early 90s time frame. Such a golden era. I know some guys put up better career numbers for various reasons but at their peaks these are the five.

Official: Durant to the Warriors.

Wow I'm so smart

holy shit he did it

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/kev...-announcement/

Wow...

Good grief. No reason to even play the regular season. Warriors are western conference champions already

These star loaded teams dont always gel. I wouldnt hand out the trophy just yet.

**** the Warriors.

Hope Lebron steals their shit again.

Seattle exhales en masse 'Fuh Q OK'

GS will love his 5 minute to go meltdowns.

I can't believe he did it. He was good enough to create his own legacy and win titles in OKC. Now if he wins it just won't be the same.

Plus these super teams don't always work out. They are surely far and away the favorites but we've all seen these things go south before.

Lebron took his talents to South Beach

Durant taking his talents to Bubb Rubb and a bunch of crackheads

Durant just went from well-liked to villain.


The NBA needs more of this.

feel bad for OKC, for sure they will lose their other superstar in 2017.

OKC will go down as one of the most talented franchise windows that never won.

Where are the people lining up to bash him?

We want these guys to be all about winning titles, but now not so much?

As a former Sonics fan. I don't. You can count down the days starting from now when the NBA will want to move on from small market OKC. Lets just see if Silver has the same hatred of Seattle that Stern did.

I want them to be about completing what they started, and not giving up and trying to hitch a ride on the backs of other players. Same thing with Lebron. Watching Lebron win with CLE the first time would have been awesome. Seeing him do it now after bailing and hitching a ride down in MIA, I didn't enjoy it at all.

To me, if he wins it now, doesn't mean as much. If he had won it in OKC I would have respected it.

Steph, KD, Draymond, and Clay all under 28 years old. The Warriors are going to be a factor in the NBA for the next 5 years.

The flipside is the first Warriors-Thunder game will be must see TV. Westbrook might try to score 130 points.

While I think it's a bitch move from Durant, it's poetic justice for Lebron to be on the other side of this super team trend he created with stars ring chasing in their late 20's.

So business as usual.

Lebron is only on the other side of it because he already did the easy route championship.

They have no control over who drafts them and free agency is their chance to go wherever they want.

The lebron hate is pretty interesting here

Wow I can't believe he did it and went to GS. Just shocking to me. I thought it was a lock for him to go back to OKC for 1-2 more years.

It will be interesting to see the rest of GS's roster though because Bogut and Barnes will be gone along with some of the other role players.

Signs only for 2 years but for $54 million.

If this is what he wanted, good for him. Like O said, this is the first time he got to decide where he gets to play.

Imagine being drafted into a company without being able to choose.

He took less money to play for a better team. We want all the chiefs players to do that.

LeBron had every right to leave Cleveland, it's how he did it that sucked. With that being said, the Cavs didnt have another star player on his team, had no assets to acquire talent and star players don't flock to Cleveland. I understand why he left. Durant is a mentally weak bitch because he just lost to this Warriors team and he has Russ and Adams. NBA is becoming worse by the year.

The best player in free agency chooses to play with the best team in the NBA the past few seasons.

Big shock.

Lol

http://twitter.com/RTSportsTalk/stat...997312/photo/1

You mean like the NFL franchise tag?

The NBA needs something similar. The competitive balance is all out of whack. There are about 5-8 teams too many and only about 4-5 teams with a realistic chance to win it all.

Isn't that normal?

This probably means that Portland is the favorite to win the NW division next year. :thumb:

Nah, I disagree. I think this is different. I think Durant going to GS is going to make him even better. More open looks, it'll show his underrated passing ability, etc. Like Jerry West said, it really will show him as an overall player.

And more importantly, it'll make that team better. Yeah, a 73 win team better. My Lord lol. Durant fits on that team and their style of play like a glove. Can't blame him for making the move. It really was the best decision for him and that GS team. Match made in heaven.

Your original post was implying that we want them to want titles then give them crap for loading up, not about where they are drafted. They can do what they want in FA, but they aren't getting my respect because they"want" a championship that way. Finish what you started. This will be watered down imho.