Andrew Bogut: "Why" Do the Warriors Need Kevin Durant?
By Jason McIntyre
After the Spurs beat the Thunder by 84 points in Game 1 last month, it was obvious: Kevin Durant, gone!
After the Thunder rallied to eliminate the Spurs, it was obvious: Kevin Durant, staying!
When the Thunder grabbed a 3-1 lead on the Warriors: Let’s stop talking about Kevin Durant’s free agency, there’s nothing to see here.
When the Thunder choked three in a row to lose the series to the Warriors: Well, he’s probably staying but …
It’ll be this way for the next four weeks whether NBA fans like it or not. Teams will pursue Durant.
But will Golden State? In February, the Durant-to-the-Warriors train pulled out of the station, and it didn’t cease until that Spurs series was over. Still, this hasn’t stopped reporters from asking the Warriors about adding one of the best players in the NBA. Here’s what Andrew Bogut told NBA.com:
"“Guys have definitely asked questions. We’re not immune to it. We’ve seen it. We’ve seen the rumors, heard the rumors, all that kind of stuff. Different guys at different times have been scratching their head and thinking, ‘Why?'”"
Everyone caught up in the Warriors back-to-back hype, and the Stephen Curry unanimous MVP award is sleeping on – and understandably so – free agency for the Champs. Locked onto the roster next year is the core – Klay, Curry, Bogut, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala – and the team’s 2015 1st round pick, Kevon Looney.
That’s it.
The team has the option to pick up the contract of Game 1 hero Shaun Livingston. Harrison Barnes will seek a max deal elsewhere. But the mighty bench – Speights, Barbosa, Ezeli – may not return.
The salary cap is going way up. The Warriors will easily be able to afford Kevin Durant, but would he go to the team he nearly just beat?
The chemistry topic will come up, and so will the fact that Bogut turns 32 in November and Iguodala 33 in January.
I think names the Warriors are more likely to pursue are role players like Chandler Parsons and Nic Batum – 3-point shooters who will fit seamlessly into the system.