What is the Warriors Backup Plan if They Can't Get Kevin Durant?
By Jason McIntyre
The Warriors have less than a week to try and pry Kevin Durant out of Oklahoma City. Free agency begins July 1. Could two big trades this week in the NBA impact Durant’s decision?
The Knicks traded for Derrick Rose, and now there’s chatter they could get Durant. (Won’t happen.) The Thunder traded Serge Ibaka for Victor Oladipo, but it’s anyone’s guess what Durant’s feelings are about the deal. But it’s safe to assume the Thunder ran this by Durant before pulling the trigger. They wouldn’t trade a core member of the team without telling the team’s star, would they?
Let’s assume Durant is cool with this, and down with playing more power forward as the Thunder go small with Steven Adams in the middle and three guards (Westbrook, Oladipo and Roberson). Let’s say – for the sake of argument – Durant stays in OKC.
What’s Golden State going to do? The Warriors are losing Harrison Barnes in free agency. His atrocious Finals aside, they don’t have anyone on the bench ready to step in and play his 30 minutes and shoot 46/38 and score 11.7 ppg and pull in 4.9 rpg for 3/4 of the season. I’m a fan of rookie Patrick McCaw, whom they acquired via trade in the 2nd round, but expecting him to come in and play 25 minutes a night is a mistake.
So how do the Warriors keep from taking a step back – from winning a title and being up 3-1 with a chance to repeat – if Durant is off the table? Remember, the Thunder just added a lottery pick in Domantas Sabonis and a versatile defensive-minded guard in Victor Oladipo. They’ll be improved.
Wacky, creative trades aside – after the Big 3, the Warriors don’t have any tradeable young assets – these appear to be the best options:
Chandler Parsons: Turns 28 in October. Has had some injury problems, never played an entire season. Ideal 3-and-D guy who has shot 41%, 38%, 37% and 38% in the last four years from deep. Better passer than Barnes.
Nicolas Batum: Turns 28 in December. Has had some injury problems. Ideal 3-and-D guy. Sound familiar? Maybe 10 pounds lighter than Parsons. Does have a lot more playoff experience than Parsons.
Dirk Nowitzki: You’re not giving Dirk a lengthy deal like you would the two guys above, and his role would be different. The 38-year old would play far fewer minutes in the regular season with an eye on being clutch in the playoffs.
Ryan Anderson: Just turned 28 in May. Taller and heavier than Parsons and Batum, but has the least relevant playoff experience. If he’s in the lineup of death, it’s safe to assume teams attack him at the defensive end, because he’s a much weaker defender than Barnes, Parsons or Batum. Somebody’s going to pay him a lot of money. Anderson has only made $31 million in his career, so does he chase a massive deal or try to get a ring, something he hasn’t sniffed? Is from California, and attended Cal, for what it’s worth.