I'm a little salty, he blows the western conference finals playing hero ball and then runs to the team that beat him.
I hope Cleveland goes back to back :)

Bogut & Barnes to Dallas. They just broke up the best regular season ever. Kerr must be able to sell ice to eskimoes. Not sure i like this. If Curry plays better in game 7 & they win does this happen?

Gasol to Spurs? Delly on 10 mill a year!

It's all gone mad.

IMO it's a massive overreaction by the Warriors. They'd have you think they went 41-41 and not 73-9.

They shouldn't have even gone after Durant.

Hoping it blows up in their face purely because I hope that level of greediness doesn't get rewarded.

Have lost a huge amount of respect for KD now. He damn well left to the team that beat him in the WCF. The same team they were beating 3-1. If Durant signs with OKC, they have the best roster in the league in terms of strength at every position.

On the plus side, we will get to see Westbrook put up video game numbers and absolutely tear things to shreds.

Will OKC go after Wade for a one-year deal?

Well, I've got no clue? I can't read Wade's mind.

I only said that because he's really the only target left for OKC in this FA.

They don't need a Dwight or Gasol. They have one of the best if not the best interiors in the game.

That is a terrible move for the game of basketball.

I hope that they get knocked out in the conference finals and then get broken up as a result of cap lock when Curry's contract comes up next season.

Frankly both Curry and Durant are the less for this move.

This is worse than LeBron and the Decision in 2010, GSW already had a record beating 73 game winning team. Is this the most shameless move in the history of the NBA? I can't think of anything else that would come close to matching.

OKC would have to cut salary / renounce rights to get any substantial free agent. They are over the soft cap so could resign players with bird rights (KD) but not a "new" free agent.

No terrible for basketball;

People will tune into every game they play

The league/fans have a new villain team to cheer against.

Durant can do what he wants. He put up with cost cutting throughout his early career then shoddy moves lately like getting Waiters and Kanter for first round picks. Also, he gets away from Westbrook who must be difficult to play with.

I had been slowly lured back to the "NBA fan club" after my self-exile bought on by the post Jordan decision by the NBA to grasp the "gangster/rapper/tattoed/braided hair/not about basketball" era.

KD's immaturity as a player was on full display in all its raw glory during the finals, i was so looking forward to watching him become (over the next couple of years) the greatest of all time.

This makes them ALL look stupid and brings the NBA into disrepute.

i am now officially back in NBA self-exile....

Agree 100% with Macdub.

"...He has no more to prove as far as leading weak rosters to potential greatness..."

Because a roster that also had Westbrook, Ibaka & once upon a time, James Harden, is weak?

You need some air.

I don't think that the Warriors will be the darlings of the NBA and 'everyone's second favourite team' any more.

Becoming like Football now.. No parity in the league.

The best regular season team in history + a healthy 2 years removed MVP in his prime.

Not enough ball to go around..

Heat 2.0

There's a tweet from KD in 2010 floating around that says "Now everybody wanna play for the heat and the Lakers? Let's go back to being competitive and going at these peoples!"

Pretty funny comment now.

It was funny when the Warriors lost this year after being compared to the Bulls, and it'll be funny when they (hopefully) get beaten again next season. No point being angry about it, at least it'll keep things interesting!

Ummm OKC are approximately $24 million under the cap as of now.

U'hemmm and GSW is approximately how much over their salary cap now?

I am not sure what to make of this decision, other than to say that with three outright scorers on the court at once, who will play defense?

Without Bogut, who will protect the rim?

I guess the Warriors will just go out there with a mindset of 'catch us if you can' basketball next season...

I feel for OKC, unless they can replace the gaps they could drop away, they got so close this season, what now for them?

I wondered a similar thing about Bogut Bear. As successful as small ball has been for them, they always had flexibility to have Bogut's defensive presence in the middle. That's gone now.

They're going to outscore most teams regardless now, but defense becomes more important in the playoffs/finals.

YOU ALL QUESTION DURANT AS A PERSON....

BUT REALLY HE IS A FREE AGENT AND A TEAM HAS SIGNED HIM ITS ALLOWED

Of course it's allowed. I questioned why he's doing exactly the same thing now that he was bagging others for doing 6 years ago. Probably fair enough I would have thought.

People are well within their rights to questions the motivations behind a decision like this. If it's simply the best $$ and the chance to win a title, then that's fine. But he hasn't said that, he said it was "based on the potential for my growth as a player" and some crap about the challenge of living in a new city. Garbage.

Comment from the Seattle community:

"Meh, such happens"

Westbrook could be traded now.

They don't want Westbrook to walk next year without getting something for him

If Westbrook doesn't sign a long term deal, i think they will trade and rebuild again.

Such a sad story. Breaks my heart.

I'm disappointed for Bogey. How has he reacted to being traded to Dallas?

I think Bogut was going to be traded not matter what, GSW was getting tired of not being able to rely on him due to injuries.

Probably good for him to go to a new team and get a fresh start with new coaches and trainers.
Dallas is said to have some of the best personnel staff in he NBA so it could work out for him.
If not he is only under contract for 1 season and most teams will have a ton of cap-space again next off-season.

For what it is worth he seems happy about it on social media.

Wouldn't everyone want to play for Steve Kerr? Money and title chance aside, that would be a pretty strong factor for wanting to go to GS.

Almost everyone here is right at the same time. It's his call, it abides by the rules, it's taking the easy road, it's great for NBA publicity, it harms parity and uncertainty in the league, etc.

I think Durant's worried about his legacy and not wanting to be one of those guys that got their stats but never a ring (Malone, etc), and probably issues playing with Westbrook.

Really, the NBA should have done more to maintain a level playing field. Now, a team can instantly go from dark horse or contender to rebuilding with one move.

One option I like is the idea of a hard cap, but no maximum player salary. So, LeBron can get paid $50-80m, but might not have the best team around him.

The NBA has been a joke for years. Back in the day guys like Jordan, Magic and Bird had too much pride to try and team up on the same team then that mindset of trying to make your own team better went out the window in 2010 when LeBron & Bosh bailed on their teams to team up with Wade in Miami because they were fearful of never winning a ring themselves.

To LeBron's credit he did eventually go back to the Cavs and now won a title with them but this is again rank cowardice by Durant. His team wasn't ever good enough to win a title and then after choking away the WCF to the Warriors turns around and signs with them. If you can't beat them join them.

Modern day NBA on full display once again.

"The NBA has been a joke for years. Back in the day guys like Jordan, Magic and Bird had too much pride to try and team up on the same team then that mindset of trying to make your own team better went out the window in 2010 when LeBron & Bosh bailed on their teams to team up with Wade in Miami because they were fearful of never winning a ring themselves."

Yep an another thing I've noticed is that no one has any pateince anymore.

The concept of waiting and watching teammates improve and work towards the championship is now non-existant. Everyone is looking for a quick fix - get a bunch of stars together in FA and win the thing.

The 90's concept of keeping a core team together, improving and working their way up is gone.

Minnesota could do that with their current core, but knowing the modern day NBA, they"ll probably split up and rebuild if they don't win the thing in 3 years.

Magic and Bird didn't need to team up. They both had hall of famers all over the court.

Patience - Durant was in OKC for 9 years...

KD did what is best for him.

Isaac - "no maximum player salary. So, LeBron can get paid $50-80m, but might not have the best team around him."
I like this idea although the middle class players like Delly in the union will never vote for it as it will erode the middle class.

Anti-competitive behaviour

If the Lakers were vetoed by the NBA for CP3, why isn't this vetoed?

KET - trades can be vetoed (although very rare). Nothing can be done with a free agent signing with a team if it fits within the terms of the CBA.

Step Curry's highly underpaid contract and the new bump in the salary cap makes this all possible.

^me

Oh and not just the series either, Curry hit the massive shot in OT- possibly the shot of the season, in regular season to beat OKC...then the series. Rivalry now gone. GONE. Disappointing.

*I meant to say I don't care how many rings Durant gets in GWS, obviously

NBA needs to look into some sort of Franchise tag type situation

Westbrook, who by all reports now wants out anyways.

Really? All the reports I'm reading suggest the opposite.

Yep. He hasn't stated outright that he's NOT staying, but he is not willing to sign an extension this season. So that's a risky proposition for the Thunder. Keep him and hope he signs when he opts out, or trade him now while still under contract and get some players and picks for him?

They wouldn't want to lose 2 top 10 players for nothing. Trading him seems the smart thing to do, and he's a LA boy who went to UCLA. Lakers would throw a lot at OKC to get him there, and they have plenty of assets.

The Lakers aren't going to deal with OKC if he's going to end up there as an UFA anyway. They'll have to deal with someone else, like Boston (Thomas plus pick) or Phoenix (one of their guards + pick)
It's an interesting one now with Durant gone as to what his mindset it though - stay and be the No.1 guy or move on.

Yeah you're right about the Lakers, but if he's being offered around by OKC, then they'll have to move on him if they want him.

They will, then it comes back to what the best deal OKC can do is I guess.

Certainly if he doesn't re-sign, they have to move him. Can't have another star just walk away for nothing and potentially completely cripple the franchise.

lol at respecting barkley & malone for not doing it.......lets just forget the ring chasing that they both did shall we......

Would it be too risky for Boston to trade for Westbrook?

I mean what happens if he goes to Boston and leaves in next year's FA to somewhere like the Lakers. (I assume Boston takes over his current contract which 'expires' end of next season?).

Wouldn't that mean Boston could be giving up Thomas and Bradley for example for good to 'rent' Westbrook for a year.

If Westbrook isn't going to sign a long-term extension, he surely won't sign it with Boston.

He wants to go to the Lakers and he wants to sign a new deal there next season so he can cash in.

Anyone that has him in the meantime is just taking on the risk of him leaving without getting anything in return?

If he really wants to sign an extension in a new place like the Lakers for example, OKC could do a sign and trade with LAL. That way it's not just a rental and the Lakers would be more willing to give up assets (Russell and Ingram, picks etc).

But then again Speed, you could argue the Lakers have a good chance at getting Westbrook next year anyway without having to give up Russell & Ingram now.

Should they take the punt and bank on being able to get Westbrook in FA without the need to give up guys/picks now?

Barkley joined Houston in his mid 30's. Malone took a pay cut at 40 to play with Kobe and Shaq.

That's hardly comparable to joining a team who won a championship and then won 73 games and lost the finals in 7 the next season, while in your prime.

Even Lebron went to Miami and was starting a new team with other stars. Durant is literally joining a pre existing team who have already proven they're championship material.

Yep Macdub, that is true, but if OKC start shopping him around which they will do, who knows what could be agreed. If OKC or let's say Ainge for example, talk Russ into a sign and trade to gain assets, then the Lakers miss altogether.

Once someone is being shopped, you can't really take the risk of saying "well he loves LA, he'll come to us next offseason".

If I'm the Buss family, and I know Russ the hometown boy who wants to come home, is being shopped around the league for assets, with possible S & Ts being mooted, I throw my hat in the ring.

Both your scenario and this one are quite possible. OKC will do everything in their power to get something out of/for him, and I think Russ wouldn't want to hurt the franchise more than it has already been hurt so he might be able to be talked into a S & T.

I just can't see OKC letting him go for nothing is what I'm long-windedly trying to say. They will be willing to accommodate all parties to at least get a pick for him.

Also, if you trade for him, you get his Bird rights. If you sign him on a 1+1 deal in FA, you don't.

Interesting off-season, I feel bad for OKC (even as a Spurs fan who has been frustrated by the bloody bogey side for years!).

Going from nearly beating the Warriors in the WCF to potentially losing the house and all its effects...

Without Durant they won't be nearly as competitive obviously, given Westbrook is sort of on shakey ground in terms of commitment to OKC, I suspect OKC will trade him. The Thunder are a well managed organisation, I don't think they'll be too rash in doing it, I think they'll be methodical in their strategy.

The glitz glamour and fashion of the Lakers looks ideal for Westbrook. Plus LA probably want to get rid of D'Angelo Russell, that gives them something tradeable. Westbrook is 27, the Lakers have a decent set of young players - the question is whether Westbrook is happy to wait a few years for them to develop.

For instant competitiveness, Celtics look a good fit and probably have some tradeable pieces (Net's draft pick?). If I was Rus, i'd bail to the Celtics - he'd have a real chance of being "the man" while getting to the ECF and in the immediate future, not long term like LAL.

Any other options being talked about? I can't really think of any. Jalen Rose proposed the idea Spurs with Lakers/Celtics acting as a third team in the trade, but he loves just saying crap.

Not sure there's much else besides LAL and BOS.

Pat Riley is always looking to pull in stars, Dragic is locked up on a long deal so a bit of security in return for OKC, but MIA would have to add Winslow to make that palatable for OKC, not sure Pat would do that.

The bigger markets like the Knicks and Bulls would probably take a look if he was put on the block, despite their offseason moves.

Minnesota? Their PG stock is probably their weak point in their lineup. Rubio not really as advertised, and Dunn is still an unknown quantity. Depends on who they're willing to get rid of, and would Russ be willing to sign long term there?

Other than those, can't imagine anyone else in the running.