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[Red94]

New post: On Kevin Durant's free agency
By: Rahat Huq

An interesting nugget in Zach Lowe's latest this week at Grantland:

Quote:

The Warriors have an intense interest in how this all works out. If the cap jumps unchecked into the $90 million range in 2016-17, the Dubs, even with Thompson’s pricey new deal, could re-sign one of the Draymond Green/Harrison Barnes duo and still have enough cap space to fit a max contract for Kevin Durant or some other player.

The Rockets, of course, would also be one of the teams finding themselves in, or close to being in, such a cap situation if the figure jumps at the unprecedented rate.  There's a thinking--I read somewhere--that it may come down to just Wizards and Thunder.  But Houston, Marc Stein first reported, fully intends to pursue Durant, and if he becomes available, I'd like their chances as much as anyone.  Much of this depends on what happens with the Thunder these next two seasons, and this season's circumstances isn't helping matters any.  If Oklahoma City parts ways with Reggie Jackson this summer, as some believe could be the case, you'd have to wonder if Durant would see that as the final straw.

Either way, I have to ask: why is it a pipe dream?  The Rockets will position themselves financially to be able to make a run, and you have to figure they'll still be in contention (especially if this season's start is any indication of what's yet to come).  Is it highly unlikely to happen?  Yes, of course.  But pipedream?  Not at all.  Not unless you think guys don't dream/talk about playing together on the same team one day as their best friend.  As long as James Harden is playing at a high level, in those Chinese national team uniforms, you had better believe the Rockets will at least be a part of that discussion.

[Losthief]

New post: On Kevin Durant's free agency
By: Rahat Huq
 

An interesting nugget in Zach Lowe's latest this week at Grantland:

Quote:

The Rockets, of course, would also be one of the teams finding themselves in, or close to being in, such a cap situation if the figure jumps at the unprecedented rate.  There's a thinking--I read somewhere--that it may come down to just Wizards and Thunder.  But Houston, Marc Stein first reported, fully intends to pursue Durant, and if he becomes available, I'd like their chances as much as anyone.  Much of this depends on what happens with the Thunder these next two seasons, and this season's circumstances isn't helping matters any.  If Oklahoma City parts ways with Reggie Jackson this summer, as some believe could be the case, you'd have to wonder if Durant would see that as the final straw.

Either way, I have to ask: why is it a pipe dream?  The Rockets will position themselves financially to be able to make a run, and you have to figure they'll still be in contention (especially if this season's start is any indication of what's yet to come).  Is it highly unlikely to happen?  Yes, of course.  But pipedream?  Not at all.  Not unless you think guys don't dream/talk about playing together on the same team one day as their best friend.  As long as James Harden is playing at a high level, in those Chinese national team uniforms, you had better believe the Rockets will at least be a part of that discussion.

 

 

For those that don't remember, Jalen Rose mentioned Durant to Houston like a year ago on the Jalen and Jacoby podcast....and sometimes he knows things via contacts that the rest of us don't. I did hear the same rumor you did about washington or okc, but in the same article the writer said he heard it was completely open as well, so seems to be some confusion on that. By the by, Jalen prefaced his idea with the notion that it only applies if the thunder don't win a title before his FA, also said klove and westbrook would team up in LA which isn't happening (at least klove) so theres that as well. I'd put us behind okc and his hometown wizards probably, but at the head of the pack of contenders cause of Harden and the age of our core. Also, Durant's never gotten to play with a true capable center (perkins anyone? lol) so I can only imagine he would like that as well.

Edited by Losthief, 09 November 2014 - 12:08 AM.

[Steven]

For those that don't remember, Jalen Rose mentioned Durant to Houston like a year ago on the Jalen and Jacoby podcast....and sometimes he knows things via contacts that the rest of us don't. I did hear the same rumor you did about washington or okc, but in the same article the writer said he heard it was completely open as well, so seems to be some confusion on that. By the by, Jalen prefaced his idea with the notion that it only applies if the thunder don't win a title before his FA, also said klove and westbrook would team up in LA which isn't happening (at least klove) so theres that as well. I'd put us behind okc and his hometown wizards probably, but at the head of the pack of contenders cause of Harden and the age of our core. Also, Durant's never gotten to play with a true capable center (perkins anyone? lol) so I can only imagine he would like that as well.

Jalen also didn't know LeBron was going back to Cleveland, and that Cleveland would be able to acquire the assets that were required in order to trade for Love.

I'm too worried about the present, to interested in this team as currently constructed to worry about what might happen two off seasons from now. By then Howard/Harden and Co. will already have won back-to-back titles so certain players might not want to jump onto the coattails of our current superstars.