[jacobkeyParticipant]

I’m really tired of hearing about how awesome it is that KD is taking less. The rumors started that he was going to do this shortly after the finals were over. Since then, I’ve heard several times and in several places about how selfless and sacrificial it is that he would take less. Is it really that admirable that he is making $25mil instead of $34mil? I guess it is a little because he could always do the opposite.

But let me ask this question: Is KD’s lifestyle or that of anyone close to him going to alterred in any major way because he took $9mil less??? Is he going to have to worry about paying the bills now? Are his family or any future children he may have going to have to do without in any real way now? KD made $36mil in endorsement money in 2016. Add that to his NBA salary and he made over $60mil in 2016. I could live on that for the rest of my life. No, this isn’t an "athletes get paid too much" argument. KD generates at least that much for his employer(s) and so he obviously deserves to make that money. But can we stop pretending like it’s some significant sacrifice that he’s making? 

It’s not even really selfless either. It’s obviously going to put him in a better position to win another championship and another Finals MVP. 

So, yes, it’s good (for him and the Warriors) that he did decide to take less but I don’t think anyone should think any more or less of him for doing it. It was just the obvious and smart decision to make.

(Full disclosure: I am an OKC native and fan.)

 

 

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

I don’t get how people think he took less for any reason other than to help himself win more championships

[jacobkeyParticipant]

 Which obviously is totally fine but let’s just call it what it is.

[ChoppyParticipant]

 There are very few completely altruistic moves in life let alone the NBA. On the one hand, Durants move is selfless because he takes less money and seems less greedy. On the other hand, it’s selfish, because he gets the chance to win more rings. 

Duncan and Nowitzki are two that I recall that took less for years for the betterment of their teams. No-one really batted an eye at that. Dunno why there is such an issue over Durant doing the same. 

[ChewyParticipant]

 To mean, I appreciate what Dirk and Tim did because they took those paycuts in the twilight of their career. They realised that they weren’t producing to the amazingly high level that they were in their prime and choose to take less money because they could only shoulder less responsibility on their aging shoulders. 

I also love it because they didn’t want to derail their franchise for egotistical reasons. They could of done what Kobe and Wade are doing and ruin a franchise for 2 years all for the sake of their ego. But they didn’t and I repsect that.

KD is in his prime. He can shoulder an entire franchise right now if he choose to, because he is just that damn good. Instead he takes less money to team up with other superstars for an easy championship ring. Very different from what Dirk and Tim did. Also, Lebron did the same thing, so if you hate one for it, you have to hate the other (unless you’re a hippocrate).

Overall, this whole super team buisness doesn’t make me mad. I’m just sad that the NBA has a lower level product with clearly predictable outcomes. I loved the one superstar vs one superstar type battles, like VC vs AI out east in the 2000s. KD moving. Cavs maybe getting Wade or Anthony buyout ect ect It all just makes me that more interested in college ball this Winter.

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

So, there top 7 or 8 guys from the Finals are already locked in?

Big Four, Iggy, Livingston, West, and McCaw.

NICE.

Some good options at center in there, too (Green, Durant, West) without an actual CENTER — with Damian Jones and Jordan Bell probably getting minutes there next year.

This team is a MACHINE and looks like a lock for a 3peat.  Then things will get tight, with Klay needing to get PAID, and KD’s current contract is over.

So many options for Death Lineups (featuring either Iggy, McCaw, Livingston, and Bell) without having signed a veteran center yet (assuming Pachulia, McGee, Bogut, or another cheap veteran center).  

I think they get 70 wins next year… with a 90% chance to repeat.

Yeah, KD signed there (and just resigned), but the team has basically batted .900 in the draft over the past few years… Steph, Klay, Draymond Green, McCaw Jordan, Bell, Looney still might do something, Ezeli was really good, Harrison Barnes, they even turned Epke Udoh into an asset (Bogut?)…

Probably one of the best extended draft runs in NBA history… few strike outs (Udoh, James McAdoo), some doubles, and some absolute HOME RUNS.

They will probably end up with a solid pick next year, too.

If the salary cap and future collective bargaining agreements don’t break this thing up I think they can win 5 more rings in the next six years.  Likely to make a run at the second greatest run in NBA history (behind only Russell’s Celtics) just only because I don’t see them winning more than 4 or 5 in a row even if they finish with 7 or 8 titles by the time this thing is over (they already have 2 with 3 straight Finals appearances).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ChammesParticipant]

 McAdoo wasn’t drafted he was an UFA, and Udoh was just raw he’s tearing it up in Europe and will get a contract in the association soon.

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Durant is also chasing the all-time greats.  Has already won an MVP award, ROY, a bunch of scoring titles and all that.  

NOW he has his NBA title and a Finals MVP trophy.

Looks like they are set up for an extended championship run.

Could lead him with a Jordanesque amount of rings and Finals MVP trophies to go along with his regular season MVP award and scoring titles.

You can also see him getting into the conversation for a 2nd team all defense next year…

At this rate, with his full body of work so far, him being in the PRIME of his career, and the forward trajectory of the Ultimate Warriors, KD looks like a LOCK to end up as a top 10-15 player all time and may end up in the top 5.  AND, if he wins five more rings, then he might be in the discussion for the GOAT.

What if Durant gets a 4peat with four straight Finals MVP?  And, maybe a regular season MVP award/scoring title thrown in there…

He would be in the discussion, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HeroescantdieParticipant]

Technically he did take a paycut, but in the long term, he’ll be more rich with this since he’ll have so many endorsements since he’s the best player from a superteam that can win 4 champoinships, and if he conitnue winning he’ll be more popular, he’ll be like Lebron on the advertisement endorser sense like if LBJ gracing covers of magazines, that is part of being a winner, you’ll be more popular in the world, and your marketability increases, he’ll be like that if he keeps on winning, that 9 mil per year was nothing compared to the deals and endorsements he’ll have if he continue winning.

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

 I acknowledge that he wants to win and respect that but I hate the talent disparity that started with the explosion in the salary cap. This just continues the trend of lack of parity and hopefully it doesn’t continue to spread although for the next 2-3 years it will be the only way to combat this Warriors super team. NBA could be in big trouble in a few years because of this.

Side note but how ridiculous is it that the newly signed Kevin Durant And Otto Freaking Porter will be making about the same money!? NBA is a weird weird place right now

[EndlessknightParticipant]

The issue isn’t the “explosion in the salary cap” but the max contracts. By putting such a relatively low cap on max player contracts it allows teams like GSW to have multiple world class players.

Jordan made 33M per season 20 years ago. If there were no max contracts guys like LBJ, Curry and Durant would get 45-50M/yr easily. Thus no team could afford to have more than one.

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasherParticipant]

 Taking less money helps the team keep other players which in turn helps the team win more games and now Durant has more lucrative contracts outside of the NBA because of it.  NBA money is just a drop in the bucket for the mega stars.

 

[phwillParticipant]

 The main benefit of KD taking a cut is his billionaire owner saves millions in luxury tax payments. Curry didn’t seem to share his team spirit and I doubt Klay/Draymond will either when its their time to re-up. Many NBA players make more money than they’ll ever need in life, and most negotiations are about power/respect, but KD’s certainly not making any friends in the league and I think he’ll end up regretting it when he’s older.

In the playoffs he said "if you don’t like blowouts, change the channel"…NBA playoff revenue comes up short and the cap goes down, hurting all the players hitting FA, and we’ll likely see more of the same with another playoff repeat. With KD on a 2 year deal and Klay in a contract year next year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see KD jump to the next team that looks up-and-coming to slide into another championship. I just dont’ think he’s proving what he thinks he is by winning titles by injecting himself into ready made contenders. 

 

 

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 Is this even really an issue? He wants to win, hes still making LOOT. 

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