The Golden State Warriors are making it look easy this season as they are 50-5 and could be on their way to breaking the record for wins in a season. This may possibly be the best team we will ever see in the NBA, but somehow they may improve this offseason. The big talk has been about the Warriors possibly making a play for Kevin Durant in the offseason, and they are seen as legitimate threats. However, some in the Warriors organization are not sold on pursuing him, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN.
The interesting thing about the Warriors potentially pursuing Durant is the fact that they wouldn't have to move on from any of their core players to sign him. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green would all be able to remain in place, according to Bobby Marks of The Vertical. The one thing signing Durant would do is break up the Warriors' bench which has been so good for them over the last couple of years.
Among the other moves they would have to make to bring in Durant include trading Andre Iguodala, letting Harrison Barnes walk and moving on from Andrew Bogut as well. That doesn't seem like all that much, but those are three key contributors to the Warriors' success, and there are those who wonder whether it is worth it.
The Warriors are already by far the best team in the NBA and they could keep this current team together for the foreseeable future. The question is whether Durant is worth the risk of messing up the continuity and good thing they have going. I would say yes without any hesitation, but the Warriors have their doubts.
Generally when you have the opportunity to add a top-three NBA player who is still in his prime years, without giving up any of your three best players, you do it. This case is no different. Durant is clearly one of the best players in the NBA, and if he wants to play with the Warriors they should gladly move on from those three players mentioned previously.
Yes, they might lose some depth, and yes, they might lose some cap flexibility in the future, but being able to put four All-Stars on the court together is not something that should be turned down. Thompson, Curry and Durant would be an un-guardable trio, while Green would be doing all of the dirty work. Don't forget they would also still likely have Festus Ezeli, Shaun Livingston and Kevon Looney among others, so it's not like the bench would be completely barren.
The Warriors organization having doubts about pursuing Durant shouldn't be a surprise, and they certainly should have their doubts. The Warriors have been the best team in the NBA, by a long shot, for the past two seasons, and there is something to be said for continuity. Having said that, the opportunity to add Durant is just not one you can pass up, and if Durant decides to leave the Thunder then the Warriors should do everything they can to bring him aboard.
