Kevin Durant to the Warriors is having a moment, but even the most recent and most credible report linking the Thunder star to Golden State contained an important caveat:
Nobody has credibly reported Durant is leaning toward leaving the Thunder. The issue at hand is where Durant would go IF he leaves Oklahoma City.
Except one NBA general manager has gone a step further.
Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago:
Had dinner with a GM a couple weeks back. Talking summer free agency plans while watching an GSW game. Mentioned Ezeli/Barnes (1 of 3)
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) February 2, 2016
I said "they're not letting them go. It's not like they're getting KD". The GM raises turns and said: "what makes you so sure?" (2 of 3)
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) February 2, 2016
Me: "How good is GSW's chances?" The GM said "they're the leaders in the clubhouse."
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) February 2, 2016
General managers know a lot of things we don’t, but like anyone, they can also be prone to repeating gossip and hearsay. Does this general manager have inside info, or is he just participating the echo chamber? Impossible to say, but the possibility of the former raises the level of intrigue.
Of course, the Warriors can’t be the leaders in the clubhouse, because they’re not in the clubhouse. Free agency doesn’t begin until July. Nobody has made their final pitch, not even the Thunder.
It’s fun to make bold predictions now, and this general manager has a chance of looking genius. But sometimes the desire for that designation causes people to get ahead of themselves.