The CSL

When the San Antonio Spurs started this season 13-0 with a majority of those games on the road, teams began to fear the new-look Spurs. However, for unknown reasons the team has trended just as cold in the opposite direction, as they have won only 3 of their last 16 games. Many franchises around the league are beginning to wonder if the Spurs are becoming worried they might lose their superstar F Kevin Durant as he becomes an unrestricted free-agent this off-season.
The Spurs did attempt to bring in talent to surround him with this past off-season. It all started with Jeremy Lin, who many feel they overpaid for in what was a hectic off-season around the CSL. The contract may not be too detrimental in the short-term however at 27-years old, Lin is committed for 4 seasons and over $74 million. Wesley Matthews is another role-player that was brought in to sway Durant's opinion on the franchise's direction. Matthews is owed upwards of $38 million over these next 4 seasons. Are Lin, Matthews and what's looking to be a mid-range first rounder this off-season, all Durant needs around him to be a title contender. If this season has anything to say on the situation, it seems not. Although we'll see what the Spurs decide to do moving forward, to try and divert this potential crisis.

Depending on how the rest of the season goes - and there still is a ton of season left - San An should consider getting creative. If you finish the season with a marginal record and/or miss the playoffs, you're going to be fighting a losing battle imho.

Well, Durant's missed 9 of those games (feels like more, honestly) and they've beaten Chicago with him, so I wouldn't be worried. 12-1 wasn't a sustainable start, but the Spurs are obviously a high-end team with Durant.

BizGilwalker wrote:Well, Durant's missed 9 of those games (feels like more, honestly) and they've beaten Chicago with him, so I wouldn't be worried. 12-1 wasn't a sustainable start, but the Spurs are obviously a high-end team with Durant.

Oh wasn't aware of the Durant injury. That's very important thing to note. Lol If that's the case then they should be fine, although that does bring up questions on the depth of this team for a playoff run.

NanashiWake wrote:

BizGilwalker wrote:Well, Durant's missed 9 of those games (feels like more, honestly) and they've beaten Chicago with him, so I wouldn't be worried. 12-1 wasn't a sustainable start, but the Spurs are obviously a high-end team with Durant.

Oh wasn't aware of the Durant injury. That's very important thing to note. Lol If that's the case then they should be fine, although that does bring up questions on the depth of this team for a playoff run.

Yeah - but even with a healthy Durant, they still lost to a struggling Golden State team and an uncompetitive Dallas squad.

Think someone is trying to stick into the PA's head that Durant should leave San Antonio for New Orleans?

Rizzo wrote:Think someone is trying to stick into the PA's head that Durant should leave San Antonio for New Orleans?

NanashiWake wrote:

Rizzo wrote:Think someone is trying to stick into the PA's head that Durant should leave San Antonio for New Orleans?

Hahahaha - priceless.

And I wasn't going to post that new wiretap until Rizzo's comment..... thanks Buddy!

I'm not sure what happened in SA as I've never seen a team take a 180 as quick as them. Definitely going to hurt their chances of re-signing KD if they can't find a way to turn it around.

emplep7 wrote:I'm not sure what happened in SA as I've never seen a team take a 180 as quick as them. Definitely going to hurt their chances of re-signing KD if they can't find a way to turn it around.

Durant got injured, the team with him healthy was steamrolling everyone.

Yeah I think they'll recover... if not he'll be Orlando bound in the offseason anyway to join Paul George

blackice wrote:

emplep7 wrote:I'm not sure what happened in SA as I've never seen a team take a 180 as quick as them. Definitely going to hurt their chances of re-signing KD if they can't find a way to turn it around.

Durant got injured, the team with him healthy was steamrolling everyone.

I think that was always the issue with them though. Could have even been Lin and they probably fall as they're thin beyond the top talent.

WillyJakkz wrote:Yeah I think they'll recover... if not he'll be Orlando bound in the offseason anyway to join Paul George

I'm not seeing that fit. Would love to see them play together, but the engine would be so against it. Feel like once you have that one ball dominant player in DDS3, you need to find compliments at that point.

blackice wrote:

emplep7 wrote:I'm not sure what happened in SA as I've never seen a team take a 180 as quick as them. Definitely going to hurt their chances of re-signing KD if they can't find a way to turn it around.

Durant got injured, the team with him healthy was steamrolling everyone.

I wouldn't put it that way.
I lost Rose and I'm 8-6 without him in our lineup. You can't be that much dependent in one player, as good as this player is. You have to have at least a squad who can hang in there at the .500 mark even without your superstar, IMO

Of course Rose comes back and makes a huge difference? He does. So does Durant
But 3-13 is unacceptable, some of those games with Durant healthy

BizGilwalker wrote:Well, Durant's missed 9 of those games (feels like more, honestly) and they've beaten Chicago with him, so I wouldn't be worried. 12-1 wasn't a sustainable start, but the Spurs are obviously a high-end team with Durant.

They've beaten Rose-less Chicago.

Best thing about going 3-13 since the "Hot Start'?

The Crazy, and I do mean CRAZY trade offers being sent my way for Durant.

I've had teams tell me they are interested and that they are willing to discuss their 3rd and 4th best player (Not willing to move my top 2 players). Seriously? Late 1st rounders being tossed around at me as bargaining chips.

The second best part (not directed at everyone doing media hype) is people who are trying to slide in the "fear" factor of Durant isn't going to want to stay...they have a plan to go after him with all their resources...he will not stay in San Antonio if you don't win a CSL Championship this year.

Look, I was born at night...just not last night.

I've played 31 games and Durant missed 9 of those (really 11 considering he got hurt in the first 4 minutes of one of them and was in the lineup for the 2nd on a 2 game sim for me). Durant has a high greed factor and his play for winner isn't through the roof, why I traded for him in the first place.

So everyone just calm down. We will get back in the swing of things and everything will be just fine.

On a serious note, could KD be had? Sure, I'm not a GM who feels nobody is untouchable. Just don't think you are getting him for pennies on the dollar.

All in good fun, obviously.

But Durant's greed plays a part insofar as he gets a max contract wherever he goes.

He doesn't stay with an average team, just because they offer him a 5th year, otherwise he'd essentially be a life long RFA, which is silly.