Draymond Green said the Golden State Warriors made a pretty simple, straightforward recruiting pitch to free agent Kevin Durant.
The pitch last Friday in New York included two-time MVP Steph Curry, shooting guard Klay Thompson and small forward Andre Iguodala along with Green and head coach Steve Kerr, supporting the mantra of “Strength in Numbers.” General manager Bob Myers and assistant general manager Kirk Lacob also attended.
“We asked him how many championships do you think we can win with the way the team is now? How many championships can you win without us? How many do you think we can win together?,” Green told ESPN.
Green said Durant was concerned he might disrupt the dynamic chemistry the Warriors developed in winning a regular-season record 73 games in 2015-16 before falling one win shy of repeating as NBA champions last month. Over the course of the two-hour meeting, the promise of more than open 3-pointers – a guarantee Green said the Warriors’ contingent did make – seemed to pique Durant’s interest. On Monday, Durant started the July 4 holiday with the first major fireworks of NBA free agency, agreeing to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to be a part of the Warriors.
“We told him he didn’t have to change who he is. He doesn’t have to change how he plays. We will get him shots. If he shot 40 percent from 3-point line contested, how would he shoot wide open?” Green said.
Durant helped the Thunder to the Western Conference finals last season but has only one NBA Finals appearance, losing to the Miami Heat and LeBron James.
But Durant heard twice Friday from Curry, who Green said sent a text message to Durant to profess his commitment to championships, not endorsement deals or MVP awards.
ESPN reported the text from Curry to Durant was all about supporting teammates, not caring who sold shoes or won individual awards. Curry told Durant it would not matter which superstar was the face of the franchise.
The move sent shockwaves across the NBA but was not a total surprise to the Thunder. General manager Sam Presti said the team had a “pretty good indication” Durant was gone before his announcement Monday morning.
“I hope he feels like the experience in Oklahoma City was a big part of his growth as a person and a player, and that he’ll take that on with him, because he certainly was an integral part of the birth of our franchise, evolution of our franchise, and the legacy of our franchise,” Presti told USA Today. “Although it ended before we had hoped, no one will change the fact that he started here and I think evolved tremendously as a result of his hard work.”
Presti would not directly engage in conversation about personnel or where the Thunder look from here to rebound, but focused on positives with Durant and Russell Westbrook, “founding fathers” of the franchise since it moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City nine years ago. Speculation ranging from the Thunder dealing Westbrook to maximize return – he’s a free agent after the upcoming season, and the Thunder get nothing in return for losing franchise cornerstone Durant – and giving him a massive contract extension was rampant Monday night. Presti said no immediate action is necessary.
“I haven’t spoken with him. I’ve texted with him, and he and I have been in contact, as I have been with a lot of our players through this process,” Presti said of Westbrook in the USA Today interview. “This is a group of people who have been through quite a bit together, so he and I will have our conversation, and reflect on it, but I would let Russell convey and express however he feels.”