Special K - Kevin Durant

by Jeff Clark on Aug 15, 2009 10:24 PM EDT in NBA Comment 32 comments

KD looks like the next big thing.

I still remember thinking and writing that I would have picked Greg Oden over Kevin Durant with the 1st pick. Their career paths are far from being determined, but all signs point to the fact that I would have picked poorly. It is only fair to point out that Ainge likely would have picked Durant.

SLAM Online has a long article on Durant. Here's the intro.

The signs keep coming. They probably started as soon as he came out of the womb, but it was too soon for anyone to know. Then, the world saw him in high school. They took notice in college. They were put on notice his rookie year. And anyone who wasn't convinced by the end of his sophomore campaign in the league needs some help. Kevin Durant is the real deal. He's continued to build his resume this summer-impressing at Team USA tryouts, dropping more than half a hundred in summer ball, and getting his rap career off the ground in a recent Nike ad. But don't expect him to celebrate these early accomplishments like we are. If his steady improvement is any sign, he has no desire to. On top of that, though, even if he wanted to celebrate, Durant still wouldn't (or, at least, shouldn't) be let into a bar. Now that's just frightening.

You know, the Thunder have the worst logo, bad uniforms, and I have no love for the way they left Seattle in a lurch. But you know what? They are building a nice nucleus around KD and that team could be very fun to watch in years to come (assuming they find a way to re-sign him after his rookie contract is up).

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Kevin Durant

Is there any way at all that KD would consider staying in Oklahoma City after his rookie contract expires? A big tell will be if he’s willing to try and recruit free agents to the Thunder. If not, trade him to the Clippers for Blake G and 3 first round picks sooner rather than later.

by can't teach height on Aug 15, 2009 10:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This has more to do with Oklahoma than with Kevin Durant as he will be a restricted free-agent.

by BudweiserCeltic on Aug 16, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Saw Him . . .

in the airport in Vegas right when he was cut by the national team which was shortly after the draft. No one in the airport seemed to know who this tall kid was. He wanted to come to Boston. Prior to the lottery, the thought of having a front line of Perkins, Big Al, and KD seemed like a front line that was going to play together for easily 10 years and eventually win.

While I have enjoyed the success the past two years, honestly I miss watching the kids develop. Since in this scenario Paul would have probably been traded, I wonder how far the starting five of Rondo, Delonte, KD, Big Al, and Perk would have gone. . . .

by amenhotep04 on Aug 15, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i was

one of the few that wanted durant over oden and if i remember correct ainge wanted him too over oden.

of course if we had of drafted him we likely would be playing a team of durant, rondo, big al and who ever we couldve gotten for pierce…..would’ve been fun to watch but im happy with what we got

im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!

by remembering9ergods on Aug 15, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lt's still early

iT USUALLY TAKES TWO TO THREE YEARS FOR A CENTER TO DEVELOP. DURANT WINS HANDS DOWN NOW

by tyquinton on Aug 15, 2009 11:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d still pick Greg Oden ahead of Kevin Durant. Once Oden learns to avoid those stupid fouls, most of which are mental mistakes, then he’ll become a monster.

by Who on Aug 15, 2009 11:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

This comment is amazing.

Oden doesn’t have any offensive game to speak of, and his fouls happen not because they’re a silly mistake that he can avoid but rather because the game happens too quickly to him and the only way he can adjust to prevent his man from scoring is by fouling.

Durant, meanwhile, was probably the best freshman in NCAA history, and could well be a better pure scorer than LeBron. He’s 6’10", can put the ball on the floor like a guard, and he has post moves and range to 28 feet. He’s a player the likes of which we’ve never seen before, and he’s only getting better.

Durant will be a first ballot hall of famer. Oden will never see Springfield unless he’s at Durant’s induction ceremony..

by dslack on Aug 16, 2009 5:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

A “first ballot” hall of famer? So you are comparing him to LBJ and Dwade, both of whom were able to put teams on their back and get them into the playoffs, and even to the finals (in lebrons case)? The guy who “led” the Thunder to one of the worst records in the league? You really think he is the same caliber of player as those two? He is a good player, but when judged by his peers he is not at that superstar level, and will never be. he is a second tier player, not first.

by swd515 on Aug 17, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

KD will not stay in OKC…he’ll be a free agents sign for huge money and be a super star in a huge market.

by mthwsms on Aug 16, 2009 12:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Like those damned Fakers who always seem to find a way of luring superstar wannabees.

"No I’m not KG. Not at all, but I’m Big Baby Glen Davis from LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I’m not the Big Ticket. I’m the Ticket Stub. Don’t count the Ticket Stub out. You might need the ticket to get in the game, but you leave with the ticket stub, because you’ll never forget this game."

by bopna on Aug 16, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

too bad for him. he’s going to be a restricted free agent once his rookie contract is up.

by shoothoop on Aug 16, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"and getting his rap career off the ground in a recent Nike ad"

Wow, you have it pegged right, SLAM Online, “accomplishments” like that are definitely signs that someone’s “the real deal.”

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 1:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That and winning a little plastic horse by shooting threes in H.O.R.S.E., pardon me, G.E.I.C.O

He will likely win scoring titles in the future, maybe be the next T-Mac. Championship titles, that remains to be seen. He isn’t setting up his teammates much, his defense is atrocious, his team isn’t winning (+3 in his Sophomore year). Oden won’t win scoring titles ever (although he does score efficiently, just doesn’t get a lot of attempts), but he already made the Blazers from a very mediocre to a the best rebounding team in the league as a dumb rook. On Blazer’s Edge we recently chewed “Oden vs. Durant” through again in detail after a similar thread popped up on RealGM.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/8/9/983193/oden-over-durant

For some stats and stories on Oden, see e.g. here http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/8/12/987327/contest-entry-the-1-underdog

"I'm addicted to polo y'all...respect my fresh" - Travis25Outlaw

by Norsktroll on Aug 16, 2009 4:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Ainge would have picked Durant because his offer to get a top pick to the Blazers (and likely the same to the Sonics) was Pierce and the #5

"I'm addicted to polo y'all...respect my fresh" - Travis25Outlaw

by Norsktroll on Aug 16, 2009 4:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Too Bad He Can't Defend A Chair

He doesn’t pass the ball either. if Durant ever wants to win, he has to become a complete player.

by Brickowski on Aug 16, 2009 7:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

precisely, he is young

the skill sets are so there,it is unreal.
physically and mentally, he will continue to get stronger without a doubt.
when presented with a franchise which can win, he will play D.
He is quietly one of the most legit young future stars out there and should be given his due.
as far as staying OKC, it seems improbable. i could see Houston.

by lakersbluedevil on Aug 16, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly right
as of now hes entirely overrated, being the face and “leader” of one of the worst teams in basketball sure has made him the next big thing.

I just havent seen it click in his head just yet, he has no idea how to win in the NBA or make his teammates better, and as you say, couldnt defend a chair

by latin on Aug 16, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Durant is going to get better and better

True, he can’t defend but he is very young and just needs the right coach. His offense is great and he will be the scoring leader in the NBA within a few years. Still, I’ll take our 17th championship over getting this kid anyday.

by Marco33 on Aug 16, 2009 8:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oden looked too good to pass on

but even a simple fan like me wondered about how prematurely old he looked and what the implications of that might be. Glad Danny makes the picks.

This subject takes me back to how incredibly low we felt at that lottery and what rabbits Danny pulled out of his hat since. We can quibble about losing Posey (POST Championship 1), and whether Big Baby is worth 2-3-5 mil per year and whether mean old Danny was fair to Leon, but just think for a minute how low you felt on lottery day back then and where we are now. Just amazing work by the General Manager.

by Wildblu1 on Aug 16, 2009 8:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Only 20

He’s already a scoring machine with fewer shots than Lebron, Kobe, Wade, Dirk….. The more he develops his game, I truly believe the sky is the limit.

Ainge was right again.

by Change on Aug 16, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oden vs KD

I feel if a team’s needed to address a scoring problem,KD would be the first option,but if they could wait for a player to develop,i rather take a BIG anyday over a prolific scorer.Good Big’s are hard to come by these days.Oden probably will be much better in years to come.

by house_call on Aug 16, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mmm hmm

Prolific scorers like Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan aren’t terribly helpful in winning championships, are they?

Oden will most likely be better than he currently is in years to come, but what indicates to you that he’ll be better than Durant?

Durant is better than Kobe was at the same age by almost any measure.

by dslack on Aug 16, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Except Durant was the worst player in the league by adj. +/- last year. It’s not like this is skewed by their bad record, either. Westbrook had a fantastic adj +/- and he played a lot of minutes for OKC.

Also, Durant has more turnovers than assists in his career… think of all the other star scorers the league has seen… Jordan, Kobe, Carter, McGrady, etc. They all were playmakers for their teammates. Until Durant can help his team by passing and playing defense, he isn’t an effective NBA player.

"If the Lakers are Hollywood, then we are South Central." - Clipper fan.

by Cablinasian on Aug 16, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“isnt an effective NBA player.”

hmmm, can’t agree with this at all.

by jdpapa3 on Aug 16, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Err... No

The other three players you mention are all-NBA ca;librr defenders. Jordan was NBA first team on defense, how many times?

The comparisons are ludicrous. Let’s see him on a team that wins more than 41 games. Then you can start touting him.

by Brickowski on Aug 16, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

A team that wins more than 41 games? Sounds like the Celtics. Love to see him here even with his current ‘flaws’.

by 33-32-00 on Aug 17, 2009 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I

I saw KD’s ustream tonight, and asked him if he would consider going to the Celtics in 2012, to which he responded “the Celtics don’t need me. Besides, I like it here in OKC. Everyone here is young, we got that stick together mentality just like in college, and I like where I’m at.”

His words saddened me but I understood.

by Lifelong KG Fan on Aug 17, 2009 1:55 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Durant is awesome!

and it is not his fault that the franchise left Seattle!

by funkstarrdeluxe on Aug 17, 2009 8:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Seattle

Yeah I would be much more prone to cheer for him if he was still in Seattle instead of OKC.

by swd515 on Aug 17, 2009 12:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love Durant

If the Celtics could get Durant not that I am saying that its possible but if they could I would love it he is a tremondous player and also very young. He is carrying a whole franchise on his shoulders. Watch out for the Thunder in a couple of years

by Bigpapi34 on Aug 17, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Durant over Oden

I would have taken Durant over Oden two years ago and i was right Durant is a great player and Oden is always hurt

by Bigpapi34 on Aug 17, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I would have to. I am a Big 12 basketball fan. I watched Durant all year and have never seen anyone like him. Taking Oden violated one of the more obvious rules for drafting players; if a guy doesn’t dominate at the college level, what reason is there to beleive he will dominate at the pro level? Oden was never a dominant player in college. Durant was from day one.

by John70 on Aug 18, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs