Late Wednesday night, when an ESPN report surfaced that LeBron James would consider meeting with the Warriors if a max salary was available, Kevin Durant had a simple reaction. "Bullsh-," Durant said of his response. "Bullsh-." After practice Thursday, several Golden State players poked fun at the notion of James - the unquestioned leader of the team that has faced the Warriors in the past three NBA Finals - joining them. The financials alone would make such a development tricky, at best. The Wa
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Photo: Jason Miller, Getty Images
FILE-- LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors speak after a foul in the third quarter in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Late Wednesday night, when an ESPN report surfaced that LeBron James would consider meeting with the Warriors if a max salary was available, Kevin Durant had a simple reaction.
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FILE-- LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors speak after a foul in the third quarter in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9,
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FILE-- LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts late in the fourth quarter during Game Four of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena on May 23, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Late Wednesday night, when an ESPN report surfaced that LeBron James would consider meeting with the Warriors if a max salary was available, Kevin Durant had a simple reaction.
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FILE-- LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts late in the fourth quarter during Game Four of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena on May 23, 2017
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FILE-- Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves' Jimmy Butler chase the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Minneapolis. Late Wednesday night, when an ESPN report surfaced that LeBron James would consider meeting with the Warriors if a max salary was available, Kevin Durant had a simple reaction.
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FILE-- Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves' Jimmy Butler chase the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Minneapolis. Late Wednesday
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FILE-- Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry heads up court after stealing ball from Cleveland Cavaliers' Lebron James in 2nd quarter during NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Monday, January 16, 2017. Late Wednesday night, when an ESPN report surfaced that LeBron James would consider meeting with the Warriors if a max salary was available, Kevin Durant had a simple reaction.
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FILE-- Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry heads up court after stealing ball from Cleveland Cavaliers' Lebron James in 2nd quarter during NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Monday, January 16,
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Kevin Durant on LeBron James’ reported interest in Warriors: ‘Bullsh—’
Late Wednesday night, when an ESPN report surfaced that LeBron James would consider meeting with the Warriors if a max salary was available, Kevin Durant had a simple reaction.
“Bullsh—,” Durant said of his response. “Bullsh—.”
After practice Thursday, several Golden State players poked fun at the notion of James — the unquestioned leader of the team that has faced the Warriors in the past three NBA Finals — joining them. The financials alone would make such a development tricky, at best.
The Warriors, who have roughly a league-high $135 million tied up in payroll, would probably need to orchestrate a sign-and-trade to land James. According to ESPN, Golden State could potentially make Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala the centerpieces of an offer that would match salary and entice the Cavaliers into making a trade.
Making a sign-and-trade feasible would require Durant to exercise his player option, taking less than his current annual salary of $25 million, and Shaun Livingston’s salary would need to be moved. Under that scenario, the Warriors would probably need to round out their bench with minimum salaries.
Golden State likely isn’t willing to overhaul its roster, even for arguably the best player in the world. It boasts four All-Stars in their prime, and it is well-positioned to chase its third NBA title in four years. James, at 33, would conceivably demand to be the face of the franchise, a big ask with Stephen Curry still on the team.
Center David West cited another reason James-to-Golden State is unlikely: “He’s got to get No. 23 from Draymond” Green.
“It’s not interesting because you turn on TV, you turn on anything that has to do with basketball, there’s less about the game,” Durant said. “As a pure basketball player, as a pure fan of the game, at this point, it’s pretty sickening.”
