The NBA can be argued is at its strongest since the end of the Jordan era in 1998. The interest in the sport is at a high in ratings. The television contract is extremely lucrative. The players are among the highest paid entertainers in the world according to Forbes this week. However, one thing is for sure, nobody can beat this Warriors team. Since Kevin Durant joined the Warriors in the fall of 2016, the Ws are a stunning 31-6 in the past 2 seasons in the playoffs. Last year, they only lost 1 game out of 17. This year Houston pushed them to the brink in the Western Conference Finals by winning 3 games, but in the NBA Finals, the Warriors are now 7-1 versus the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lebron James.
How Did We Get Here?
Superstars have chased rings for decades. In the 60s, Wilt Chamberlain moved from Philly to Los Angeles to get his 2nd title. In the 80s, you had an older Bill Walton join the Celtics to win another title along side Bird, McHale and Parrish in 1986. Clyde Drexler left Portland to join his college teammate, Hakeem Olajuwon for Dream’s 2nd title. Dennis Rodman was acquired by the Bulls for the 2nd three-peat in 1996-1998 to win his 4th, 5th and 6th titles. So, it was not unheard of for players to migrate to title bound teams to add to their trophy case. However, in the 2000s, the move to chase a title happened a lot earlier in a career than the past. The first real “Dream Team” was assembled when Kevin Garnett left Minnesota to play with Paul Pierce in Boston, then they added super sniper, Ray Allen from Seattle to form a team to win the title. It did work, as the Celtics won a title in 2008 and returning the NBA Finals in 2010 only to lose to the Lakers. Garnett and Allen were on the downside of their careers but closer to prime than past examples.
Of course, “The Decision” was the one everyone remembers. Lebron James after getting beat by those Celtics left Cleveland, his hometown, to play along his buddies, Dwayne Wade (who already had a title) in Miami and Chris “The Bostrick” Bosh left Toronto to form the first reported Super Team. I would argue the Celtics in 2008 were, but getting the best player in the world on a team with a guy who won a title in recent memory and a perennial all-star would qualify. The Heat probably should have won more, actually. Miami went to 4 straight Finals and won 2. Their first year they were “shocked” by Dirk Nowitski’s Mavs with a ring chaser in Jason Kidd on that team. Finally, the Heat broke through to beat the young, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden to get their first title. The next 2 NBA Finals between San Antonio and the Heat were epic match ups splitting them. So, Lebron is really an influencer to no end of what has happened in the NBA today.
The Warriors really bucked that trend in 2015. The team they assembled was built mainly from the Draft with deft picks of Steph Curry (who no one thought would win an MVP) at 7th overall behind guys like Ricky Rubio and Johnny Flynn in 2009. In 2011, they followed up that pick with the drafting of Klay Thompson who was 11th overall behind of all people, Jimmer Fredette. In 2012, the team really made a great pick in Draymond Green who fell into the 2nd round and was selected 35th overall. The Warriors identified quality college players who were productive and could improve instead of picking complete ceiling players at the top of the draft. The Warriors did acquire players over time that helped to fill in the gaps like Andre Iguodala a former Top 10 pick and all star, who chose winning over stardom to play on this team. Shaun Livingston, a straight to the NBA from HS guy, joined the squad and after major knee surgery is a great contributor. The Warriors have had a 1st overall pick in Andrew Bogut on the 2015 team, now shipped off, so the team was not for lack of talent. However, the original Warriors team that won in 2015 and then lost in 2016 to the Cavs was not a “Super Team.”
So, when Kevin Durant came to the Warriors after losing to them in the Western Conference Finals in 2016, it was a coup to the NBA. People were outraged that a Top 3 player in the league would join arguably the best team in the league. However, KD only did what Lebron had done in 2010. He joined a team that had a title on the resume recently and did it to beat a rival – Golden State now as opposed to the Celtics for Lebron. Do I like it? No, I do not. I grew up in the era when players, marquee players like Jordan, Bird, Magic, and Hakeem stayed with their franchise until the bitter end. It sucks frankly that we have to watch Golden State play the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 4th straight time, and especially since Lebron can’t get his team to beat this squad.
Lebron’s Next Move
So, what is going to happen? Lebron is 33 years old. He has played 15 seasons in the NBA plus nearly every post-season in that span. He is near the top in games played for his career all time. I mean the guy has gone to 8 straight NBA Finals in an era when Super Teams are being formed left and right. You have to give the guy credit when this year this group of bums made it out of the East. However, we all know this team, as constructed cannot beat this historic Warriors team. Last night, when Kevin Durant hit yet another deep triple to cut the hearts out of Cleveland fans yet again in Game 3 of the Finals, it felt like that was the end of the Lebron era in Cleveland. Lebron brought a title to the town that had waited for one since the Jim Brown – Browns’ teams of the 1960s.
Lebron has had possibly his best year statistically playing in all 82 regular season games and a ton of post season games. He is currently averaging 34.5 PPG, his 2nd best total of his career in the playoffs. He has carried this team to another Finals, but he can’t make them win it. Change is definitely necessary, but retirement seems like a stretch given his continued excellence.
Possible Teams
Philadelphia 76ers – The Sixers have a young nucleus and made the playoffs for the first time in a while. Joel Imbiid is a star in the making. Ben Simmons has great potential, now if he can only learn how to shoot. They have other solid role players. Lebron could take this team to the Finals for sure, but would getting Lebron for 2-3 years and maybe a title help or hurt Simmons’ progress as a player. Look at how Kyrie flourished in one way, but wanted out in another even after a title. Could that happen with Imbiid and Simmons? I think it could. The Sixers are so young, and they could just wait until Lebron retires to be a force in the East. Certainly, the Philly faithful would not pass up Lebron on their team and a trip to the Finals again. However, long term, I don’t see this as a fit.
Boston Celtics – There is a lot of speculation on whether Lebron would go to his newest Eastern rivals, Boston, and take that young group to a title. The Celtics were really one quarter away from returning to the NBA Finals without 2 stud players – Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. With those 2 players back and healthy, the Celtics are the team to beat in the East next year without Lebron. Now, they will not beat this Warriors team in 2019, in my opinion barring major injury. So, if Boston wants to win in 2019, then they can make the move but at what cost? They would likely have to ship off their young guys like Jason Tatum or Jaylon Brown and from a cap perspective, I’d imagine Hayward would be a casualty. Not great long term planning to win 1 or 2 titles. I don’t see this happening either.
Los Angeles Lakers – Lebron to the Lakers has been speculated a lot over the past 12 months. The Lakers, like Philly, are a young, but unlike the Sixers they are not ready for primetime. The only true scenario here would be for Lebron and a guy like Paul George go to the Lakers to make this team contend. I like Paul George, and the OKC experiment failed pretty badly. So, George will move one for sure. However, I’m not sure that team can beat the Warriors next year. So, as viable an option as it may be, I think that George to the Lakers may be in the cards, but Lebron joining him seems far fetched.
Houston Rockets – The Rockets were so close to knocking off the Warriors this year. Chris Paul’s hamstring may have cost the Rockets a trip to the Finals let alone a title, since they would have likely beat this Cavs team. Houston is a prime candidate to break the bank to beat their rival in the West. Now, Houston already made the big splash last year with Paul, and he is due a ton of money. I’m not sure how they pay Lebron, the best player in the league, Paul and still have room to field the rest of a team. However, Lebron and Paul are buddies, so maybe they make a gentleman’s deal to help each other out. I do think that team of Lebron, Harden and Paul would beat the Warriors. Of course, the team changes with Lebron becoming the dominant ballhandler. Harden would be more off the ball. Plus, you would have to lose gritty players like PJ Tucker and Trevor Ariza to make room for Lebron both on the floor and on the balance sheet. I do think the Rockets had the right formula to beat the Warriors in beating them up with guys like Tucker, Ariza and Gordon. So, the plan may backfire. However, this option seems very logical.
Cleveland Cavaliers – The last scenario I see happening is Lebron just staying put in Cleveland. It’s the easiest thing to do. He stays in the East which is easier to make the Finals. He can still be a hero in his hometown. Then, all he has to do is completely transform this team into a competitor against the Warriors for the next 2 years. So, who would come? What about Kawhi Leonard? Leonard really sat out the entire year in San Antonio and relations soured with the management and coaching staff. He can make a lot more money in San Antonio, but could he pass up a shot to play with King James? I would say he would jump at it. Now, that probably would mean the end of Kevin Love due to the salary cap. So, the Cavs would need to get another front court guy. I’m not sure who that would be, but Lebron with Kawhi would pair 2 guys who can play at both ends, like Lebron and George, but the team in Cleveland has already been to the Finals 4 straight years. So, I think if Lebron does not go to Houston, then staying in Cleveland and attracting Kawhi would be the way he goes.
Well, I know 2 things are going to happen in the next month or so – the Warriors are going to win their 3rd title in 4 years and the free agency period in the NBA will be completely entertaining.
I’d love to know your thoughts.
Wegs
Another great article! However, I do disagree with 2 points. First is your contention that the Warriors were not a “super team” prior to Durant joining them. This team was built, as you mentioned, via great draft picks and some savvy free agent signings none of whom could be classified as studs upon joining. Solid role players for sure but far from alpha dog top 15 players. I would counter by saying that they developed into a super team after implementing Steve Kerr’s system. Prior to Durant joining them, the Warriors won the Finals in 2015 and although they didn’t go back to back they did set the league on fire and beat the Bulls 72-10 regular season record which I honestly thought would never be broken. I think majority of people would say that the Cavs kind of lucked into that title with Green’s suspension allowing them to get back into the series and ultimately rebounding from a 3-1 series deficit to finally capture Cleveland’s first basketball title. LeBron was obviously beyond phenomenal in those finals and I take nothing away from him or the Cavs but if Green doesn’t get suspended I think there was a very solid chance that they do win back to back titles. Plus add in the fact that the Dubs were still considered title favorites the following year even after losing to the Cavs and before acquiring Durant. If that doesn’t say Super Team then I don’t know what does. Nobody thought that Curry, Thompson & Green would develop into such a deadly trio but that’s exactly what happened and all 3 were widely considered top 15 players in the whole NBA prior to Durant joining them.
My second disagreement is in saying that Durant did what LeBron did when he joined the Heat in 2010. For the record I, like majority of people, hated LeBron’s decision to abandon the Cavs to join Wade in Miami with Chris Bosh but after their stint there at least he went back to Cleveland to bring them their first championship. With that said, there’s a lot of reasons why Durant’s decision was a million times worse than LeBron’s. Durant jumped to a Warriors team that not only beat him in the Western Finals the previous year (after rebounding from a 3-1 deficit in which OKC pissed away game 6 at home) but the Dubs were coming off back to back Finals appearances, a title in 2015, title favorites coming into the year without him, had broken the Bulls record for victories in a season and was talked about as being one of the greatest teams of all time! None of which apply to LeBron’s move to Miami. Wade and the Heat also didn’t face LeBron in the playoffs as they were ousted in the first round by the Celtics and they obviously were nowhere near being called bonafide contenders before LeBron’s arrival. And although Wade was a former champion, his title came in ’06, 4 years before LeBron decided to join his buddy. LeBron, Wade & Bosh formed a super team that didn’t win a title until year 2 of joining forces, Durant joined one that was championship material right off the bat. And this is considering that I think Durant is the 2nd best player on earth. He’s a phenomenal player, will go down as one of the greats and there is no denying his talent. But as a competitor? He’s as soft as a twinkie, marshmallows, pudding & feather pillows. I loved him when he was on OKC but with his move I have lost all respect for him as a player and competitor and he’ll go down as one of the biggest cowards in the NBA’s history regardless of how many titles he ends up winning. The only way his level of cowardice is matched and/or exceeded would be if LeBron joined the Warriors after they lose these finals. But we all know that won’t happen. Anyway, just my humble opinion.
Keep up the great work!