Who doesn’t love a good, original conspiracy theory? Okay, this might not necessarily qualify as a full-fledged conspiracy theory. Maybe it’s merely wondering if two puzzle pieces fit together, or if they belong in two unconnected puzzles. If one were inclined, however, to chronologically follow the stories that got out during the Kevin Durant courtship and put some amount of value in those stories, it’s not a stretch to suggest that (maybe) the Los Angeles Clippers helped the Golden State Warriors get Kevin Durant. Besides, conspiracy theories (whether true or not) seem to surround the NBA universe anyway.
The Clippers Helped the Warriors Get Kevin Durant (Maybe)
Durant held his Hamptons meetings with several teams; he met with representatives from Oklahoma City first (on June 30), then Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers the following day. Durant rounded out the weekend meeting with the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics that Saturday, and finally with the Miami Heat on that Sunday.
How It Played Out
The order in which the meetings took place is noteworthy, especially regarding where the Clippers fell in the order. Oklahoma City and Golden State met Durant before Los Angeles. By several accounts, Durant was “blown away” by the presentation given by the Clippers. Follow this out, and it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where – if the Clippers’ presentation was so persuasive – that what the Spurs, Celtics, and Heat were selling paled in comparison. As a result, the field immediately narrowed down to Oklahoma City, Golden State, and Los Angeles.
The Clippers faced perhaps the toughest task of actually getting Durant on the roster salary cap-wise. If they had succeeded, their core of Durant, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan would have filled virtually all of their cap space. Not only would they have to round out their roster with minimum-salaried players, but they would have had to release or trade everyone else currently on the roster in order to make the space for Durant before signing him.
What the Clippers’ presentation may have done is plant the seed in Durant’s head of what possibilities lie elsewhere. Because the Clippers were in such a tricky cap situation, but intriguing to Durant nonetheless, the Clippers may have been partly responsible for causing Durant to look closer at the Warriors. That’s not to totally dismiss the Warriors’ presentation to Durant. Rather, it’s not hard to envision a scenario where the Clippers’ meeting actually helped the Warriors’ case. Which made playing in Golden State seem all the better.
Durant’s Desire To Sign Quickly
By his own admission, Kevin Durant did not enjoy the process of being a free agent. He did not like being the subject of ’round-the-clock coverage. He wanted to get it over with. Which would lead one to believe he didn’t want to wait around for the Clippers to make room for him. Thus, I submit the idea that if Durant was so “blown away” by L.A.’s vision that it was just the matter of substituting Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in for Paul, Griffin, and Jordan. Along with the relative ease of joining the Warriors compared to the Clippers, it become the preferred destination.
Do the dots to this theory connect? Kind of. Does it really matter? No, not really. But it is fun entertaining the idea that the Clippers – the team that has been mocked for its incompetence for much its existence – inadvertently changed NBA history. By giving such a great pitch to Kevin Durant, L.A. convinced him Golden State is where he should go. This theory turns the Clippers into the court jester of a Shakespearean comedy, which is really pretty fitting. If this crazy idea holds any merit, wouldn’t it be the Clipper-est thing ever?
The most savvy moment in Clippers history may have taken place in that Hamptons with Kevin Durant; giving an assist to Golden State; and that may have led to the Warriors landing one of the most sought-after free agents in NBA history. Maybe the Clippers are so cursed by the NBA Gods that, at the height of franchise competence, they were rendered incompetent. Maybe that’s the way NBA karma works, or maybe it’s just crazy talk.
Main Photo:
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (R) vies with Philadelphia 76ers Evan Turner during the NBA pre season basketball game between Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, north-west England on October 8, 2013. Oklahoma City Thunder won 103-99. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images)
