Storyline: Everyone’s entitled to an opinion on ‘loyalty’ and whether it should factor into player contracts. For Russell Westbrook, it did—without a doubt. When it came to Kevin Durant, he showed that sometimes you have to be selfish, to put yourself first.
July 1, 2016 marked the beginning of free agency deals and trades in the NBA for the 2016-2017 season.
Courtesy: peachtreehoops.com
Ever since the NBA inked a $24 billion media rights deal in 2014 the salary cap has jumped an average of $6 million per season. The cap is projected to explode from $70 million to $94 million for the 2016-17 campaign, a $24 million increase.
Many big names were available to new contracts. It seemed that anyone and everyone had a chance at max contracts. The additional salary cap wiggle room means that more than two-thirds of teams in the league will be able to sign a maximum-contract free agent this summer.
DeMar DeRozan, a Raptor favourite, signed a 5-year deal worth $139 million dollars! That means he’ll average $27+ million a year, right? His right-hand man, Raptor All-Star Kyle Lowry, will be making $12 million next year. We understand the mechanics of why. DeRozan wants to leave the legacy he has begun to build with the Raptors franchise. There’s no question that he has brought a new wave of life to the Toronto basketball program. His free agency couldn’t have come at a better time.
But as more teams find themselves in these situations, you wonder about the effect on team chemistry. Some teams will have men who understand the market, and some teams will have soft dudes in their feelings about their teammates’ income.
Courtesy: USAToday.com
Lowry has an option to opt out next year, and there’s no doubt he’ll get an enormous contract. With all that money you wonder if having gotten paid $12 million a year for your best years would have you start to feel negative compared to your teammate who’s making more than double the money. I personally don’t see that happening between those two because they are best friends (see Lowry’s congratulatory Instagram post).
However, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen with other NBA teams. Every athlete, at any level of play, understands and has experienced the value of friendship and chemistry on the court. And that can lead to long-term friendships off the court, too.
That was the case for the notorious “Thunder Buddies” — Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook — at least up until July 7th, 2016, that is. Kevin Durant, that 2013-14 League MVP, four-time scoring champ, and six-time All-NBA team selection, was rather quiet during the first week of free agency. Rumours were swirling around social media.
Durant was the big name that every fan wanted on their team. Originally selected by the Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) with the 2nd overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, OKC fans were confident that Durant’s loyalty wouldn’t waver. He’d lay with the team that supported him from the beginning of his professional career.
Courtesy: theguardian.com
But, on July 4th, a letter written by KD on The Players Tribune, let the basketball world know that he was staying in the West, but taking his #35 to the team that defeated OKC to make it to the 2016 NBA Finals: The Golden State Warriors. This free agency season was a pinnacle point in Durant’s career that has one path—the best shot at a championship. For him, that path was towards a team full of superstars, including “Splash Brothers,” Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Retired NBA player Tracy McGrady, shared his personal thoughts on the new contract: “I just think as a competitor, you would come back and try to dethrone them with the same team.” But in his article on The Players’ Tribune Durant said he “believes I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and playing career.”
The fans in Oklahoma City were quick to post videos burning Kevin Durant Thunder’s jersey. Then pictures surfaced that showed the same jersey being sold at local retail stores for under one dollar. Ouch!
Courtesy: SI.com
After the news settled in, everyone began wondering what would happen to the relationship between Durant and Russel Westbrook. We all remember Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi’s when The Thunder took two games against the Spurs in San Antonio. Kevin Durant hit the game-tying 3 and Westbrook raced towards him yelling, “It’s winning time! It’s your time!” and thumped Durant across the chest.
We also remember back in April when Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban called Westbrook an “All-Star, but not a superstar.” During a press conference Durant called Cuban an “idiot” without allowing Westbrook a chance to answer the question. When asked how he felt about Durant intervening, Westbrook said “It was very important [to me], me and Kevin’s relationship is great. He’s like my brother. We talk about different things, not just basketball-related. He’s always gonna have my back and I’ll always have his.”
But after he recently revealed that he found out Kevin left “on the news, on the cell phones, the social media. I talked to Kevin early on in the process. But nothing after. Just a text message from him, that’s about it.”
Courtesy: Sports Illustrated
We now wonder what will happen to the friendship that we’ve all grown to love. The relationship between the two has been distant. Kevin Durant told reporters in Rio that he had not spoken to Westbrook as of late because he reportedly was “angry and hurt” with how Durant handled the decision. When a fan asked how Westbrook how felt about Durant, Westbrook laughed. That laugh is a sign. When the Thunder and Warriors meet next season Westbrook will go off. And everyone will be watching.
August 4th was declared “Russel Westbrook Day” in Oklahoma City by Mayor Mick Cornett — talk about petty — after the Thunder star signed a 3-year $85 million contract extension with the Durant-less Thunder. To Russ, “loyalty is something I stand by,” and he proved it at the press conference. When asked if the fact that Durant left—and left for Golden State, of all places, made it sting more—Russell asked back, “Sting for who?” He claimed that Kevin Durant’s decision to leave didn’t sting him personally. He said he understands free agency, but what he’s worried about is “how to find ways to come in and figure out ways to make the team become a great organization.”
Everyone’s entitled to an opinion on ‘loyalty’ and whether it should factor into player contracts. Either it does or it doesn’t. For Russell Westbrook, it did—without a doubt. When it came to Durant, he showed that sometimes you have to be selfish, to put yourself first.
You gotta’ do what you gotta’ do in order to achieve what you want, right? Leaving OKC was KD’s way of saying a chance at winning as fast as possible is more important than trying to figure things out with the Thunder (following failed attempts since 2009).
Money talks. It’s sad, but true.
