Kevin Durant to sign with Warriors

Kevin Durant to sign with Warriors
10:42 AM CT
ESPN.com news services
Kevin Durant will sign with the Golden State Warriors.

Durant announced his decision in a post on The Players' Tribune.

He will sign a two-year, $54 million contract, sources told ESPN's Marc Stein. The deal includes a player option after the first year.

The biggest catch on the free-agent market, Durant met with six teams the past three days: Oklahoma City, Golden State, San Antonio, Boston, Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 27-year-old Durant has spent all nine seasons of his career with the Thunder organization. He won the MVP in 2014, has been named first-­team All-­NBA five times and has made seven All-­Star teams. He has appeared in four Western Conference finals and one NBA Finals, losing in five games to the Heat in 2012.

Durant bounced back last season to earn second­-team All-NBA honors after undergoing three surgeries on his right foot to repair a Jones fracture suffered prior to the 2014-­15 season, when he was limited to 27 games before undergoing a season-­ending bone graft procedure in March. Without Durant, the Thunder missed the postseason.

With him back for 72 games last season, the Thunder improved to 55-27 and finished third in the West. The Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the opening round, upset the 67-­win Spurs in six games in the second round and pushed the Warriors to seven games in the Western Conference finals.

Durant averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season, and he scored at least 20 points in 67 straight games.

In nine seasons, Durant is averaging 27.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

Will Kevin Durant Part Ways, Play For Golden State, or Join The Celtics?

Kevin Durant is undoubtedly the hottest subject in NBA trade talks as of now. Its reported that he is undecided at the moment between the Golden State Warriors, OKC, and Boston. So who will he choose? Lets break down the 3.

1. OKC
Its his home in which he shares a face of the team with Russell Westbrook. Lets be real... Westbrook is a Leader....does he need improvement in that area? Yes! But he IS a leader. So is Durant, although they are a terrific duo, both superstars wouldnt mind steering the whole ship so to speak. One captain instead of Co-Captains. So far, they have not been able to bring in a championship trophy to the city of Oklahoma...kind of like a lebron in cleveland before miami. Its painful...its insulting, its time for a change. Durant knows that "change" MUST take place in order for different results to show, whether for the worse or greater. Westbrook knows this too, although i do believe Westbrooks holds on to OKC a little tighter than Durant. Now! Lets talk Facts!! and Stats!!
- Kevin Durant...
All-Star Game:

7 times - 1 MVP
2010, 2011, 2012 (MVP), 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Awards and Honors by Type:

Season MVP - Once
2013-14

Scoring Leader - 4 times
2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2013-14

All-NBA First Team - 5 times
2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14

All-NBA Second Team - Once
2015-16

Rookie of the Year
2007-08

All-Rookie First Team
2007-08
Awards and Honors by Year:

2007-08
Rookie of the Year
All-Rookie First Team

2009-10
Scoring Leader
All-NBA First Team

2010-11
Scoring Leader
All-NBA First Team

2011-12
Scoring Leader
All-NBA First Team

2012-13
All-NBA First Team

2013-14
Scoring Leader
All-NBA First Team
Season MVP

2015-16
All-NBA Second Team

All of these accolades and achievements but NO CHAMPIONSHIP!! ... I repeat.. NO CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! I assure you!! Durant wants CHANGE! could he stay in OKC? of course theres a possibility, a good one. But does the looming cloud of failure and despair of a repeat season after season being defeated by numerous teams, does this cloud hang over his head? Of COURSE! Does and can it play an important role in his decision? HECK YES!! So now lets say he wants to bounce! GS and Boston are now the only contenders.

2. Golden State Warriors -

The Golden state warriors are a young group of guys who STILL pose a direct threat to any NBA team trying to make it to the finals. They are still the team of 2015-2016 who brought HELL! with them wherever they roamed! A durant/curyy situation would force klay out of his current rotation spot and secure a seat elsewer...likely "the bench!" Or sg, who knows but if he went to the bench, I do not see much subordinance from the locker room with his attitude. Honestly i dont see that core group of guys clicking the way they may want it but to say it "wouldnt" make the knife sharper, wouldn't be accurate. But also to say it "would", would hold that same merit. There are tons of reasons why Durant would and would not Go and to where. Im only listing a few and staying away from the money issue because i do believe contracts are simply for our eyes, government, and regulations. Money can be used to entice... Seen ir unseen. Accusation? Hmm maybe! Which is why im leaving that one where it is. Dont be fooled!! The Cleveland Cavaliers ARE the "Team to Beat!" They are the defending Champions for a reason!!! Never count out the silent cat...he is knowledgeable. That being said, Durant needs to choose a team that has a chance.... The  Better Chance! The BEST Chance. He needs .... A team built for a championship. And if he includes himself, can a team THEN be capable of offing the cavaliers. Now I assure you, due to lack of opportunity, the Thunder are not as concerned with defeating Cleveland as they are the warriors. (Conference Reasons of Course) They lost in this years playoffs to the warriors. They need change, Durant needs change. Change could mean anything...trade, pick, rotation, .. So Durants is now looking at a city where champions are known...well known.

3. Boston Celtics

The celtics are a young team who made it to the playoffs this season despite a superstar. Thats actually saying ALOT.

Eastern Conference
           Wins and Loses  

Heat
48
34

Hawks
48
34

Celtics
48
34

Hornets
48
34

Pacers
45
37

Boston pulled in 48 games..lead by Isaiah Thomas, (an allstar) who is on his way to superstar status. Lets insert Durant.

Pg: Thomas
Sg: Bradley
Sf: Durant
Pf/C:Horford/ (possibly boogie) just a lil teaser.. The definite C position has yet to be determined as reports surface of a possible True interest in Cousins. Who knows...if Ainge lands a Lopez, or Cousins, or whoever? ..the C position could have any name on it, as well as the 4. But either way, you are looking at a team that FITS ! Players who FIT! with one another, a city of the GREATEST fans! ..according to MANY! , a franchise of Legends! Bird, Parish, Cousy, Russell, Pierce..many others! A team who are HUNGRY! AND I MEAN SPOON AND FORK IN HAND!!! .. A team who has been in the heat and the ice and the dust! All elements! Horford, Durant, Thomas, and Bradley are a combination of dominance, speed, and clutch! With the addition of another good name (doesnt have to be much on offense) but defensive pressure at the C position...with that...Boston immediately rises to Championship Contendor and a FEARED one at that! Durant KNOWS this!

Kevin Durant: "Maybe Boston Is Just That Good"

That is key for a celtic jersey to be given to him. So these last hours of decision making, these are some of the things Durant will be considering. Will he go or will he stay..and if he chooses to take his talents elsewhere, could it be with the warriors or in Boston, The City of Champions? Time tells All!!

Senior Editor and Writer, Luke Henry, All Sportz Buzz

Al Horford agrees to 4-year, $113M deal with Celtics!!

ESPN.com news services
Free-agent big man Al Horford has announced that he is heading to the Boston Celtics.

Horford and the Boston Celtics agreed to terms on a four-year, $113 million deal, league sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

The Atlanta Hawks had offered Horford five years, $136 million, which was less than the max, the sources said.

Horford also revealed the news on his Twitter account on Saturday, posting "Celtics pride."

Horford, an unrestricted free agent, has played his entire nine-year career in Atlanta, which drafted him third overall in 2007. The four-time All-Star averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists this past season.

After the Hawks were swept by the Cavaliers for the second straight year, Horford stressed just how much he has enjoyed playing in Atlanta and that the team still can win with some improvements to its current core.

"There are a lot of things that we need to address," Horford said of talking to his family and advisers. "But the biggest thing for me is I feel good here. I have a great relationship with coach (Mike Budenholzer). That is important to me. And my teammates.

"Atlanta is a city that welcomed me from the first day... I'm very grateful for people that have always been real positive toward me and my family. I feel good. I feel like the way the team is going, I feel like we can win here."

Horford was the topic of trade rumors at the deadline, with the Boston Celtics reportedly being among those interested.

The 6-foot-10 center, who turned 30 in June, was expected to draw interest on the free agent market for his ability to shoot from the perimeter.

Last season, Horford shot a career-high 256 3-pointers after taking a total of 65 attempts in his previous eight seasons.

"I probably got a little away from the post this year trying to expand my game and do different things," Horford said. "That is a point of emphasis that I will try to be better in the post and be able to put the ball down a little more on the floor. Being able to drive a little more. Even though I had some strides in that area this year, I think I can be even better at that."