The Golden State Warriors are considered the most formidable basketball team in the NBA today. With the powerhouse roster that features Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, NBA champs are the greatest threats to aspiring squads. In fact, even Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love failed to stop the Golden State Warriors' rampage to victory. Apart from dominating the league, the Harrison Barnes squad also broke records this season. These include their achievement of surpassing the winning streak of the Chicago Bulls during Michael Jordan's era.
With all these in mind, can the Golden State Warriors still reach greater heights? According to sports analysts, the rumor mill has been churning out speculations on a potentially lethal addition to the said team: Kevin Durant. The Oklahoma City Thunder star, who will be in the free agent market by the end of the current NBA season, is the subject of contract talks since last year.
Although Durant has yet to actually express his intention of leaving the Russell Westbrook squad, several teams have already showed interest in signing him. The NBA teams reportedly taking on an aggressive stance in pursuing KD include James Harden's Houston Rockets, Markieff Morris' Phoenix Suns, Kyle Lowry's Toronto Raptors and Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers. Even Carmelo Anthony's New York Knicks and DeMarcus Cousins' Sacramento Kings have expressed interest in the Oklahoma City Thunder player. However, the latest and reportedly most active team eyeing Durant is the Golden State Warriors.
"At this point, everything is speculation," clarified Chris Broussard of ESPN. He added, "When you talk to some executives, a name that has been thrown will shock people - Golden State. Now, this is not something coming out Durant's camp. There are those around the league that think Golden State is a possibility."
The news of a potential Durant - Curry team up, however, was received with mixed reactions from fans. While some are clearly excited by the possibilities of the Golden State Warriors' 2017 lineup, others feel that this might ruin the excitement in the NBA. In fact, some fans are likening Durant to LeBron James when the latter joined the Miami Heat. That is, a "super team" will be formed. This will then make the said group unstoppable, thereby completely annihilating the chances of other basketball teams.
For his part, Durant remains mum on the issue. The Oklahoma City Thunder star is adamant on his refusal to discuss trade talks. Nonetheless, he also offers no reassurance that he will re-sign with his current squad.
"I'm trying to stay in the moment," said Durant, according to News OK. He added, "It's easier said than done. I obviously think about it and wonder what it's gonna be like, but I just want to stay in the moment. Oklahoma City's been so good to me. I've been enjoying every single moment I have there, and this year's been so much fun."