Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left), Kevin Durant (center), and general manager Bob Myers (right) pose for a photo during a press conference after Durant signed with the Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Durant wants to care less about what other people think. It’s just not the way he’s wired.
The sinking feelings he had after the July 4 announcement Durant would join the Golden State Warriors and leave the only NBA team he’d known after nine seasons anchored him to the bed in a rented house in the Hamptons. Durant was not sick, but the ill will he sensed was coming as reaction to his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder prompted him to retreat.
Soon enough, Durant emerged and didn’t see his own shadow, but new horizons and a bright future with the Warriors. Golden State sold Durant on joining the two-time defending Western Conference champions by displaying a tight, organic bond between key players.
Durant said perceived friction with ball-dominant point guard Russell Westbrook was not a factor in his departure. Durant told the Boston Herald that he also seriously considered joining the Celtics, who used a cameo from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as part of their pitch.
“I was ready to just say, ‘All right. Let’s go. I’m ready to go,’ seeing Tom Brady there,” Durant said. “Just seeing someone so successful at his craft and just a great ambassador for the game of football and the city of Boston, it was just great to be in the presence of greatness. But at the same time, I knew I couldn’t let that distract me. But he was great. It was great to see him.”
–In the bid to get the band back together to defend their 2016 NBA championship, one contract situation appears to be greater than other negotiating challenges this summer, and it’s not LeBron James’ deal.
J.R. Smith and the Cavaliers are far apart in contract talks, per multiple reports, and the 30-year-old might not see a better offer, at least from luxury-tax strapped Cleveland.
Smith played a key role for the Cavaliers under coach Tyronn Lue, and even with the addition of shooting guard Mike Dunleavy — acquired from the Chicago Bulls via trade — the Cavs don’t want to take another hit to their rotation.
–Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol will not play for Spain in the Summer Olympics due to the broken right foot he suffered in February.
Gasol, a two-time NBA All-Star, was hopeful he would be recovered in time to plan in Rio de Janeiro but is now focusing on making sure he’s ready to go for the 2016-17 NBA season.
Gasol has teamed with older brother Pau on past Spain national teams. Pau Gasol will play in the Rio Games.
–Recently acquired Orlando Magic guard Jodie Meeks underwent surgery to stabilize the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, the team announced.
Meeks, 28, will be sidelined indefinitely, according to the Magic.
Meeks played in just three games with the Detroit Pistons last season after breaking the foot in an Oct. 28 game against the Utah Jazz. Orlando acquired him on June 29 in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.
–The Phoenix Suns signed guard Leandro Barbosa to a multiyear contract worth a reported $8 million.
He has spent the past two seasons as a vital cog coming off the bench for the Golden State Warriors.
Barbosa returns to the Suns, where he played his first seven seasons from 2003-2010, in addition to one season in 2013-14. He had his best statistical season with the Suns in 2006-07 as he won both the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award and the Dan Majerle Hustle Award, averaging career-highs of 18.1 points and 4.0 assists.
–The Detroit Pistons signed rookie forward Henry Ellenson to a multiyear contract, the team announced.
Ellenson was the 18th pick in last month’s NBA draft.
The 6-foot-11 Ellenson averaged 17 points and 9.7 rebounds for Marquette last season. He averaged 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in five summer league games for Detroit.
–The Brooklyn Nets signed free-agent guard Joe Harris to a multiyear deal, the club announced.
Harris played in 56 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the past two seasons. He averaged 2.5 points in 9.1 minutes per game.
Harris was a college standout at Virginia and ranks second in school history with 263 career 3-pointers.
