The Golden State Warriors are two wins away from winning back-to-back NBA championships, which is why it is so terrifying that there have been reports they could be the frontrunners to land Kevin Durant this summer. But given the way they have dominated the league over the past two seasons, do they really need him?
Warriors center Andrew Bogut told Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com recently that he and some of his teammates have asked the same question.
“Guys have definitely asked questions,” Bogut said. “We’re not immune to it. We’ve seen it. We’ve seen the rumors, heard the rumors, all that kind of stuff. Different guys at different times have been scratching their head and thinking, ‘Why?’ The only way we can dispel all that stuff is maybe we’ve got to win five straight. Who knows? It’s one of those things we can’t really control, but we can control trying to make them make a tough decision.”
One could easily make the argument that the Warriors shouldn’t change a thing. Some players — like Bogut — are aging while others like Harrison Barnes are probably pricing their way out of Golden State, but does adding one of the biggest superstars in the league always mean the team will be better?
“Guys obviously ask questions at certain times,” Bogut added. “We’ve had two good years. Guys definitely find it interesting. But we understand that it’s a business and you’re not going to be able to stop. If an owner or a GM wants to do something, they’re going to do it.”
More than a few teams are going to make their pitch to Durant, and some comments he made after the season could indicate he is staying in Oklahoma City. Should the Warriors go on to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers and win their second consecutive title, they might decide they’re better off building their bench and spreading their money around. Bogut obviously would not argue with that.
