Golden State Warriors: 3 reasons Kevin Durant’s new contract is a great move

2. Durant’s in the bay, which means he’s not somewhere else

Since KD arrived in the Bay Area in the summer of 2016, many have wondered if he’d ever venture elsewhere in free agency, with a fistful of championships in hand in pursuit of something more.

The same speculation occurred this summer, with some floating the idea around that Durant would join up with LeBron James and dominate the league as members of the Los Angeles Lakers.

It was even reported by ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith that James reached out to Durant in order to gauge his interest in doing such.

These allegations were denied by LeBron’s camp and these thoughts were more wishful thinking than anything, but the Warriors should be happy KD hasn’t looked elsewhere just yet. If KD had bolted this summer, it would have a similar effect to what he did to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016.

Let’s say he had gone to the Lakers with James. Not only would it have strengthened or added another challenger in the path of the Warriors, but it would’ve weaken Golden State as well, to the point where it might not have been the favorites to win it all.

Instead, not only is KD back, but the team somehow upgraded from JaVale McGee to DeMarcus Cousins with a one-year, $5.3 million contract.

Again, this idea that KD will eventually leave the Bay Area has no traction to it. This is just fans and analysts alike trying to get into the mind of a man who has shifted the balance of power in the league.

However, if Durant’s history has taught us anything, it’s that he cares what people think about him, which may eventually lead to him trying to make things right with the fans who used to adore him. Even if such a day does come, it won’t be this offseason, which means Golden State’s dominance will continue for at least another year.