18/07/2016
George Eddy's International Show
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Free Agent Follies

PARIS (George Eddy's International Show) - Thanks to the tripling of their national TV deals, the NBA teams had a lot of money to invest during the free agent bonanza of 2016.

A big spike in the salary cap made many teams into potential buyers but there are only a limited number of impact players available.

Since the superstars are limited by the maximum salary scale, most of this new money has gone to second-tier players who were lucky to be at the end of their contract this summer. Players like Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons (I played with his father in high school!), Dwight Howard, Al Horford, Dwyane Wade, Nicolas Batum, Joakim Noah, Evan Fournier etc... all got max or near max contracts.

In any case, they received a lot more money than they ever dreamed of receiving, and it's interesting to note that a lot of international players were involved in the festivities!

Batum said that he wasn't going to put added pressure on himself because of his contract, he was just going to try and continue to produce like last season with the Charlotte Hornets because that's why he was offered the contract in the first place. All the players would be smart to follow his lead because some big contracts have derailed promising NBA careers in the past.

Let's also hope that we'll see less and less NBA players in financial ruin just a few years after their careers end. Do positive things with the windfall while you prepare for the future as Antoine Walker preaches. The former Boston Celtic star forward lost his fortune and is now an NBA consultant trying to help today's players avoid the same mistakes!

Of course, the ultimate bombshell of this summer's free agency news was Kevin Durant's decision to sign with the Golden State Warriors! The initial reaction was a lot of criticism similar to what LeBron James encountered when he joined the Miami Heat in 2010.

However, many NBA insiders like Jeff Van Gundy defended Durant's right to do as he chooses after nine years of carrying the Oklahoma City Thunder on his shoulders with pretty darn good results! He earned his free agency. Don't forget that the "Big Fundamental", recently retired all-time great Tim Duncan, was very close to joining Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill with the Orlando Magic way back in 2000.

Mark Cuban thinks that a Warriors "super team" playing the role of villainous bully will be great for the NBA's business. Everyone will want to beat them and everyone will want to watch it happen sort of like the Beatles on tour in the early 1960s!

So why did KD leave the Thunder when most of us expected him to take at least one more shot at a title with Russell Westbrook after coming so close this past season, when they were leading 3-1 against the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals?

Durant's entourage pushed for a fresh start in a bigger market where KD could grow and evolve on and off the court. He will probably love the constant brainstorming and investment opportunities that Silicon Valley provides. OKC was always one player away from getting over the hump since the surprising departure of James Harden.

With Golden State, KD will have more help than ever before in an atmosphere of joyous camaraderie which will be a big change from Westbrook's taciturn intensity and self-imposed pressure.

I think Durant wants to smile and have fun on the court, winning while playing a team style with less isolation and 1-on-1. He finally saw the limits to that type of game. The game should seem easier and less tiring as the Warriors share the ball and the responsibilities. He will have more easy open looks because of the talent surrounding him and will score off alley-oops, offensive rebounds and swinging the ball for quick 1-on1s. His improved defense, long arms and 2m11 height will all help compensate for the rim protection that Andrew Bogut provided. The former "Death lineup" will now be called the all-time, small ball "Dream lineup"!

Durant is a true student of the game and he chose Golden State because he likes their modern style of constant ball and player movement with less dribbling than in the past. He will not try to change their culture, instead doing what he needs to fit in. His new teammates wanted him there and they will make room for him by sacrificing some stats and touches but in the end, everyone should benefit grandly.

Golden State will finish the 2016-17 regular season in better health as head coach Steve Kerr can reduce the stars' playing time the way one of his mentors, Gregg Popovich, does so well! Kerr's postive coaching style that lets players play their game should mix easily with Durant. Besides, the two mega-stars in their primes, KD and Stephen Curry have similar personalities and upbringing by their parents who instilled solid values in their children. The two got along well in 2010 while becoming world champions with the USA at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Turkey. They are fierce competitors and humble human beings and if everything clicks like I expect, we have a true dynasty in the making!

On the other hand, don't give the trophy to Golden State too quickly because as the Warriors proved, it's not always the favorites that win! With the arrival of Pau Gasol, the San Antonio Spurs will be stronger, whereas, in the East, the Boston Celtics should be the biggest challenge for the Cleveland Cavaliers along with the Toronto Raptors. In the end, a third NBA Finals rematch between LeBron's high-budget armada and Golden State's " KD's New Boys on the Block", seems highly likely!

George Eddy

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.

George Eddy

George Eddy

George Eddy, a former pro player and coach in France, has been covering basketball for Canal Plus TV since 1985. He is probably the only commentator in the world to have announced so many Olympics, NBA games, FIBA events and even Super Bowls over the last 29 years. The International Show will bring you his perspective on the NBA and its ever-growing international contingent.