June 18, 2019 Issue, Page 20 of 21

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sports Warriors were sreat, but now they face an uncertain future By Berry Tramel Got" hoped to re-sign Durant, Rockets. grand. Defenses can't be too moners. The Oklahoman First, Kevon Looney suf- knowing neither will be able And this season, just to picky. It's pick-your-poison. Golden State faces a full fered a collarbone injury that to play most of the 2019-20 make things interesting, But without Durant, de- season of living like the com- Sometimes writers throw alternately sidelined him season and Durant might not the imaginary gods clipped fenses can send a few more moners, and that's so even in around the term "basketball or rendered him much less make it back at all until the Durant's wings in the West resources at Curry. Toronto best-case scenario of Thomp- gods." Count me in the group. effective. following year. semifinals against Houston, even tried a triangle-and-two son and Durant re-signing. Tassume you know we Then Kevin Durant re- And you wonder, did the and Golden State had to defense for a few possessions Most NBA analysts believe dont really believe such a turned for Game 5, looked gods huddle up? Did some sweat in the final two games the other night; I've never ‘Thompson will stay a Warrior magistrate exists. No provi- like the old Spiderman hardwood trinity declare this against Houston to win the seen that in the NBA. Never and Durant won't. dential body made of James himself the first quarter and was Golden State's penance West semifinal series 4-2, re- even imagined it. Naismiths or Phog Allens or change before suffering the for largesse? For developing turned to normal sovereignty And with the season on It was a glorious run by Happy Hairstons. No outside most gruesome of basketball one of the NBA's best single- in sweeping Portland to reach the line, with 14:22 left for Golden State and it might force determining whether injuries, a ruptured Achilles season teams ever, a defend- another NBA Finals. Golden State to try to forge not be over. Five years, five Kawhi Leonard's corner shot tendon, ing champion that improved ‘Then came the plagues and aGame 7, suddenly there straight Western Conference against the Sixers falls in or Finally, Klay Thompson, to 73 wins, the best record in the Raptors, playing hot and ‘was no Thompson. And that championships, three NBA out after four bounces off the the best player in this series league history, only to take sensing an opening. left Curry without a Splash titles. It began as the feel- rim, or whether the great Ed -- yes, better than Kawhi -- advantage of cosmic timing And now Golden State Brother. That left the Raptors good story of the NBA; a land- Malloy blows his whistle at a went down late in the third and entice Durant to join faces what most NBA teams free to use another rare gim- mark franchise that had been crucial point in the game; or quarter of Game 6 Thursday their brigade and make them face. Uncertainty. About its mick, the box-and-one, plus a anon-contender for most of whether Draymond Green night, amid a game for the unbeatable? roster. About what that roster variety of trap defenses, and 40 years had risen to become gets his fingertip on a poten- ages (32 minutes, 30 points Because that's what Golden can do. Curry was rendered human. one ofthe funnest champions tially season-ending shot. on 19 possessions, guard- State was. Unbeatable. LeB- Steph Curry must have felt ‘The greatest shooter in NBA in decades. Karma doesn't really exist. ing Leonard into offensive ron went 1-8 in Finals games awfully lonely that final 14:22 history in that final 14:22 Then the Warriors turned ‘Then came these NBA frustration), and the result against the Warriors the last of the game. For three years, made one of six shots, with Finals. And it appeared was a torn anterior cruciate two seasons. The Warriors Curry has been running one turnover and no 3-point Darth Vader dark, not for the gods were against the ligament in his knee. That's were 16-1 in the 2017 play- around, petrifying defenses makes. Curry missed all four winning, but for signing Warriors. Appeared that the right, ACL. offs. Golden State was a little with his ability to get open for of his long balls after Thomp- Durant. It rendered them plagues of Egypt descended Now the Warriors face a less dominant last season, long-range shots that suck the son's injury, most taken unbeatable and unlikeable. upon Golden State, with the free-agency period in which going 16-5 in the playoffs life out of Warrior opponents. under duress. And in the end, the gods collective voice of Canada they planned to sign Thomp- primarily out of boredom and When you share a court with Now Curry faces a full made them pay the price for commanding, "Let This Title son to a huge contract and a determined threat by the Durant and Thompson, life is season of living like the com- living large. Lots of money to spend in the Atlantic Division By Berry Tramel Guaranteed totals: $82.8M. ty Rozier, Jonathan Gibson. Mitchell Robinson $1.6M. Team option: Lance Guaranteed totals: $23.4M. The Oklahoman Payroll outlook: Toronto ‘Team option: Semi Ojeleye Unrestricted free agent: ‘Thomas $7.6M, Allonzo Trier is hoping to entice Leonard $1.6M. DeAndre Jordan, Mario He- $3.6M, John Jenkins $2.0M, Payroll outlook: The ‘The NBA's Atlantic Divi- to stay, though he certainly Player option: Al Horford zonja, Noah Vonleh. Henry Ellenson $1.6M, Billy Knicks have tons of cap sion is aload. It consists will opt out of the contract. $30.1M. Restricted free agent: Garrett $1.4M. of the new NBA champion Gasol’s decision is unknown. Dead-cap obligations: De- Emmanuel Mudiay, Luke Dead-cap obligations: Joa- space. But can they entice a (Toronto), a team that might Toronto could have some cap metrius Jackson $0.1M. have been good enough to be room -- ornone at all. Guaranteed totals: $64.1M. Kornet. kim Noah $6.4M. superstar to sign? the NBA champion (Philadel- PHILADELPHIA 76ERS Payroll outlook: With phia) and a team that thought Under contract: Joel Em- Irving a free agent and po- it was good enough to be the biid $27.25M, Ben Simmons tentially Horford opting out, NBA champion (Boston). $8.1M, Zhaire Smith $3.1M, the Celtics have a lot of cap And two of those teams have Jonah Bolden $1.7M. space. But they would prefer payroll space to pursue su- Unrestricted free agent: to keep those guys. P perstars. And so, too, do the Tobias Harris, J.J. Redick, BROOKLYN NETS. New York teams. Interesting Boban Marjanovic, Mike Under contract: Spencer division. Scott, Furkan Korkmaz, T.J. Dinwiddie $10.6M, Joe Har- As the free agency period ‘McConnell, Amir Johnson. ris $7.7M, Taurean Prince approaches, we continue our Team option: Jonathon $3.5M, Caris LeVert $2.6M, daily look at the payroll situ- Simmons $5.7M. Jarrett Allen $2.4M, Dzanan ations for each NBA division. Player option: Jimmy Musa $1.9M, Rodions Kurucs Today, the Atlantic. Butler $19.8M, James Ennis $1.8M. TORONTO RAPTORS $1.8M. Unrestricted free agent: Under contract: Kyle Guaranteed totals: DeMarre Carroll, Jared Dud- Lowry $34.5M, Serge Ibaka $47.65M. ley, Ed Davis, $23.3M, Norman Powell Payroll outlook: Lots of Restricted free agent: $10.1M, Fred VanVleet cap space, but the 76ers hope D'Angelo Russell, Rondae $9.5M, Pascal Siakam $2.4M, to keep Butler and Harris, Hollis-Jefferson. 0.G. Anunoby $2.3M. which would eat up most of Team option: Shabazz Na- Unrestricted free agent: the payroll room. pier $1.8M, Treveon Graham Danny Green, Jeremy Lin, BOSTON CELTICS $1.6M. Jodie Meeks, Eric Moreland, Under contract: Gordon Dead-cap obligations: Jordan Loyd. Hayward $32.7M, Mar- Deron Williams $5.5M. Restricted free agent: Pat- cus Smart $12.5M, Jayson Guaranteed totals: $36M. rick McCaw. Tatum $7.8M, Jaylen Brown Payroll outlook: Nets are ‘Team option: Chris $6.5M, Aron Baynes $5.4M, in solid shape to chase free Boucher $1.6M, Malcolm Guerschon Yabusele $3.1M, agents. Miller $1.6M. Robert Williams $1.9M. Bac ROvIRONUAmDeMAnt NEW YORK KNICKER- Player option: Marc Ga- Unrestricted free agent: BOCKERS sol $25.6M, Kawhi Leonard Kyrie Irving, Marcus Morris, Under contract: Frank $21.3M. Daniel Theis, Brad Wana- Mtilinka $4.9M, Dennis Smith You Pay Just What's Dead-cap obligations: Jus- maker. $4.5M, Kevin Knox $4.4M, tin Hamilton $1.0M. Restricted free agent: Ter- Damyean Dotson $1.6M, Delivered On the Tag! to your DON GIMISS, inbox. THISISALE! prices reflec Read your local news from anywhere. Subscribe Today Online, Print, and Print+Online Online or Prin’ $50/6 months $75/year PMiHOME DESIGN CENTER Ser ing Western Oklahoma for 73 Years! 102 West Main - Weatherford - 580-772-5581