Lowell Cohn: Bringing Kevin Durant to Warriors not such an easy call

The talk is about the Warriors getting Kevin Durant, who becomes a free agent after this season. I don’t know if basketball people in responsible positions talk about this, but we sure talked Durant-to-the-Warriors on TV the other night. Talked a long time.

And it was fun. Playing fantasy basketball. You take a great team like the Warriors and you add an undisputed superstar like Durant and, presto, the great team just became greater.

So, you’d make that deal, right?

If you answered yes, if you consider this a no-brainer, if you can’t wait for Durant to become a Warrior, take a deep breath, please. Consider how complicated this scenario is. Consider it could backfire. Come along with me as we untangle this deal.

For starters, the Warriors already are the best team in the NBA, the team with the best record, the team that can’t lose at home. They also are the team that could win the championship the second season in a row. Should win it.

If they win back-to-back titles, is it smart to break up that group? Or looked at another way, is it prudent to bring in a major new ingredient/player?

I’m not saying no and I’m not saying yes. I’m saying it’s risky. Here’s why.

To make room for Durant, the Warriors would need to get rid of salaries. If you think I understand how this arcane equation works, you might also think I understand the first thing about calculus or physics. Forget about it. Smart people told me this salary stuff is true and I believe them. To get Durant, the Warriors almost surely will lose Harrison Barnes and either Andrew Bogut or Andre Iguodala. That’s a lot of losing right there.

Sure, Durant replaces Barnes at small forward and that’s a net gain. Probably. But losing Bogut or Iguodala is a big deal. Bogut’s defensive intensity is scary - and remember this is a defense-oriented team. And Bogut is a brilliant passer who sets up lots of plays.

Iguodala is the best defender on the Warriors and he hits the big shots. He can’t shoot free throws, but he routinely hits 3s that break the opponent.

Who’s to say the Warriors with Durant but without Barnes and either Bogut or Iguodala are better? Are you prepared to say that?

And there’s the matter of fitting in - of Durant fitting in. I’ve heard he’s a good guy. Before the Warriors smoked the Thunder the other night, Durant was taking shots early. As he walked off the court on his way to the locker room, he went by Warriors assistant coach Ron Adams, the philosopher of hoops, and said with a smile, “It’s cold in here.” To which Adams replied, “I’ll get you a sweater.” They both laughed.

Durant was entirely likable, although I’ve seen him go off on the media. Something the Warriors players don’t do. But, OK, it’s only the media and no one cares about us. How will he get along with the Warriors in the locker room and on the court? That’s the essential question.

I guess I’ve entered the “chemistry” discussion. I never believed in team chemistry until this Warriors team came together and now I believe in it. I’m a mad scientist. And here’s what I’m talking about.

On Thursday night against the Warriors, Durant took 17 shots. Of course, Russell Westbrook, a known ball hog, took 24. There never would be a discussion of bringing Westbrook to the Warriors. Makes no sense. Back to Durant.

He scored 32, had nine turnovers - ouch - and was the dominant player for the Thunder. If he takes 17 shots as a Warrior - or 19, his average - someone takes fewer shots. Add and subtract. Now, we enter ego territory. Obviously, Durant won’t take shots away from Stephen Curry. Curry’s position is incontestable.

But Durant’s shots have to come at someone’s expense. Probably Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. Can you imagine Thompson and especially Green happily stepping aside, taking fewer shots so Durant can be Durant? I don’t know the answer, but the entire notion causes worry. Not for me. For the Warriors.

Or flip things around. Say Durant is the No. 4 player on the Warriors, the No. 4 go-to guy behind Curry, Green and Thompson. I have no idea if this would be the case. I’m supposing. Well, he could lose confidence. Lose himself.

Jim Lefebvre, who coached for the Giants and A’s, always told me you need to treat a superstar like a superstar. You need to boost his ego, make him feel special so he plays special. I don’t know if this is the case with Durant, but it’s a risk. He could come to the Warriors, feel what it’s like not to be the star, and feel diminished. And play diminished.

Chancy proposition.

Now, I’m going to turn things around. Not to be a pest. Just to examine this topic from another side.

Durant may welcome being the third or fourth banana. Some players do not want the spotlight and the responsibility and the pressure. Durant may feel relieved to be one of the guys on the Warriors instead of The Guy.

I don’t know. Neither do you.

And there’s this. Bogut and Iguodala are old in basketball years. Bogut is 31 and has been injured a lot. Iguodala is 32. Durant is only 27, has productive years ahead of him, may be improving.

Warriors general manager Bob Myers has to think about replenishing the roster, about keeping it young, healthy and vibrant. Getting Durant and losing Bogut or Iguodala could be part of the replenishing. I understand that. I present it to you as an argument to get Durant after this season.

Now you’ve seen both sides of the discussion. What’s the correct move? Don’t ask me - I have a headache.

For more on the world of sports in general and the Bay Area in particular, go to the Cohn Zohn at cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Columnist Lowell Cohn at lowell.cohn@pressdemocrat.com.