What to make of Kevin Durant-Draymond Green drama and how it impacts Warriors' NBA title chase and free agency

So who's right and who's wrong in this messy situation? In our latest 3-Man Weave, NBA writers Brad Botkin, Colin Ward-Henninger and James Herbert try and make sense of the drama and how it will affect the team.

What do you make of the Durant / Green situation in Golden State?

Brad Botkin: It's not nothing, that's for sure. At first, like a lot of people, I took this as your typical flare-up in a competitive environment that would eventually blow over. But some of the people are more likely to have a good time, and it does not look pretty for the Warriors. Apparently it was a big enough deal for the normally quiet Klay Thompson to speak up. That's when you know it's real. This does not feel media generated. It does not feel overblown. It feels very real, and certainly very concerning for the Warriors. As Klay reportedly said when he addressed the team, the only team that can beat the Warriors is the Warriors. They are here to stay, and they are starting to get smaller, so they do not forget that they still have DeMarcus Cousins ​​into the mix later this season. Are they going to be steady enough? We shall see.

Colin Ward-Henninger: Like most, I was ready to chalk this up to an unextraordinary tiff between teammates that was blown out of proportion due to its public nature. Then I went to Tuesday night's game at Oracle. It took one look at Kevin Durant's face afterward to realize this situation cut him to the core. He was irritated, clearly still hurt by whatever Green said to him, and made the slightest hint that things would soon be resolved. Steve Kerr's demeanor was completely uncharacteristic – stoic, impatient – he even let out a big exhale of frustration, exhaustion, relief, or some combination of the three, as he walked out of the room. The story is about to be heard in the interior of Shaun Livingston and David West after winning last season's title.

The most concerning aspect to all this, in the terms of the Warriors' future, is the decision by Kerr and General Eating Bob Myers to issue a suspension. Green is coming off of an injury, and the Warriors could have played this off on the back of a back-to-back, while privately fining him for his transgression (how badly do we want to know exactly what he said, by the way?). It would have raised eyebrows, but the gravitas of the incident would not have escalated into the avalanche it has become. The suspension was a public statement for Team Kevin over Team Draymond – one that could have long-lasting ramifications for the franchise.

James Herbert: It's messed up. Friction can be healthy, but this feels like a lot more than a little tiff. If this was just about late-game decision-making, I would not care about it. As soon as we have gone on the road of personal growth, it has become a problem. The fact Golden State suspended Green speaks volumes.

Maybe there is value in Green getting things out of the open instead of simmering below the surface. Maybe this will look like a few days ago. If they can not, they can not, they should not, I tend to think they should at least be able to work together in the short term. The Warriors are so talented that they are very much in the mood for the season.

What's more important for Warriors: Winning a title this year?

Botkin: Definitely winning a title this season. I talked to Warriors GM assistant Larry Harris before all this went down, and he made a good point: If you win four titles in five years happens moving forward as pure gravy. There is no guarantee for the winters after this season if the Warriors win it all again. They have to have a vision of this season, because they are certainly that of the Durant-Warriors marriage.

Now, can the Warriors win a title with a broken locker room? It's fair to think they are talented enough to overcome anything. Put it this way: is is and Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant Durant That said, there are some great teams in the NBA right now that do not get enough credit for how good they are because of the Warriors' attention. Last season the Warriors lost a bit of their identity in the Houston series. It is possible for them to implode just enough to open a door. I think the Raptors, Celtics and 76ers, by season 's end, could be able to pose a similar threat to the Houston Warriors did last season.

Ward-Henninger: The Warriors have not said this publicly, but it seems that they're playing this season as it's their last with Durant. From top to bottom, the message on Media Day is "stay in the moment" and "enjoy the ride." It does not take too much too much tea, but it is not so bad that KD will be next, and the players will be warriors insiders the same thing. With this in mind, this year's title becomes the ultimate goal. On top of that, there's some feeling among the Warriors that they've won before they get there, and they can win after he leaves. This is perhaps the best of the dynasty, and the apparent drop-off of the Rockets makes this path smoother. For a team that has a look for motivation, the prospect of winning a title. However, suspending Green shows that management is not so willing to let their two-time Finals MVP walk.

Herbert: Winning the title this year, as it is the Warriors can control. During their time, they were able to perform well. While every team must devote time and energy to planning for the future, it would be disrespectful to the players on the roster to act as the most important thing is anything other than making the most of the opportunity in front of them. In fact, I'd argue that Green's resentment is the result of this process.

Does Green have a point about being non-committal to the long-term warriors?

Botkin: Yes and no. We often think these athletes are human beings, and from a standpoint standpoint, when you're not feeling your teammates is the same, you can understand that being frustrating. Or annoying. However you want to put it.

That said, the NBA is a business. That's getting cliche to say because it's true. I've asked multiple GMs about this exact situation when a star player keeps doing these things. It's a challenge, no doubt. It does not make the Warriors' job easier. But as GM Hawks Travis Schlenk, who was with the Warriors for 13 years, recently told me: "If you're fortunate enough to have one of the top five players in the league, I think you just have to enjoy it while you have , to be quite honest. "

That's the truth, though it does not sound like anyone in Golden State is enjoying all that much at the moment. It's definitely becoming a fascinating storyline to continue to monitor.

Ward-Henninger: The Athletic's Marcus Thompson has reported that Draymond's concern is not necessarily about signing another one-plus-one deal, but rather the way that it's allowed to become a distracting storyline this season. We do not know what we're talking about, but what we're talking about, and what's going on? In that sense, Green does have a point. Nothing is ever black and white, so it becomes about the nuance. And if teammates feel that Durant has helped keep the "Where will K.D. play next season?" Spinning carousel, it's not hard to see things that blew up in the fashion that they did.

Herbert: Of course he has a point. Durant has not done the I-love-it-here-and-would-love-to-stay thing, and even though it has not directly fueled speculation about his intentions, the fact that he has not directly tried to dubious. If Durant's top priority was making this storyline did not become a distraction, he would have done so much in his situation (and what he did in Oklahoma City): shut down any and all questions about free agency.

At the same time, he is not necessarily obliged to protect his teammates from questions about his future. As a reporter who would like to be able to speak to you in an honest way, you might think that it is controversial, but it is not necessary to get into the business of scolding anybody for the act of not lying. After Durant joined the Warriors, he was criticized for leading the Thunder on. In other words, he was supposedly speaking too positively about the city and organization.

All of this is to say that there is no perfect way to handle this. Clearly, Durant's approach has not pleased him to be one of his teammates, but it has not been brazenly flirting with other franchises or dropping hints that he is leaving. He is doing so in his open and tell world that he's doing so. He also must understand that his choices affect everyone else on the team.