Pistons' Van Gundy: Don't hate Warriors for signing Durant

The Golden State Warriors didn't break the law over the summer when they signed Kevin Durant to a two-year contract, and Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy can't figure out why he and the organization are getting so much grief for making the move.

"First of all, I don't understand why there were people that were like pissed off that he went there," Van Gundy said during Pistons Media Day on Monday, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. "I don't get that. Did he do something that was against the rules? He was a free agent, he picked the situation best for him and good for him.

"He's happy, and the people that criticized him, I didn't get, and there were a few people railing on the Warriors and I'm thinking, 'Yeah, right. There's teams out there that wouldn’t take him?'"

Related: Durant doesn't think he's weak for signing with Warriors

The biggest criticism Durant has received for becoming a Warrior is that they're the team that eliminated his Oklahoma City Thunder from the postseason, overcoming a 3-1 deficit in last season's Western Conference finals.

Nonetheless, Durant went through his unrestricted free agency by the book and placed himself in an even better situation to become a champion. As far as Van Gundy sees things, there's really no reason to judge him or the Warriors for joining forces.

"If you want to criticize the system, that's a whole other question, but the Warriors and Durant played within the system," he said.

The Pistons will get their first look at the revamped Warriors on Dec. 23 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.