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NBA Rumors: Kevin Durant To Sign With The Warriors, Lakers, Or Knicks?

By Phillip Dengler
Published on: 04:00 PST, Mar 5, 2016

With the 2016 NBA trade deadline in the rearview mirror, rumors are heating up regarding some of the top free agents that will be available this summer. While Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant has been involved in numerous trade talks over the past few months, there was really no chance at all that he was going to be moved. Regardless, Durant is looking to win a championship, and he could leave Oklahoma City in the offseason if the Thunder fail to win it all this year.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Durant has been linked to the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and numerous other teams. Since Durant will turn 28-years-old in September, joining the Warriors is the most likely scenario. With a record of 55-5, the Warriors are having one of the greatest seasons in NBA history. While Durant’s Thunder have a respectable 42-20 record, it is unlikely that they will be able to defeat the Warriors in a playoff series.

The combination of Durant and Russell Westbrook has led to a lot of success in Oklahoma City, but it has not produced a championship. While the Thunder will always be competitive with both players, Durant reportedly believes that there are better opportunities elsewhere.

Even though the Lakers and Knicks are at least a few years away from being championship contenders, Durant has still been linked to both teams. According to The Big Lead, it is unlikely that Durant decides to join a team that does not have championship aspirations in the very near future.

“Washington and the Lakers, they are not frontrunners for Kevin Durant. He wants to win a championship. If he leaves Oklahoma – he may end up staying there – Golden State is the team that is worrisome for Oklahoma City. That’s the team that has Kevin Durant’s attention … Kevin Durant wants to win a Championship right away. Either he wants to do that in Oklahoma City, with the group they have, or he’s going to go somewhere he can win a title right away. Kevin Durant doesn’t care if they have the 1st pick, 2nd pick, 3rd pick … no free agent cares. No free agent of his stature cares what draft pick the team has, because that guy’s not going to help them win a Championship in the next 2-3 years.”

Ultimately, it is appears as though it is going to come down to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors. Currently sitting as the third seed in the Western Conference, the Thunder are going to have to go on a historic run to win a championship this year. While they will likely advance to at least the second of the playoffs, they will be matched up with the San Antonio Spurs. Despite their 52-9 record, the Spurs have once again flown under the radar this year. Even if the Thunder manage to upset the superior Spurs in a playoff series, they will be hard-pressed to have the energy to take on Stephen Curry and the Warriors.

Durant knows the Thunder better than anyone, and he may decide to stay in Oklahoma City if the team does not win the championship. As previously stated, Durant and Westbrook have had a lot of success in the regular season. If Durant feels comfortable regarding the younger players on the Thunder, he may view staying as a better option than signing with the Warriors. Since Durant would demand a huge contract with Golden State, the team would have to move certain players in order to make it work financially. While Stephen Curry and Durant would make one of the best combinations in NBA history, the loss of other role players could severely hurt the Warriors’ chemistry.

With NBA free agency still months away, rumors are going to continue to come out regarding Kevin Durant’s next destination. As USA Today reports, Durant believes the free agency possibilities are endless this offseason, but he did not give any insight to his plans. The odds of Durant joining the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are slim, but there is a real chance that he leaves Oklahoma City and signs with the Golden State Warriors.

[Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images]

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