Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant is arguably one of the most sought-after free agents the NBA has seen in the last few years. As such, fan interest is at a fever pitch…opinions, rumors (and certain teams’ pipe dreams) are all part of the landscape.
Durant’s current team can offer him more money and more contract years than any other NBA team (per the league’s collective bargaining agreement). However, that may not be enough to keep the 6-10 scoring machine in Oklahoma City, despite the fact they have a very good team that just gave the Golden State Warriors all they could handle in the recently-completed Western Conference Finals.
Kevin Durant is one of the true superstars of the sport, coming off a season in which he averaged more than 28 points, eight rebounds, and five assists per game. These stellar numbers are typical of Durant’s yearly production, although he has become a more effective passer as he has gained more NBA experience.
It seems clear that any NBA team would benefit from the addition of Durant, but apparently that statement is not universally accepted. According to Fox Sports, Warriors center Andrew Bogut has weighed in on the subject of Durant joining him in Golden State, and he is not onboard with the idea.
“Guys have definitely asked questions (about Durant’s free agency). We’re not immune to it. We’ve seen it. We’ve seen the rumors, heard the rumors, all that kind of stuff. Different guys at different times have been scratching their head and thinking, ‘Why?’ The only way we can dispel all that stuff is maybe we’ve got to win five straight. Who knows? It’s one of those things we can’t really control, but we can control trying to make them make a tough decision.”
Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, a great player in his own right, likes the idea of playing with Kevin Durant but doesn’t see it happening. CBS Sports recently asked Nowitzki if he thought the Mavericks could land Durant .
“That’s a tough one. You’d love to think so. I’m just not sure how realistic that is. He wants to play to win. He’s got a great group of guys there in OKC. They’ve got everything going. They’ve got youth, they’ve got talent, they’ve got athleticism. He’s got a superstar player next to him. They’re loaded where he’s at.”
Fan “recruitment” of Durant has been over-the-top, as evidenced by a piece published by The Ringer — which ranks each NBA city’s campaign to entice Kevin Durant to join their local franchise. While this list is offered up for its comedic value, it does show just how out-of-hand the furor over Durant’s upcoming free agency has gotten.
Can’t blame them for trying. https://t.co/840gf9jjmR
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 3, 2016
There are certain NBA teams who simply have more to offer than others in the Kevin Durant Sweepstakes. No one can outbid Oklahoma City financially, but there are other teams (Golden State, Miami, San Antonio, Washington and others) who can appeal to Durant in ways that don’t involve dollars and cents.
Durant may be tempted to join a team that is already a legitimate contender, like the Spurs or Warriors. Miami can offer a lifestyle (weather, nightlife) that few can match. Durant might even be lured to play for his hometown Wizards, as he is from the Washington, D.C. area.
The most important factor in Kevin Durant’s free agency decision, however, will be something that is currently not in play. He will not officially become a free agent until July 1, and only then can teams make their “pitch” to the young superstar. The teams that decide to go hard after Durant, and which of those teams makes the most tantalizing offer will determine where this coveted free agent lands.
Which team’s uniform do you think Kevin Durant will be wearing next season?
[Photo by Sue Ogrocki/AP Images]
