Kevin Durant and the 5 Suitors
This summer is set to be dominated by the headlines of Kevin Durant’s free agency. Many teams have been linked to having mutual or regular interest in Durant. Below I will list teams with a shot with Durant and why he will, and won’t sign with them.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Why He Will Re-Sign
Durant’s best option is here. Especially after adding Oladipo and Sabonis, the Thunder are better now then they were last season. Durant could also sign a two-year deal with a player option for 2017-18 so that he and Westbrook can be free agents at the same time when the cap spikes again.
Why He Won’t Re-Sign
It’s hard to see him winning a title in OKC. The pastures are greener elsewhere.
Golden State Warriors
Why He Will Sign
It’s his best shot of winning a title. Joining an already stacked team could make the Dubs the downright best team ever.
Why He Won’t Sign
Money. There is a good shot that the Warriors would offer him just under the max so they could afford Durant, and they will most likely not give him a two year deal with an opt-out clause.
San Antonio Spurs
Why He Will Sign
Next best shot at winning a title. Imagine a lineup of Parker-Green-Leonard-Durant-Aldridge… scary.
Why He Won’t Sign
He has better options elsewhere with GSW and OKC.
Miami Heat
Why He Will Sign
LeBron 2.0. Leave a good situation to go to a stacked team in Miami. Imagine if Wade takes a large pay cut so they can re-sign Whiteside and sign Durant. The lineup would be Dragic-Wade-Durant-Bosh-Whiteside. With a good bench that’s better than the LeBron Heat days.
Why He Won’t Sign
Wade isn’t going to take THAT large of a pay cut, that’s why the whole plan falls through.
Boston Celtics
Why He Will Sign
Danny Ainge is known to turn teams into “superteams” in 0.948 seconds. Signing Durant is the superstar they need and maybe they could even pull of a trade for Butler. Bang. Superteam.
Why He Won’t Sign
That’s not going to happen.
Prediction
Durant almost comes to terms with Thunder, but then heads to Golden State. Warriors sign Durant to a 4-5 year deal.
