With the NBA off-season not too far away, several teams are lining up for the chance to “woo” unrestricted free agent, Kevin Durant. Since the salary cap is increasing over the next few years, more teams figure to have the monetary resources to ink the seven-time All-Star. Durant is one of the best scorers in the NBA, and any team he goes to is an instant contender for an NBA Championship.
But where will he go? After much analysis, here is a breakdown of some of the top contenders to pick up Durant for next season:
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Sometimes you don’t realize how good you have it: For all the years Durant and Russell Westbrook have been together, both are only 27 years old. With the emergence of some of their younger role players in Steven Adams (22), Enes Kanter (23), Andre Roberson (24), as well as Serge Ibaka (26), the Thunder figure to be a force to reckon with for years to come.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Yes, the Cavs make this list based on what we’ve observed thus far in the Finals. If Cleveland is embarrassed in 4-5 games, major changes need to be made. Imagine a scenario where Kevin Love is dealt to a team hungry for a star (i.e. Boston) and in return the Cavs receive some type of package that would help surround LeBron with better perimeter talent (Avery Bradley?) and free up cap space. If that happens, there would be room to sign Durant and form arguably the best forward tandems the league has ever seen.
Boston Celtics – Following the Paul Pierce-Kevin Garnett deal to Brooklyn, it’s been Danny Ainge’s plan to restock the cupboard and find the Celtics’ next great player (or two). The current roster may not jump off the page, but with Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, and Isiah Thomas, Boston has a solid, young core under contract at an affordable price. Additionally, the Celtics have three first round draft picks in the upcoming draft, including the third overall. Could these assets be parlayed into a deal that brings an additional star player to Beantown? If so, Boston could be a very attractive contender.
Miami Heat – With Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Hassan Whiteside, and Luol Deng entering free agency, the Heat will have a chance to reshape the look of their roster. Wade will likely return, and with Goran Dragic, Justise Winslow, and Chris Bosh (health permitting) under contract, there’s a strong foundation in place. Don’t underestimate Pat Riley’s ability to convince Durant to take his talents to South Beach.
New York Knicks – Another long-shot, but NYC is still the biggest market and Madison Square Garden is “The Mecca of Basketball,” which could intrigue Durant. If so, a Melo-Durant-Porzingis front court would make the Knicks one of more interesting teams in the league. As for the backcourt, we all know the Knicks need help.
Brooklyn Nets – Don’t laugh, but there are some KD-BKN connections: Brooklyn recently hired Adam Harrington (Durant’s shooting coach/personal trainer), Durant is represented by Jay-Z and Roc Nation, whose president is Michael Yormark (twin brother of Nets’ CEO Brett Yormark), and Dr. Martin O’Malley (the Nets’ foot/ankle specialist) repaired Durant’s foot last year. It’s an extreme long shot, but with room for two max contracts, a starting lineup of Brook Lopez, Thad Young, Durant, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and a point guard (Mike Conley?) would forge an instant contender in the East.
Summary – The Thunder should do everything they can to re-sign KD. He is a talent that comes along once every 5 or 6 years. Some say Durant doesn’t like the bright lights of a big city, but if he wants to win a ring, he has to explore all his options. Knicks and Nets fans are hopeful he wants a drastic change in scenery.
To hear more from Jonathan Griggs about the Nets, follow him on Twitter @WeMustBeNets.
Photo credits: Hero (Top) Feature Image: © Scott Clarke / ESPN Images
Additional Image Courtesy: Ben Solomon / ESPN Images