One of the top story lines of the past two seasons in the NBA has been Kevin Durant's impending free agency. This summer, Durant will hit the free market, and almost every team in the league has been clearing cap space, gearing up to make an offer for one of league history's best scorers. Durant is one of the league's top five players, a totally unique scorer; 6'11, 235, ability to handle the ball like a guard and pull up from thirty feet, necessary speed and quickness to get open, incredible length so that it doesn't matter if he's well-guarded or not, he's getting a good look at the basket. There is no way to guard this guy (unless Kawhi Leonard is on your team and even then it's a toss up). Durant has the type of talent that can change the balance of power in the NBA... depending on where he goes. So where will Durant choose to go? Or will he stay in Oklahoma City? Here are his top four possible destinations, according to me. (FYI: These teams need to meet the following recommendations: KD would be the go-to scorer, would have at least a large share of the leadership, and the team with KD would have a legitimate shot at winning a championship/make it to the finals. I don't think KD is going to the Spurs or Warriors to take a back seat for a ring. He wants to earn it. Also, this is where I think KD should go, not where I think he will go.)
4) Washington Wizards
This was a huge story after the Wizards' playoff run last year took them near the Eastern Conference Finals. Durant is from the D.C. area, and that paired with his fit alongside guards John Wall and Bradley Beal got this potential landing spot trending. While I still think KD would have success in D.C. and the fit with Wall (an incredible playmaker and passer) is still great, this choice is dropping off the list of true contenders for Durant. The Wizards are sitting at tenth in the East right now, out of the playoff picture, and legitimately disappointing after last season's success. Wall has been one of the league's best point guards, but everyone else have been letdowns. Bradley Beal has proven that he cannot stay healthy, the big men Nene and Gortat have fallen off the map, and the bench is awful. In addition, coach Randy Wittman, after seeming to finally understand the pace-and-space, three-point centric playing style in the playoffs last year, has gone back to the 90's style, clogged-up toilet bowl offense predicated on mid-range jumpers. It would be a good story, but I don't think Kevin Durant's best chance to win is in Washington.
3) Miami Heat
The Heat have rebuilt very quickly after the loss of LeBron James in the summer of 2014, and Pat Riley deserves a ton of credit for his savvy moves; I just knew he'd somehow end up stealing Justise Winslow at number 10, and Hassan Whiteside can dominate down low for a good value. After he looked to be on the decline in LeBron's last year in Miami, Dwyane Wade has come back stronger this year, showing more signs of the old Flash than in any season since LeBron's second title campaign. Everyone in the Miami organization deserves props for not letting themselves fold with the loss of LeBron and Chris Bosh's scary health issues. If KD wants to go somewhere where he can learn the science and method of winning, nowhere's better than the Miami Mafia (creds to Jalen Rose). However, the uncertainty of Bosh's health, Whiteside's future, and Wade's mileage place Miami behind the next two teams on this list.
2) Boston Celtics
MEMO TO KEVIN DURANT: THE CELTICS ARE REALLY GOOD. THIS ISN'T JUST A CELTICS FAN BEING A HOMER. BOSTON ACTUALLY IS REALLY GOOD. They're third in the Eastern Conference and headed to the playoffs for the second straight year. They have an assortment of fun, young talent (like Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk) mixed with cagey veterans (Amir Johnson and Avery Bradley). On the court they are led by point guard Isaiah Thomas, a first-time all-star this year and possibly the best under-six-foot scorer in NBA history. But the real reason Durant should heavily consider the Celtics? Coach Brad Stevens is easily one of the league's top four coaches. He's motivated this young Celtics team into becoming a top-five defense, despite a roster with multiple below average defenders. He knows exactly how to run a game, when to call timeout, which plays to draw up to get his guys a good look. All of his players love him and he's eked out every drop of production from a roster that isn't exactly striking on paper. What the Celtics lack is a star, a go-to-guy who they know they can get production from every night, and that's exactly what Durant can provide. Other factors that would encourage a Durant/Boston marriage is the leisure of playing in the Eastern Conference, Boston's history of excellence, and Durant's good fit with the system and personnel. Unlike OKC, Boston runs a real offense, and Durant wouldn't have to work so hard to get shots at the end of games. As a Boston fan, I'm stoked at the slightest possibility of Durant going to Beantown. As a writer and budding analyst, I know there's somewhere safer and probably better for Durant to end up...
1) Oklahoma City Thunder
Here's what I think is going to happen this summer; Durant will re-sign on a one-year deal to make one more title run with Westbrook, then re-enter free agency again the next summer alongside Westbrook when the salary cap is higher, as well as his potential payday. Lost in the glow of Golden State's blazing sun of basketball destruction (and, to a lesser extent, the Spurs) is the fact that the Thunder have reincorporated Durant into the team as seamlessly as before he was injured, and with a little luck and a few coaching and personnel tweaks, this team is absolutely capable of winning a championship. It's a better option in terms of the possibility of winning a title than the other options, anyway. Could that change by this summer? Of course it could. But this option gives Durant the most flexibility and the best chance to win in the short-term. None of these other options include a top-five player alongside Durant, and that's what OKC has to offer.
4) Washington Wizards
This was a huge story after the Wizards' playoff run last year took them near the Eastern Conference Finals. Durant is from the D.C. area, and that paired with his fit alongside guards John Wall and Bradley Beal got this potential landing spot trending. While I still think KD would have success in D.C. and the fit with Wall (an incredible playmaker and passer) is still great, this choice is dropping off the list of true contenders for Durant. The Wizards are sitting at tenth in the East right now, out of the playoff picture, and legitimately disappointing after last season's success. Wall has been one of the league's best point guards, but everyone else have been letdowns. Bradley Beal has proven that he cannot stay healthy, the big men Nene and Gortat have fallen off the map, and the bench is awful. In addition, coach Randy Wittman, after seeming to finally understand the pace-and-space, three-point centric playing style in the playoffs last year, has gone back to the 90's style, clogged-up toilet bowl offense predicated on mid-range jumpers. It would be a good story, but I don't think Kevin Durant's best chance to win is in Washington.
3) Miami Heat
The Heat have rebuilt very quickly after the loss of LeBron James in the summer of 2014, and Pat Riley deserves a ton of credit for his savvy moves; I just knew he'd somehow end up stealing Justise Winslow at number 10, and Hassan Whiteside can dominate down low for a good value. After he looked to be on the decline in LeBron's last year in Miami, Dwyane Wade has come back stronger this year, showing more signs of the old Flash than in any season since LeBron's second title campaign. Everyone in the Miami organization deserves props for not letting themselves fold with the loss of LeBron and Chris Bosh's scary health issues. If KD wants to go somewhere where he can learn the science and method of winning, nowhere's better than the Miami Mafia (creds to Jalen Rose). However, the uncertainty of Bosh's health, Whiteside's future, and Wade's mileage place Miami behind the next two teams on this list.
2) Boston Celtics
MEMO TO KEVIN DURANT: THE CELTICS ARE REALLY GOOD. THIS ISN'T JUST A CELTICS FAN BEING A HOMER. BOSTON ACTUALLY IS REALLY GOOD. They're third in the Eastern Conference and headed to the playoffs for the second straight year. They have an assortment of fun, young talent (like Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk) mixed with cagey veterans (Amir Johnson and Avery Bradley). On the court they are led by point guard Isaiah Thomas, a first-time all-star this year and possibly the best under-six-foot scorer in NBA history. But the real reason Durant should heavily consider the Celtics? Coach Brad Stevens is easily one of the league's top four coaches. He's motivated this young Celtics team into becoming a top-five defense, despite a roster with multiple below average defenders. He knows exactly how to run a game, when to call timeout, which plays to draw up to get his guys a good look. All of his players love him and he's eked out every drop of production from a roster that isn't exactly striking on paper. What the Celtics lack is a star, a go-to-guy who they know they can get production from every night, and that's exactly what Durant can provide. Other factors that would encourage a Durant/Boston marriage is the leisure of playing in the Eastern Conference, Boston's history of excellence, and Durant's good fit with the system and personnel. Unlike OKC, Boston runs a real offense, and Durant wouldn't have to work so hard to get shots at the end of games. As a Boston fan, I'm stoked at the slightest possibility of Durant going to Beantown. As a writer and budding analyst, I know there's somewhere safer and probably better for Durant to end up...
1) Oklahoma City Thunder
Here's what I think is going to happen this summer; Durant will re-sign on a one-year deal to make one more title run with Westbrook, then re-enter free agency again the next summer alongside Westbrook when the salary cap is higher, as well as his potential payday. Lost in the glow of Golden State's blazing sun of basketball destruction (and, to a lesser extent, the Spurs) is the fact that the Thunder have reincorporated Durant into the team as seamlessly as before he was injured, and with a little luck and a few coaching and personnel tweaks, this team is absolutely capable of winning a championship. It's a better option in terms of the possibility of winning a title than the other options, anyway. Could that change by this summer? Of course it could. But this option gives Durant the most flexibility and the best chance to win in the short-term. None of these other options include a top-five player alongside Durant, and that's what OKC has to offer.
