Kevin Durant's Free Agency: The Top Teams Durant May Consider
For a man basically free to do anything he wants, Kevin Durant sure seems committed.
With Oklahoma City eliminated from the postseason, the all-star forward recently opened up for the first time about his pending summer of free agency. The San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and even Golden State Warriors are all rumored to have some level of interest in the seven time all-star.
"I never said that," Durant said of looking forward to being recruited by virtually every other team in the league. "That's not who I am. Whatever this thing entails, I'm ready to take it head on, but I'm not that type of person."
The nine-year veteran later added for him the two most important things in determining where he will spend the foreseeable future are being around a group of stand-up guys and being in a great hoops environment to work his craft.
Durant Sounds Vested to Oklahoma City
Durant went on to detail just how he has come to have that very arrangement in Oklahoma City.
"I've been here for eight years and the time has flown by," he said. "Time flies when you're having fun, that's what I heard. And time has gone past so quickly I've learned so much about myself by being here as a basketball player and as a man."
In time, Durant shared he plans to spend the next several days in Oklahoma hanging out with his teammates while they all stick around town.
Later, star guard Russell Westbrook went on to detail how he and Durant have become like brothers during their time together in Oklahoma.
Indeed, the smart money now has Durant staying out for at least another season, at which time both he and Westbrook will be free agents. At that point, Durant will be a 10-year veteran eligible to earn an extra $85 million on a long-term deal given the league-wide rising salary cap.
Thunder on the Rise
Under rookie coach Billy Donovan, the Thunder won 55-games during the regular season, then dumped the 67-win San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals before giving the defending champion Warriors all they could handle in a seven game series in the conference finals.
"I like how those guys played," Durant said. "I think the next phase for all of us is what are our decisions going to be this summer? We'll work on our game."
Durant and Donovan have also come to have a strong bond, though the former Florida Gators coach insists he want be reaching out to recruit his star player.
"I have nothing to do with this," said Donovan. "This is Kevin's decision. He later added, "This is about Kevin - and if he needed anything from me, I would be there to talk to him about anything. But this is about what Kevin wants to do, and it's his decision."
In time, Durant is convinced it will all come to him,
"We will figure it out," he said. "I will talk to my agent, my best friend and my dad, just talk to those three guys and get some advice from other people. But for the most part, I will talk to them in the next couple of weeks. I don't even know where my mind is right now."
But it's clear his heart still seems in Oklahoma City.
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