Kevin Durant's Potential Teams for 2016-17 Season as Free Agency Looms: Warriors, Spurs and Thunder?
Several teams still in contention in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes
The NBA free agent season begins on July 1, 2016 and this year's biggest free agent is Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant, who has been one of the pillars of the Thunder team, wants to have a long term deal where ever he decides to go.
Currently there are at least 3 teams that Durant may be considering to play for and while it is not certain where he will be going, the 2014 NBA MVP states that his decision would ultimately be a "basketball decision" and nothing else.
Golden State Warriors
Despite losing the championship, the Warriors just completed a historic season where they recorded the best regular season record in league history. They dramatically beat the Thunder after going down 3-1 in the Western finals and then dramatically lost to Cleveland after going up 3-1 in the NBA finals.
The Warriors will be back next year and the team still has a lot the players still under contract with some cap space available. Warrior's owner Joe Lacob has stated that he will be aggressively pursuing Durant this offseason.
If Durant is considering the Warriors one question we could ask is whether he would be a good fit considering how many shots Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry take in each game. Perhaps they are considering Durant as a potential player to help defend LeBron?
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs have also expressed interest in Durant. The Spurs are easily one of the NBA's most under-the-radar yet most successful teams in the past 10 years. This success could easily draw Durant to signing with the Spurs.
Durant could also be a very good fit in San Antonio as he could take the minutes of aging Tim Duncan. The biggest problem here is can a high profile player like Durant fit into a system like the Spurs where it is a no frills team first mentality?
Oklahoma City Thunder
Durant has expressed interest in re-signing with the Thunder and he will most likely entertain the idea of staying with his current team first after the free agent season starts on July 1.
According to ESPN, the Thunder would likely re-sign Durant this offseason but it would be a two year deal with a one year player option so that Durant could also see where longtime teammate Russell Westbrook would go once he is a free agent after the 2016-2017 season.
Durant will be meeting prospective teams at his Los Angeles home once the free agent season begins.
