Kevin Durant, the #1 free agent this offseason, is a player which every team wants on their roster. This season, Durant averaged 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists a game. Durant is only 27 years old, and these next few years is when his talent will peak. So which team will Durant be on at the beginning of next season? Who will win the Kevin Durant Sweepstakes?
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder, the team Durant is currently a part of, also want to keep the superstar. If Durant stays with the Thunder, he will make more money than he would with any other team, since the Thunder can offer him a 5-year maximum contract, allowing him to make more than $30,000,000 in each of the last two years of this contract. However, money does not seem to be Durant's priority; winning a championship does. Can the Thunder win a championship? If Durant is there, the answer is yes. Russell Westbrook is an All Star point guard, who almost averaged a triple double (24 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds) a game. Westbrook can carry a team when needed, which he has shown in the past. Paired with Durant, the Thunder reached the Western Conference Finals and were one win away from going to the NBA Finals. Although the Thunder lost Ibaka, they gained a guard who can defend, and score to take some of the load off of Durant and Westbrook. Also, they gained Ersan Ilyasova, someone who can make up for the rebounding aspect of the loss of Ibaka. The Thunder were a championship caliber team before this offseason, and if Durant resigns, I believe that the Thunder can take it all the way to the NBA Finals. Durant should stay in Oklahoma City for a max contract, as well as another chance at the NBA Finals.
Chances of Durant staying in Oklahoma City: 30%
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors had the best regular season record in NBA history last season, going 73-9. But the reason the Warriors performed so well was not only because of Stephen Curry's shooting, but because of their team chemistry. To sign Kevin Durant, the Warriors will have to let go of Andrew Bogut, and also let Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli leave the team. Ezeli, Barnes, and Bogut weren't the stars of the team, but they definitely contributed. Durant can make up for losing those players by being a strong scoring option, but the Warriors will lose two of their main rebounding players in Ezeli and Bogut, and a young scorer in Barnes. Also, I'm unsure about how Durant will fit in to the starting lineup. Stephen and Klay are already two go-to scorers, but having 3 scorers on the same lineup is slightly questionable.
I believe Kevin Durant going to the Warriors can go two ways: It can either ruin the chemistry of the team and cause them to lose a few more games than last season, or cause them to become the greatest team in NBA history, and easily bring home another championship to Golden State.
Chances of Durant going to Golden State: 20%
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are a team who seem to always be contenders because of their coaching and their playing style. If the Spurs can lure in Kevin Durant, then Gregg Popovich can engineer the Spurs to being championship contenders. And, the scary thing is, the Spurs can make it happen. The team is built around Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, LaMarcus Aldrige and Kawhi Leonard. The only two pieces of the team who the Spurs can let go of are Danny Green and Boris Diaw. Both of them play key roles on the team, but the likes of a superstar like Kevin Durant is always better. If the Spurs acquired Durant, they could put Tony Parker at the point guard spot as usual, Kawhi Leonard at the shooting guard, Kevin Durant at the small forward spot, Tim Duncan at power forward, and LaMarcus Aldrige at center. With Durant's scoring ability, Parker's passing, Kawhi's defense, Aldridge's rebounding, and Tim Duncan's leadership, the Spurs could become the best team in the league. However, it is questionable whether they would give up a few players for Kevin Durant, or be able to give Durant the money he wants. However, one thing is clear: If Durant joins the Spurs, they will be the best team in the league.
Chances of Durant going to San Antonio: 15%
Miami Heat
Ever since the departure of LeBron James, the Miami Heat haven't gotten too far in the NBA Finals. The only way the Heat can see the success they saw with LeBron again is if they sign another superstar, such as Kevin Durant. However, the Heat still have to resign Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside. Not only that, to sign Durant, the Heat will have to give up many of their current players. However, if the Heat give up these players and acquire Durant, they instantly become competitive in the East. A team with the aging, but still energetic Dwyane Wade, quick point guard Goran Dragic, superstar scorer Kevin Durant, and young big man Hassan Whiteside could be a huge threat to LeBron. I believe that the Heat, paired with Durant, have a chance to upset the Cavaliers and go the NBA Finals. The reason I see Kevin Durant going to the Finals with Miami rather than Boston is due to the fact that I believe Miami is a team which has more experience in the playoffs. If Durant goes to Miami, the Heat can be competitive in the East. However, I don't see why Durant, who is hungry for a championship, would go to the Heat instead of a more competitive team such as the Spurs or Warriors.
Chances of Durant going to Miami: 12%
Boston Celtics
The Celtics are an established team which has won many championships throughout their history, but ever since the departure of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo, the Celtics haven't made much noise in the playoffs. However, they have been acquiring young talent such as Isaiah Thomas, rookie Jaylen Brown, Jae Crowder, and many other players. The Celtics can sign Kevin Durant, which would truly make them contenders. Durant would probably improve the Celtics by at least 10 more wins than last season, and take them all the way to the second or third seed in the East. However, even if Durant and the Celtics can dominate and get to the Conference Finals against LeBron and his Cavaliers, do they stand a chance? I believe that LeBron can take down a Celtics team with Kevin Durant, because of what he has shown us in this year's NBA Playoffs. When LeBron desperately wants to win, he can take over a game and win. I don't see Durant going to the Celtics, simply because I am unsure if he can compete with LeBron in the East, unless the Celtics can afford to sign him as well as another star.
Chances of Durant going to Boston: 11%
New York Knicks
With the acquisition of Derrick Rose, the New York Knicks have become much more competitive in the East. If the Knicks can acquire Durant, however, it is still questionable if they become championship contenders. Rose, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant are players who all need the ball to make a play. All of their playing styles are focused on scoring, rather than setting up teammates. I am unsure about their team chemistry, due to the fact that they are all score-first players. However, Durant going to the Knicks can also be huge for them. If Derrick Rose can get aggressive and force the opposing team to focus on him defensively, it can create opportunities for Durant and Carmelo. If the opposing team decides to focus on Carmelo and Durant, Rose will be left open. If these superstars join together, I believe they have a chance at being an amazing team. However, I see problems such as their playing styles getting in the way of each other, as well as Derrick Rose's injury problem.
Chances of Durant going to New York: 10%
Other Teams
The chances of Durant going to another team, such as either Los Angeles team, seems unlikely to me, simply because Durant has a better chance of winning a championship with the teams mentioned above than any other teams. I believe that these 6 teams mentioned are the premier teams for Durant to go because other teams simply don't have the money to sign Durant, or are not competitive enough to attract Durant.
Chances of Durant going to Other Teams: 2%
Credits:
Statistics courtesy of http://www.basketball-reference.com/
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder, the team Durant is currently a part of, also want to keep the superstar. If Durant stays with the Thunder, he will make more money than he would with any other team, since the Thunder can offer him a 5-year maximum contract, allowing him to make more than $30,000,000 in each of the last two years of this contract. However, money does not seem to be Durant's priority; winning a championship does. Can the Thunder win a championship? If Durant is there, the answer is yes. Russell Westbrook is an All Star point guard, who almost averaged a triple double (24 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds) a game. Westbrook can carry a team when needed, which he has shown in the past. Paired with Durant, the Thunder reached the Western Conference Finals and were one win away from going to the NBA Finals. Although the Thunder lost Ibaka, they gained a guard who can defend, and score to take some of the load off of Durant and Westbrook. Also, they gained Ersan Ilyasova, someone who can make up for the rebounding aspect of the loss of Ibaka. The Thunder were a championship caliber team before this offseason, and if Durant resigns, I believe that the Thunder can take it all the way to the NBA Finals. Durant should stay in Oklahoma City for a max contract, as well as another chance at the NBA Finals.
Chances of Durant staying in Oklahoma City: 30%
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors had the best regular season record in NBA history last season, going 73-9. But the reason the Warriors performed so well was not only because of Stephen Curry's shooting, but because of their team chemistry. To sign Kevin Durant, the Warriors will have to let go of Andrew Bogut, and also let Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli leave the team. Ezeli, Barnes, and Bogut weren't the stars of the team, but they definitely contributed. Durant can make up for losing those players by being a strong scoring option, but the Warriors will lose two of their main rebounding players in Ezeli and Bogut, and a young scorer in Barnes. Also, I'm unsure about how Durant will fit in to the starting lineup. Stephen and Klay are already two go-to scorers, but having 3 scorers on the same lineup is slightly questionable.
I believe Kevin Durant going to the Warriors can go two ways: It can either ruin the chemistry of the team and cause them to lose a few more games than last season, or cause them to become the greatest team in NBA history, and easily bring home another championship to Golden State.
Chances of Durant going to Golden State: 20%
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are a team who seem to always be contenders because of their coaching and their playing style. If the Spurs can lure in Kevin Durant, then Gregg Popovich can engineer the Spurs to being championship contenders. And, the scary thing is, the Spurs can make it happen. The team is built around Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, LaMarcus Aldrige and Kawhi Leonard. The only two pieces of the team who the Spurs can let go of are Danny Green and Boris Diaw. Both of them play key roles on the team, but the likes of a superstar like Kevin Durant is always better. If the Spurs acquired Durant, they could put Tony Parker at the point guard spot as usual, Kawhi Leonard at the shooting guard, Kevin Durant at the small forward spot, Tim Duncan at power forward, and LaMarcus Aldrige at center. With Durant's scoring ability, Parker's passing, Kawhi's defense, Aldridge's rebounding, and Tim Duncan's leadership, the Spurs could become the best team in the league. However, it is questionable whether they would give up a few players for Kevin Durant, or be able to give Durant the money he wants. However, one thing is clear: If Durant joins the Spurs, they will be the best team in the league.
Chances of Durant going to San Antonio: 15%
Miami Heat
Ever since the departure of LeBron James, the Miami Heat haven't gotten too far in the NBA Finals. The only way the Heat can see the success they saw with LeBron again is if they sign another superstar, such as Kevin Durant. However, the Heat still have to resign Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside. Not only that, to sign Durant, the Heat will have to give up many of their current players. However, if the Heat give up these players and acquire Durant, they instantly become competitive in the East. A team with the aging, but still energetic Dwyane Wade, quick point guard Goran Dragic, superstar scorer Kevin Durant, and young big man Hassan Whiteside could be a huge threat to LeBron. I believe that the Heat, paired with Durant, have a chance to upset the Cavaliers and go the NBA Finals. The reason I see Kevin Durant going to the Finals with Miami rather than Boston is due to the fact that I believe Miami is a team which has more experience in the playoffs. If Durant goes to Miami, the Heat can be competitive in the East. However, I don't see why Durant, who is hungry for a championship, would go to the Heat instead of a more competitive team such as the Spurs or Warriors.
Chances of Durant going to Miami: 12%
Boston Celtics
The Celtics are an established team which has won many championships throughout their history, but ever since the departure of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo, the Celtics haven't made much noise in the playoffs. However, they have been acquiring young talent such as Isaiah Thomas, rookie Jaylen Brown, Jae Crowder, and many other players. The Celtics can sign Kevin Durant, which would truly make them contenders. Durant would probably improve the Celtics by at least 10 more wins than last season, and take them all the way to the second or third seed in the East. However, even if Durant and the Celtics can dominate and get to the Conference Finals against LeBron and his Cavaliers, do they stand a chance? I believe that LeBron can take down a Celtics team with Kevin Durant, because of what he has shown us in this year's NBA Playoffs. When LeBron desperately wants to win, he can take over a game and win. I don't see Durant going to the Celtics, simply because I am unsure if he can compete with LeBron in the East, unless the Celtics can afford to sign him as well as another star.
Chances of Durant going to Boston: 11%
New York Knicks
With the acquisition of Derrick Rose, the New York Knicks have become much more competitive in the East. If the Knicks can acquire Durant, however, it is still questionable if they become championship contenders. Rose, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant are players who all need the ball to make a play. All of their playing styles are focused on scoring, rather than setting up teammates. I am unsure about their team chemistry, due to the fact that they are all score-first players. However, Durant going to the Knicks can also be huge for them. If Derrick Rose can get aggressive and force the opposing team to focus on him defensively, it can create opportunities for Durant and Carmelo. If the opposing team decides to focus on Carmelo and Durant, Rose will be left open. If these superstars join together, I believe they have a chance at being an amazing team. However, I see problems such as their playing styles getting in the way of each other, as well as Derrick Rose's injury problem.
Chances of Durant going to New York: 10%
Other Teams
The chances of Durant going to another team, such as either Los Angeles team, seems unlikely to me, simply because Durant has a better chance of winning a championship with the teams mentioned above than any other teams. I believe that these 6 teams mentioned are the premier teams for Durant to go because other teams simply don't have the money to sign Durant, or are not competitive enough to attract Durant.
Chances of Durant going to Other Teams: 2%
Credits:
Statistics courtesy of http://www.basketball-reference.com/
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