The race for Kevin Durant continues, and free agency is still three weeks out.
When asked a question about Durant at a recent event, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin made a surprising offer to the seven time All-Star, via tulsaworld.com:
“If Kevin Durant thinks about leaving, which I hope he doesn’t — Oklahoma loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Oklahoma. But if he’ll stay, I’ll make him a Cabinet person for health and fitness on my Cabinet,” Fallin said.
Durant, who led his team to the Western Conference Finals this past year, is the NBA’s most prominent soon-to-be free agent on the market. Expect every franchise but the Cleveland Cavaliers to give Durant a look, including the front-runner Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant’s team last season.
Last week, a report surfaced indicating Durant plans on bypassing the option of signing with the Houston Rockets. If this report is true, mark the official list of suitors for Durant down to 28 teams.
Kevin Durant, as reported weeks ago, will likely re-sign with the Thunder on a two-year deal that includes a player option for the final year. Should Durant pursue this option, he’d enter the summer of 2017 as a free agent alongside teammates Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka.
Another city hoping to obtain Durant, Boston, has already submitted its own bribe to Durant. Legal Sea Foods, a Boston-based restaurant, will offer the four-time scoring champion free crab cakes for life if he signs with the Celtics.
The Warriors, thought to be as the biggest threat to lure Durant away from Oklahoma, gave their pre-pitch — A seven-game grueling defeat in the West Finals last month.
Other teams such as the Spurs, Heat, Wizards, Clippers, and Mavericks have yet to make headlines. Come July 1st when free agency begins, however, expect the real pitches to sign Durant circulate.
For now, these bribes from various companies and officials have provided some needed entertainment in the long wait for free agency to start.
