With the no more basketball games until October, all NBA fans are turning their attention to the NBA Draft on Thursday and free agency in 11 days. The most coveted topic is the looming decision of free agent Kevin Durant. The former Thunder MVP is finally a free agent and tons of teams are looking to negotiate a deal with him, including the team who just lost in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors.
According to Frank Isola of The New York Daily News, Durant will be holding his meetings in July in Los Angeles, where he has an offseason house. One of those teams Durant’s camp keep mentioning they are intent on are the Golden State Warriors. From the Daily News:
The one player who can change the balance of power in the NBA is expected to meet with prospective teams in Los Angeles when the free-agent recruiting period beings in July, according to a source. Durant had considered holding meetings in New York, but apparently has decided to hear proposals in Los Angeles, where he owns an offseason home.
The same source maintains that if Durant doesn’t re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder he would prefer to join the Warriors, a team that has reached two straight NBA Finals and could rule the Western Conference for the next five years if Durant goes to the Bay Area.
Why join a team that has won back-to-back titles without you? That wouldn’t enhance Durant’s legacy. In fact, Durant could only hurt his legacy if he doesn’t win with Golden State.
Isola brings up interesting thought. If you’re Durant, going to a 2-time NBA champion Warriors wouldn’t make sense, but a finalist in the NBA Finals just shy of a victory in Game 7? Makes for a perfect ‘hero’ moment for Durant, and some glory for the city of Oakland. Now the Warriors aren’t the only team that Durant is probably going to meet with. The Lakers, Knicks, Heat, Raptors, Mavs, Celtics, and basically any other team in the NBA at some point has showed interest in signing Durant this offseason and it’s going to be a hell of a race.
