Kevin Durant is the glittering prize of the NBA free agency this summer as any team would greatly benefit from adding him to the roster.
Any team, no exceptions would get better if KD joined their ranks. The San Antonio Spurs, perhaps one of the two best teams, included.
It seemed more viable to believe the Durant to Golden State Warriors rumors, but the Spurs buzz is gaining ground and more reputable journalists are picking up the story.
The latest is Marc Stein of ESPN who concurred with Zach Lowe when he hinted on this in his podcast. Stein does not venture into speculating where Durant wants to go, only on the teams that are preparing to pursue him and he confirms that the Spurs are one of them.
"The sure thing, at this stage, is that the Spurs -- like the Warriors -- are primed for the chase," Stein said. "Like Pat Riley and the Miami Heat last summer with Aldridge, San Antonio wants to book the face-to-face chance to pitch Durant in early July 1 ... and then worry about where the cap space comes from."
There is also a theory that the current Spurs-Thunder semifinals series is much more important than the current season's implications. It could be the basis for Durant's decision.
"The theory (stress: theory) also holds that OKC success in this round against the 67-win Spurs would be enough, no matter what happens in a presumed Western Conference finals showdown with the Warriors, to convince Durant, at the very least, to sign a new two-year deal with Oklahoma City that contains a player option for Year 2," Stein cautiously shared.
It would be hard to determine whether KD has such a premise at this stage but it does sound logical. Getting over the Spurs is a step forward, even if the miss out on the Warriors this season, that would be their step two for 2016-17. If they can't get through the Spurs now, that means they're simply not in their level.
Speaking of being on a different level, the former MVP is simply in awe of Coach Pop. In a statement Durant shared with Spurs Nation, he said:
"No matter how many moving parts they have on the team, he always stays consistent with what he does. Having a coach, a really good coach is probably the most important thing in this league. Because you can have all the great players you want, but if you have someone to orchestrate it, that's what they have. They've got great players, but they also have a great coach to put them in positions that utilizes all their strengths as individuals and make it come together as a team."
It is normal for Durant to compliment even his opponents, but in the context of his looming free agency and that the Thunder recently had a coaching change while Pop has been the gold standard for two decades, it is enough to send conspiracy theorists in a frenzy.