The NBA Free Agency is almost underway and the decision that the basketball world has been waiting for the past two years is near.
We have previously speculated that Durant will most likely pick the Spurs if he leaves OKC. The reasons were stated here. However, the events that transpired after the NBA Finals have set up the Golden State Warriors as the favorite.
This was pointed out by Chris Broussard of ESPN when he spoke on the Russillo and Kanell radio show and pointed out some factors in Durant's decision-making process.
Broussard said that Durant really wants to listen to each team's pitch and his intention is to stay with them for the long term. He does not want to repeat this process again next year. Thus, according to Broussard, he will still sign a one-year deal because of the financial implications but he intends to re-sign with the same team again for the long term-not seek out a new team.
This was reiterated by Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders
"Sources close to Durant said recently that his looming free agency was incredibly stressful and distracting and that Durant isn't overly eager to go through this again and that these meetings may be more than just going through the motions. He is genuinely planning to listen to options and see what's available to him and may make a long-term commitment with whatever team he chooses."
If these hold true, then the Golden State Warriors would be the best destination. Broussard also named them as the favorites when pressed for a decision, although he said it's "what he hears" and that he's not certain.
Here are three reasons why Durant could choose the Warriors:
Long-term Certainty
Among the six teams who get to have meetings with Durant, the Warriors offer the best security with regards to his star teammates. The Clippers could lose Blake Griffin and Chris Paul in 2017, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili could retire. Even the OKC Thunder will have Russell Westbrook as a free agent in Summer 2017-and there's no guarantee he will stay even if Durant is there.
In contrast, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are locked long-term. Steph Curry will be a free agent in 2017 like Westbrook but the truth is, he will stay in Golden State-with or without Kevin Durant. This is more of a sure thing than Westbrook is.
The Warriors Actually Need Durant
The main criticism is that joining the Warriors will tarnish KD's legacy because he jumped on someone else's championship train. This was one reason why the Spurs were the better choice, but since the Warriors lost, Durant is not seen as a free-rider.
Durant will join a team that needs him to win a title, but at the same time, that team was also four points away to winning.
The Warriors will be Durant's team, not Curry's
Corollary to the previous point, there were misgivings on how Durant would fit in with a team that was defined as Steph Curry's team. During the regular season, Curry was the undisputed king of the Warriors, even the entire NBA (a unanimous MVP award seals that).
In the NBA Finals (and even against Durant's own OKC Thunder in the WCF), the Warriors showed they can still play a different brand of basketball (which is necessary when the three pointers don't fall) and also, have someone other than Curry take the reins.
Curry is not a selfish player and he willingly deferred to Klay Thompson and Draymond Green at times. He won't have a problem doing that with Kevin Durant.
The Warriors will have to lose some players to sign Durant: Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli will walk away and they might trade Andrew Bogut to a team with cap space. They will still sport a core of Durant, Curry, Klay, Green with Iguodala and Livingston off the bench. They'll need a center for interior defense and they would most likely find that along with other bench pieces