The Toronto Raptors, the emerging beast in the Eastern Conference, could be viewed as a dark horse for the service of reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant in 2016, according to USA Today NBA insider.
The chances of Kevin Durant bolting out of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer of 2016 has significantly increased after he was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a chronic foot injury.
The Washington Wizards, Durant's hometown team, are expected to make a hard push to bring the reigning NBA MVP to the nation's capital, while big market teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and the New York Knicks won't have any second thoughts on shelling out big money for the service of one of the most explosive scorers in the era.
Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today added another team to the list of potential suitors for Durant in 2016. The Toronto Raptors, who have emerged as a major contender at least in the East Conference, could be a dark horse in the sweepstakes, especially with the kind of recruiting prowess general managers Masai Ujiri has shown since he arrived north of the border as the Raptors top front-office executive.
"We know Kevin Durant has some fans that want him to go to his hometown team, the Washington Wizards and that put the Wiz in play. The New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers should have some money to spend, and don't discount a team like the Toronto Raptors going involved in the Durant sweepstakes," according to USA Today Sports.
Durant, who will miss the remainder of the regular-season and the postseason after he was advised to undergo another surgery to address issues in his ailing right foot, was averaging 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 27 games before he was shut down last week.
The reigning NBA MVP will have one year left in his contract after this season before he becomes the alpha-dog of free-agents in 2016. There were reports of a two-team race between the Thunder and the Wizards for Durant one year from now, but other ball clubs like the Lakers, Knicks and the Raptors are still absolutely in contention this early in the process.