Kevin Durant (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Atlanta Hawks have emerged as a possible destination for Kevin Durant once the OKC Thunder star hits free agency in July.
Durant's failed attempt to carry the Thunder over the Golden State Warriors would hardly matter this summer, as plenty of teams still view the four-time scoring champion as one of the most coveted players in free agency. Add the Hawks to those teams interested in Durant, with Atlanta "expected to make a strong push" for the superstar, according to Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"The Hawks, led by owner Tony Ressler, are expected to make a strong push for Durant. A front line with Durant, Paul Millsap and Al Horford would make the Hawks an immediate title contender, regardless of what decisions they make in the backcourt with Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder," Schultz wrote.
Durant would instantly make the Hawks the team to beat in the Eastern Conference if Atlanta could retain Al Horford and Kent Bazemore in free agency. Unlike in the loaded Western Conference, Durant will have a better chance of competing for an NBA title if he is on the other side of the league bracket.
However, the Hawks only have a projected max cap space of $35.1 million for this year's free agency, which the team would probably use in retaining Horford and Bazemore. While money is not much of a factor for Durant, who seems more inclined to win a title than play for large contracts, he is still very likely to command a max contract this summer, which does not bode well for the Hawks' pursuit of the 27-year-old star.
If the Hawks really intend to pursue Durant in free agency, the team must free some space either by letting go of Horford or Bazemore, which is an unlikely scenario, or trading some of the players in the team's core roster.
Moreover, there is a growing sense Durant would stay in Oklahoma after an excellent run this season that saw the Thunder almost reach the NBA Finals for the second time in the team's history. According to NESN's Pat Bradley, it is possible for Durant to remain as a Thunder, although on a short term deal, a two-year max contract with a player option on the second year.
Durant will have plenty of options once he hits the market, but there are only few top contenders capable of handing him a max contract. The Hawks may have a chance, but only if they could pull off deals that could give them enough cap space.
