Now that the NBA season has come to an end, trade rumors and free agency frenzy begin to pick up. There is no bigger free agent this offseason than Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant. Here are six potential landing spots for Durant, ranked.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Durant has spent his whole career with the Thunder; that has to mean something, right? On top of the comfortability, Oklahoma City can offer a larger contract than any other team to K.D. Having a deep roster also plays into the hands of the Thunder: Russell Westbrook is under contract for another season and Victor Oladipo has also been added to an already stacked team. With Durant staying put, it would be hard to not have the Thunder as a favorite in the Western Conference next season.
2. Golden State Warriors
This almost seems unfair -- Durant teaming up with MVP Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green? This would be a strong case of the rich getting richer. But it would not be all California dreaming for Durant if he went to the Warriors. Just like Lebron James' decision, if K.D. decides to jump ship to join other superstars he would easily become one of the most hated players in the NBA. On top of that, having Durant sign with Golden State would lead to the exits of key players such as Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut. Although Durant can easily fill the void of Barnes and Iguodala, the Warriors would be left without a respectable big man. With all this potential drama, it is safe to say the Warriors make for the most intriguing destination.
3. San Antonio Spurs
A big three of Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard would set the Spurs up for success for years to come. With aging superstars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili nearing the end of their careers, San Antonio is looking for a new generation to pass the torch to. Durant would be the focal point of this new wave keeping the Spurs in the championship hunt for many seasons. San Antonio is a first-class organization, and with Durant playing college basketball at the University of Texas, it might not be that far of a stretch to see him return to the lone star state.
4. Miami Heat
The Heat are the first Eastern Conference team on this list but don't let the fourth ranking fool you -- Miami is a very intriguing landing spot. When Lebron James went back to Cleveland after 2014, he left a hole for a potential superstar to come in and keep the Heat contending at a championship level. Durant fills that hole. Only Golden State and Oklahoma City have better rosters than Miami, but too many questions loom over Miami for the Heat to be higher on the list. How much more does Dwayne Wade have in the tank? Will Chris Bosh play again? It would be one thing if Wade and Bosh were role players but they are the nucleus of Miami's roster. With all the questions surrounding the Heat it's hard to see Durant end up there but then again, who wouldn't want to live in Miami?
5. Boston Celtics
Brad Stevens. Stevens alone makes Boston an interesting destination. He is a unique, young coach who players love to play for. On top of coaching, the Celtics are filled with young talent that is on the upswing. Boston has made the playoffs the past two seasons, improving every season since Stevens' arrival. Paired with All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, Durant and the Celtics could make a deep run into the weak Eastern Conference yearly. Out of all the teams on the list, the Celtics are best set up for the future, which could be the deciding factor for Durant when determining a landing spot.
6. Los Angeles Clippers
If the lure of playing in Los Angeles is the best thing going for you, you might not have a great shot at landing a superstar. The Clippers do not have much to offer Durant other than aging superstar Chris Paul, whose loyalty to Los Angeles is questionable. Paul has been linked to joining forces with Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade before their careers are over and you've got to think that will happen sooner rather than later. Taking away Paul, the best players the Clippers have are human highlight reels Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Griffin has been subject to many trade rumors over the past couple of years and Jordan is only good for rebounds and incredible dunks. In several years the Clippers will be back to being the Clippers of old. If Durant knows what is best for him, he will stay away.
