Durant is expected to sign a max deal with a projected starting annual salary of $26.4 million this summer.
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One agent told The Oklahoman that Durant is looking for a team that has a better chance of winning than the Thunder. Narrowing his options down, Durant will then only consider with the Warriors and the Miami Heat. Miami certainly has their hands tied in free agency, a lot of them being their own – with Dwyane Wade, Whiteside, Luol Deng and Joe Johnson all being free agents this summer. Other teams like the Knicks, Lakers, and Wizards are still hoping to get a room with the free agent too.
National Basketball Association teams recruiting Kevin Durant are reportedly doing so for 2017, believing he will re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer.
Representatives of Kevin Durant at Roc Nation are working to solidify the invitations with the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers, according to a report. Ever since news about his free agency status emerged, various reports have already began associating him with various teams.
“I really don’t think it’s about loyalty”, Whiteside said Sunday of his free agency. Those two players alone will take up most of that space making it hard to land Durant without both or one of them making a big sacrifice. Even if they have been able to win the toughest conference in professional sports two years in a row, the Warriors want any potential meeting with Durant to wait for the NBA Finals if they have to.
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Kevin Durant is one of the NBA’s five best players, so when free agency gets going on July 1, all 30 teams would be happy to wait in line to make their pitch in an attempt to acquire his services. The San Antonio Spurs are also rumored to be a strong contender, and could make Durant the centerpiece of a new-look team with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker likely retiring soon and handing over the reins to a new core that could include Durant along with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge.
