Call the reports crazy, but Kevin Durant hasn't exactly shut them down like he tried to before.
Reports of the Thunder star's free agency are resurfacing this week, with the Lakers, Knicks and Warriors again coming to the forefront as potential landing spots.
Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant Could Team Up With Lakers
Durant, who had a public feud with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith after he first mentioned the Lakers as a possible landing spot a few months ago, is taking a better approach by not directly addressing the rumors, via a tweet from Daily Oklahoman reporter Anthony Slater.
Twitter friendly transcript of Kevin Durant on the free agency chatter from this morning: pic.twitter.com/ckapGpR1hS
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 3, 2016
But in taking this tact, Durant also indicated that he definitely is considering leaving the Thunder after the season. There have been no George Bush Sr. "Read my lips" proclamations, no Rafael Palmeiro finger-wagging edicts that he intends to continue his career in Oklahoma City. Durant is taking a more subtle approach.
Warriors On Kevin Durant's Short List Of Free-Agent Destinations
"It isn't only that the NBA champions are determined to recruit Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant. The truth is that they're the most intriguing destination to him. If Durant leaves the Thunder, the Warriors are the significant frontrunners to sign him," league sources are telling Yahoo Sports' The Vertical.
"The big free agents, they're forever living one of two things in the months leading into summer: searching for reasons to stay, or searching for reasons to leave. Durant has always been looking for reasons to stay. He adores the Oklahoma City community and holds a fondness for the franchise, but Durant is chasing championships, chasing a legacy.
"This limits his choices, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers with little, if any, chance."
That sentiment is echoed by Pro Basketball Talk.
"That need to win now makes the pitch from teams that would get an interview such as the Lakers and Knicks a hard sell. The Lakers, even with Durant, are a few years away from winning at best, plus there will be a coaching change and other organizational questions, and finally the Warriors and Spurs are still in that conference. The Knicks have a better foundation of players (with Kristaps Porzingis and Durant's friend Carmelo Anthony), and they are in the East, but are they really in a better spot to win than the Thunder?"
The problem with joining the Warriors, however, is how much of a legacy can Durant create on a team that was already a champion before his arrival? Dwyane Wade currently has more NBA rings than LeBron James, but how many people consider Wade superior to LeBron?
And speaking of James, LeBron's chance to surpass Michael Jordan essentially died when he left the Cavaliers to join a supergroup in Miami.
Legacy? If KD goes to the Lakers and rebuilds them into a championship team, his legacy grows 100 fold compared to joining the Warriors and helping them win more titles.
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