Kevin Durant reportedly dislikes free agency, could prefer long-term deal

Wherever Kevin Durant signs this summer, it seems like a foregone conclusion that he will be signing a two-year contract that gives him the ability to opt out after the first season. That does not, however, mean he will not be making a long-term commitment to the team that signs him.

With the NBA salary cap set to increase dramatically after the 2016-2017 season, star players are positioning themselves for another shot at free agency next summer. Durant will likely do the same, but a person who knows him told Sean Devaney of the Sporting News that the 27-year-old is “not the kind of guy who wants to fiddle around in free agency and sort of play the system that way.”

There is certainly truth to that, as Durant very quietly signed a five-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2010 and chose not to include an opt-out clause for the fifth year. His reps at Roc Nation wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t get Durant to sign a two-year deal with an opt-out this time around, but it will likely only be to get more money. Unless he’s choosing to give the Thunder one more shot before testing free agency again, K.D. is probably going to give his new team a verbal commitment that he will be there beyond next season.

Of course, a previous report made it seem like Durant was looking forward to being wined and dined this offseason. There are certainly plenty of teams willing to make that happen. The question now becomes if he will like it enough to do it all over again a year from now.