Report: Kevin Durant wants to be ‘courted’ like LeBron in free agency
When Kevin Durant signed a five-year contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2010, the negotiations were very private. Durant met with Thunder executives at his home and later sent a tweet announcing he was staying put.
Is the 27-year-old now ready for his moment in the spotlight?
Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports reports that Durant is looking forward to teams treating him the way he deserves this summer — like the biggest free agent prize on the market. According to Mannix, Durant will not be making a sudden announcement even if he decides to remain with the Thunder.
Durant is looking forward to being recruited, to being courted, to being treated like the biggest free-agent prize since LeBron James six years ago. The chances of Durant sending a simple tweet again announcing his return are virtually nonexistent, but the Thunder remain hopeful that his decision, regardless of how this season ends, is the same.
When LeBron opted out of his deal with the Cavs, everyone knew he wasn’t going anywhere. Still, he used the terms of his contract as leverage to make sure Cleveland improved its roster and kept him happy. Durant is not getting any younger and is still chasing a championship, so he’d be silly not to do the same with the Thunder.
Teams are already lining up to make their pitches to Durant, with the latest rumored destination coming as somewhat of a surprise. Roughly a year ago, Durant hinted that he might not be as loyal to Oklahoma City when signing his next deal. While that doesn’t mean he is leaving, it could mean Thunder fans are in for a lot more squirming this time around.
