Report: Warriors the frontrunner for Kevin Durant if he leaves Thunder
This year’s Golden State Warriors team looks like it has the potential to be one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Just imagine if Kevin Durant was added to the mix.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is reporting that the Warriors are the “significant frontrunners” to sign Durant if he ends up leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder. Golden State has the ability to create the neccessary cap space to sign Durant, and the 27-year-old is said to be committed to signing with a sure-fire championship contender if he leaves OKC.
The Warriors already have everything and yet they’re threatening to take more now. Steph Curry. Klay Thompson. Draymond Green. Committed ownership. Bob Myers, the executive of the year. Steve Kerr, a championship coach. Yes, Golden State has everything, including the ability to create the salary-cap space and a belief that Durant’s persona could fit seamlessly – even onto a potential two-time defending champion.
Make no mistake: Durant isn’t close to gone in Oklahoma City – no decision, no leaning, sources said – but the real threats on the summer market are beginning to reveal themselves. Durant is determined to win – to be an immediate championship contender at 27 years old – and that keeps bringing him back to the Warriors should he make the decision to leave Oklahoma City.
As Woj notes, Durant’s commitment to “chasing championships” almost certainly eliminates the Los Angeles Lakers as a potential suitor, despite what a certain ESPN personality would like us to believe.
Durant has indicated that he wants to remain with the Thunder, and there’s no reason to believe he’s lying about that. At the same time, he is hungry for a championship and not getting any younger. The Warriors are the defending NBA champs and look poised to win another title this season. If they are truly in position to sign him and Durant leaves OKC, why would he look any further?
Of course, there will be no shortage of suitors for Durant this summer, with at least one Western Conference team reportedly making him a top priority. But the thought of Durant alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson? That would just be unfair.
