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NBA Rumors: Which Team is Most Likely to Score Kevin Durant in 2016

By Gabriel Gonzalez

Jan 29, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston Rockets

The biggest storyline if Kevin Durant were to make his way to the Rockets is that he would reunite with James Harden. There is also the factor of Dwight Howard who would be a better defensive presence than he currently has on the Thunder.

Unfortunately, the Harden that has become the star of the Rockets is very different than the one who gelled with Durant on the Thunder. Harden is a player who needs the ball in his hands and has struggled to improve on the defensive end.

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Adding Durant would make any team better, but if Harden does not get as many touches then it would cancel out the perceived advantages of combining the two in the first place.

There are also the intangible disadvantages with Howard. Most glaringly, the ability to exploit him at the free throw line.

Recently, talks about trading Howard have stalled. While he remains a starting caliber center in the NBA, the league’s transition to small ball has left a player like Howard out of sorts. Added into that, he has been usurped as the best center in the NBA due to the rise of players like DeMarcus Cousins.

What that has meant for the Rockets is that Howard has a high price-tag that teams in the NBA aren’t willing to pay for.

As a unit, the Rockets have shown that they have failed to create the championship caliber chemistry that is necessary to overcome the Spurs and Warriors in seven games. There is also the fact that their talent just may not be enough to compete with the aforementioned teams.

Durant and Harden may enjoy playing on the same team again, but the Rockets haven’t shown that the pairing would equal a winning season.

Next: Can the Wizards Pull Durant Out of The Hat?

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