NBA Rumors: Kevin Durant Will Leave If Thunder Don’t Make NBA Finals; Not To GS
NBA Rumors: Kevin Durant will reportedly leave the Oklahoma City Thunder if they fail to make the NBA Finals – and it won’t be to sign with the Warriors
There continue to be more lines drawn to the conclusion that Kevin Durant‘s days as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder may in fact be numbered.
This time a broadcaster from the New Orleans Pelicans is behind the most recent rumblings.
Transcribed by The Oklahoman, the voice of the Pelicans, Joel Meyers, says that with the people he’s spoken, Kevin Durant will not re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder if they fall short of reaching the NBA Finals. But that’s not all. He takes it a step further.
Not only does Meyers believe that Durant will leave OKC if the Thunder fail to make the Finals, he believes that Durant will sign in a city where he can be THE GUY. Sorry, Golden State Warriors fans, that’s not you.
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"[via The Oklahoman]I made some calls over the weekend, Vinny. If they don’t, I’m told if they don’t at least get to the NBA Finals, Durant’s gone. Simple as that. And to the point where he may want his own team. So everybody’s talking about Golden State. There may be other teams coming into the equation for Kevin Durant. He’s the principle. He’s going to be the guy. So from what I’ve been told, it may not be Golden State after all."
On the heels of Yahoo’s report a few weeks ago that the Warriors would be the “favorites” if Durant were to decide to leave OKC, this is somewhat surprising. Unless Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green would have no problem stepping aside – probably after winning back-to-back NBA Championships – in order to give the keys of the team to Durant, I don’t think Golden State would make much sense according to Meyers.
With that said, there are going to be plenty of rumors flying around between now and July, when Durant begins his free agency process. Some will be true and a lot more will be flat out false.
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No one really knows what Durant is thinking other than Durant. And I don’t even think he knows, right now, what he’s going to do this summer.
Though, I still find it very hard to believe that Kevin Durant is going to sign anything other that a 1+1 type of deal to re-sign with the Thunder. If I stand corrected in July, that’s fine. But my money is him signing, at least, a two-year deal (with a player option for 2017-18) to remain with the Thunder.