NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz on Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler and More
Kevin Durant leaving Oklahoma City is a nightmare scenario for Thunder fans, but that may become a reality if the team’s play doesn’t improve the rest of the season.
While rumors about Durant, who is one of the league’s megastars, are certainly juicy, buzz surrounding Jimmy Butler in Chicago and draft prospect Emmanuel Mudiay has also recently made headlines.
With that in mind, read on to see the latest rumors from around the NBA.
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Kevin Durant
Sam Amick of USA Today provided an intriguing update on Durant:
"Just as so many believed that the odds of LeBron James becoming a free agent last summer would increase with a loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals, the widely-held belief around the league now is that the odds of Durant leaving Oklahoma City will spike if he doesn't win a title (or two) in the next two seasons.
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Durant has missed the entire season thus far with a fracture in his foot, while fellow star Russell Westbrook just returned Friday from a fracture in his hand. If there is thought around the league that Durant may leave without a title, what would happen if the Thunder didn’t even make the playoffs this season?
Oklahoma City is 5-12, although the good news is that Westbrook led his team to a victory over the New York Knicks Friday with 32 points and eight assists and looks ready to shine. The Thunder are still five games behind the Phoenix Suns in the loaded Western Conference, but they have plenty of time to correct course.
Still, the West is loaded. Teams like Durant’s hometown Washington Wizards would love a chance at Durant in free agency, so the recent losses are likely a welcome pattern.
The Thunder once had a young Durant, Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka all on the same roster. It would be unthinkable for that fanbase if it lost both Harden and Durant without winning at least one title.
Emmanuel Mudiay
Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report passed along the latest regarding Mudiay:
Mudiay elected to sign with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China instead of attending college to play with SMU, but he is still No. 2 in Draft Express’ latest mock draft. It is not hard to see why when you watch the 6’5” freak athlete man the point guard position.
He is always looking to push the tempo in the open floor with excellent ball-handling skills and passing abilities. Mudiay is also strong enough to finish through contact at the rim when he attacks the basket, which is virtually a mandatory skill set for a scoring point guard in the NBA.
There are flashes of John Wall and Derrick Rose in Mudiay's game, which is why NBA teams are salivating at the thought of landing him in the upcoming draft.
Jimmy Butler
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times passed along an update on Butler’s contract situation:
"According to a source, Butler turned down a four-year, $40 million-plus offer from the Bulls. After watching Klay Thompson get the max four-year, $70 million contract from the Warriors, Butler was willing to test the market as a restricted free agent and force the Bulls to make the tough decision.
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Butler’s importance to the Chicago Bulls cannot be overstated. Derrick Rose has missed significant time with injuries, while Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Kirk Hinrich have also been forced to sit out games. The Bulls are seemingly snake-bitten, although it is better for the injuries to occur in November than April or May.
Despite the injuries, Chicago is still 10-6 on the season, largely because Butler is thriving in his increased role on both ends. He leads the team in scoring at 21.6 points a night and guards the opponent’s best wing player every single night. Most impressively, he is averaging 39.4 minutes a game and is the ironman on that roster.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau commented on Butler’s importance, via Cowley:
"I mean, [Butler has] been incredible. He’s a star. And he does it on both ends of the floor. He’s an amazing player.
We’ve had him play the point, we’ve had him play the two, the three, and [in the loss Tuesday against the Nuggets], he played the four, and he hasn’t had any opportunity to practice the four. He’s smart; he’s tough; he does whatever the team needs.
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Of course, the Bulls are thrilled with Butler’s individual success, but his future contract price increases with every impressive game. He is still only 25 years old and should be able to demand a sizable chunk of change as a free agent.
Perhaps Chicago should have offered more money when it had the chance.
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