NBA Rumors: Buzz on Kevin Durant, Possible Danilo Gallinari Trade and More

In terms of NBA free agency, this has been one of the more intriguing and entertaining summers in memory. From the DeAndre Jordan saga to the Knicks and Lakers missing out on the top players, there have been plenty of memorable moments this summer.

While there is still business left to be done across the league, though, there is something looming on the horizon next summer. Something that could change the league for the next four years.

The hype around Kevin Durant’s free agency is like few things ever witnessed in the league before and has teams weighing each and every move they make in the hopes of making the franchise seem that much more attractive for the superstar.

Here are some of the latest rumors from around the league, including an update on Durant’s potential plans in free agency next year.

Kevin Durant leaning towards an OKC return

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

This summer has been fun and has led to a lot of teams changing their fortunes for the future for better or worse, but it pales in comparison to what is coming next season.

LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan are great players, but they don’t hold a candle to Durant, who hits the market next summer. The former MVP will be the most sought-after free agent since LeBron James hit the market in 2010 and could completely change the direction of the league based on where he chooses to sign.

But while teams like the Washington Wizards—who have the hometown pull—and the Los Angeles Lakers will be hoping to land one of the league’s best players, according to a report by Ken Berger of CBS, it isn’t looking likely the forward leaves Oklahoma City:

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Most league execs informally polled here at Summer League expect Durant to stay in Oklahoma City when he hits the market next summer. There are only a handful of teams that can legitimately think they’re an option. The Lakers, the Mavs and the Wizards (in Durant’s hometown) are in the mix, for starters. The Knicks? I mean, I guess, in theory.

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Drafted by the Seattle Supersonics before the franchise moved to Oklahoma, Durant has spent his entire career with the team and has turned into one of the league’s two or three best players when healthy.

Despite missing a majority of the season with an injury, Durant was still one of the more dominant players in the league when he was healthy, averaging 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

It’s not about stats with Durant, though. He is a once-in-a-generation talent who turns any team into an instant competitor and is second only to James in terms of influence on the league as a whole.

Next summer is going to be fun.

Brooklyn Nets expect big spending in 2016, but no Durant pursuit

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Although every team would likely give up almost anything to bring Durant into the fold, there is at least one team that doesn’t believe it has a realistic shot at landing the superstar forward.

The Brooklyn Nets have had an up-and-down offseason—your view really depends on whether or not you think buying out Deron Williams was a good thing or a bad thing for the team—but without much room to do work, there weren’t many moves the team could make this offseason.

Playing the waiting game until the cap rises in the summer of 2016 was a smart move for the Nets, but even though Durant is the highest-profile player hitting the open market next year, Alex Raskin of the Wall Street Journal reports the team doesn’t expect to be seriously involved in the process of courting the superstar: "And, as one source within the organization explained, there is no great expectation that the team will land Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant in 2016, when the former MVP is expected to become a free agent."

Raskin says the franchise is set to be in the black financially for the first time in a decade and that the plan is to bring in quality players to build the team into a contender in the Eastern Conference: "When asked about his spending plans for the summer of 2016, (Nets GM Billy) King did not make any grandiose promises. Instead of 'one superstar,' explained several of those in attendance, King said he was hoping to attract 'a couple of really good free agents.'"

In a weak Eastern Conference, the Nets have time to conduct a minor rebuild without slipping into the lottery, and the summer of 2016 looks to be the time for the franchise to complete its rebuild toward contender status.

Danilo Gallinari headed to Boston?

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The Boston Celtics were one of the more surprising teams last season, finding success in their rebuild under head coach Brad Stevens faster than most expected.

Even if it was in the Eastern Conference, and it cost them a spot in the lottery, the team is expected to continue its upward trend back to the top of the league. It is this mentality that has the Celtics wheeling and dealing this offseason, with Danilo Gallinari the latest player in their sights, according to Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald:

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Multiple sources have told the Herald that the Celtics have approached Denver about trading for 6-foot-10 forward Danilo Gallinari. Though the talks didn’t get far, sources have indicated that discussions could easily be revived as the Nuggets continue to determine who they are open to dealing. Denver management is said to be divided over its desire course of action.

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Gallinari, who averaged 12.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season with the Denver Nuggets, would be another young piece for a Celtics squad that looks to be a player or two away from breaking into the next tier of the Eastern Conference.