Kevin Durant Rumors: Star SF 'Most Likely' Will Re-Sign with Thunder
The start of NBA free agency in July is still over a month away, but a smidgen of clarity has emerged regarding Kevin Durant's future in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City Thunder's 96-88 Game 7 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals on Monday night at Oracle Arena.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the "most likely July scenario" revolves around Durant signing a two-year deal with the Thunder that would allow him to opt out after the 2016-17 season to maximize his value on the open market.
"Most of the league's best-placed observers" view signing a deal with those parameters as "Durant's most probable choice," Stein added.
However, Durant didn't offer much insight on his impending decision once the Thunder's season came to an end, according to The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears:
"We will figure it out. I will talk to my agent, my best friend and my dad. Just talk to those three guys and get some advice from other people. But for the most part, I will talk to them in the next couple of weeks. I don’t even know where my mind is right now.
I can’t think about what is going to happen in a month. I’m just thinking about what we’ve all been through as a team and embrace my brothers right now.
"
Durant's agent, Rich Kleiman, noted Durant will need to take a step back and evaluate things following a strong postseason run.
"He loves this team and wants to win in Oklahoma as bad as anybody," Kleiman said, per Spears. "He’s going to have to get over [Monday night] and take everything day-by-day."
For several reasons, it makes the most sense for Durant to sign the deal Stein referred to as the "most likely scenario."
Signing a short-term deal with an opt-out in year two would allow Durant to capitalize on the rising salary cap on two occasions. If he goes that route, Durant could earn a maximum projected annual salary of $25.9 million this summer, per Stein, and re-enter free agency in 2017, when the cap is expected to spike north of $100 million.
At that point, Durant could sign a long-term deal with the franchise of his choosing for more than $35 million a year, according to Stein.
Furthermore, re-signing with the Thunder on a short-term pact would give Durant one more chance to chase a title with Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka before their deals expire at the conclusion of the 2016-17 campaign.
So both fiscally and logistically, Durant could benefit from a return to the Thunder, as tempting as a potential change of scenery may be.
After Oklahoma City came within a game of its first trip to the NBA Finals since 2012 after running roughshod over the San Antonio Spurs and pushing the defending champs to the limit in the conference finals, bigger things could be in store next year for a Thunder team that appeared to find its identity throughout the postseason.
