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Kevin Durant Rumors: Clippers Reportedly Informed Star Won't Sign with Team
July 3, 2016
Free agent Kevin Durant hasn't decided where he'll play in 2016-17, but he has reportedly determined the Los Angeles Clippers are no longer in the running.
On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Times' Ben Bolch reported the Clippers have been told Durant won't be signing with them this offseason.
A pair of moves Los Angeles made Saturday all but confirmed the team had resigned itself to its fate in the Durant sweepstakes.
The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Clippers agreed to terms on a three-year, $35 million-plus extension with Austin Rivers. The Vertical's Shams Charania also reported Wesley Johnson agreed to a three-year, $18 million deal with the team.
Those contracts haven't been signed yet, so the Clippers technically have enough salary-cap space to afford Durant. But ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne noted what the deals with Rivers and Johnson signified:
After Durant met with the Clippers on Friday, ESPN.com's Chris Broussard reported that the superstar free agent "was incredibly impressed by the vision and direction of the Clippers and made a strong connection with those at the meeting."
Instead, the Boston Celtics might be emerging as the favorites to land the seven-time All-Star after Al Horford announced Saturday he's signing with the team:
Not only does Horford's arrival strengthen Boston in the short term, but Wojnarowski also reported Durant was trying to bring him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, so there's a strong level of mutual respect between the two.
Whatever team Durant chooses, he's likely to make an announcement soon. According to Broussard, Durant will make up his mind in 24 to 36 hours.