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Kevin Durant To San Antonio Spurs? Say No Go

By Tiffany Davis

Mar 12, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with guard Russell Westbrook (0) after scoring against the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter of a game at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Thunder 123-119. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with guard Russell Westbrook (0) after scoring against the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter of a game at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Thunder 123-119. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

The Separation Speculation

Durant and Westbrook are considered one of the best backcourt duos in the league. When it comes to the Thunder, you can’t say Durant without saying Westbrook, and vice versa. The team is heavily dependent upon their top two players, and the synergy of this duo is what keeps OKC in elite conversation every season.

Which begs the question: can Durant function without Westbrook? A good player will adapt to any team’s style and schemes, even if it takes him or her outside of a comfort zone. However, Durant has been able to be Durant because of Westbrook. They have a symbiotic relationship.

They’ve played together since the team’s first season in Oklahoma City and were drafted by the then-Seattle SuperSonics one year apart. Take one away and what happens?  OKC needs that Durant/Westbrook one-two punch to succeed. Durant needs Westbrook. Westbrook needs Durant. If they are separated, chaos may ensue.

The Spurs have had enough performance-related concerns to add any more.

Then again, Durant has already shown flashes of what he may be like as a solo artist on a different team. Despite being the team leader, he cannot help the Thunder get over their fourth-quarter curse.

His shooting can get streaky–it happens (Green can relate), but it’s becoming more of an issue (he went 7-for-33 against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the playoffs and allowed the underdog Mavs to even the series at 1-1). In fact, his shooting percentages overall seem to have dipped over the past few seasons.

Chip Engellund is the shooting coach for the Spurs and considered one of the best in the league. If anyone could help Durant get right, it’s him, but I’m beginning to wonder if Durant is peaking early. The Spurs are already dealing with Parker’s decline; why add?

Next: The Ball (Touches) Don't Lie

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