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Kevin Durant’s Big Free Agent Decision

By Josh Cornelissen

May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant speaks to the media after the game against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant speaks to the media after the game against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Easier Path

Every year there is a buzz about the “improved East” and every year only one or two teams emerge as legitimate contenders.

The Miami Heat made it to the NBA Finals four years in a row, and LeBron has led Cleveland there for the last two without much opposition — the Cavaliers went 12-2 each of the last two seasons en route to an NBA Finals berth.

The Eastern Conference lacks star power as well. Of the 15 players selected to All-NBA teams for 2015-16, only four came from the East. Last season only three players were picked from the East, and you have to go back to 2011-12 to find the East giving even five.

Durant would immediately be one of the top two players if he signed with a team in the East, competing with his foil LeBron for the top spot.

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Durant will have his pick of teams in the East if he decides to pursue an easier path to the NBA Finals. With a few exceptions, almost any team in the Eastern Conference would immediately stand alongside Cleveland as the favorites to win the conference.

Durant could pick the city, organization, coach and surrounding talent that most appeals to him.

Boston is a popular choice, as they are well positioned with cap space, draft capital, and young players, not to mention their rising star at coach in Brad Stevens.

Durant could snag a fellow free agent to join him in Boston, or encourage the Celtics to flip their draft assets for a star, a la Cleveland when they brought in Kevin Love to star alongside LeBron.

Miami and Toronto were both successful in the playoffs without Durant; with him they would possibly become the favorites.

Miami has both more cap space available and less of a route to a great team, while Toronto could allow DeMar DeRozan and Bismack Biyombo to walk and carve out the needed space.

Washington is the team that has most pined for Durant, hoping the appeal of “returning home” draws Durant as it did for LeBron James in Cleveland. They have one of the East’s true stars, John Wall, and strong young talent in Bradley Beal and Otto Porter.

They also just signed Durant’s old coach, Scott Brooks, to a new contract. Does the familiarity of Brooks appeal to Durant — they were close while Brooks was in OKC. But the Thunder also never won a title under Brooks, something that may be important in Durant’s decision-making.

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