Kevin Durant’s Big Free Agent Decision

If You Can’t Beat Them …

The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs have both won titles since Durant and the Thunder have been contenders. They are shining examples of team basketball, with egos being checked at the door in order to achieve success as a group greater than its individual parts.

Those principles aren’t present around most of the league, and certainly not in Oklahoma City. They have found success by focusing on the brilliance of their individuals supported by the role players.

But that success has fallen short of the ultimate prize, as Durant experienced first-hand in the conference finals. When the chips were down, the Thunder devolved into me-first, isolation basketball and the Warriors’ volume-passing team approach tore them apart.

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Golden State has a relatively easy path to opening up enough cap space to sign Kevin Durant. He could replace Harrison Barnes in the starting lineup and give the Warriors four All Stars in their starting lineup.

This new iteration of the Death Lineup, with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala may be the most terrifying lineup to every take the court. But is Durant’s desire to win a title strong enough for him to accept less shots and less spotlight?

San Antonio is another destination, where he could be the offensive top gun while still existing within a strong team and organization.

With Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge the Spurs would be set up for contention long past the retirements of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. But Durant would have to sacrifice a few shots a game to Gregg Popovich to distribute into the Spurs’ system.

Is that something he is comfortable doing?

It boils down, again, to Durant’s priorities. Does he want to win a title, build his brand, or achieve statistical accolades? If it’s the first, then both Golden State and San Antonio offer tantalizing possibilities.

Next: The Middle Way