1. Re-sign Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is a once in a lifetime type of player. He is a pure shooter, with the ball handling skills of a point guard and the length to trouble any player in the NBA.
Coming back from last season’s injury, there were some questions asked if he would play back at his elite level. His first game back he “only” scored 22 points on 6-of-19 shooting. He was playing against Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs‘ defense.
The next night against the Orlando Magic Durant was back, dropping 43 points on 15-of-30 shooting. He also collected 12 rebounds. The NBA had one of its superstars back.
Durant played 72 games this season, averaging 35.8 minutes, 28.2 points, a career-high 8.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per night.
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Durant has been MVP of the league once, won the scoring title four times and boasts the highest scoring average of any active player. He has been an All-Star seven times, won the Rookie of the Year and has been named to All-NBA teams six times. He is only 27.
Durant has rekindled his playing relationship with Russell Westbrook and when the two of them are on, there is almost no team in the NBA that can stop them.
Unfortunately, the one thing missing from the Durant resume is a championship.
Oklahoma City has come close once in Durant’s time, losing to Miami in 2012. They came so close to getting into the Finals again this year, missing out in Game 7 against Golden State.
Oklahoma City will want to sign Durant to a max deal, gunning for five more years with their superstar small forward. The thought of Durant taking a two-year max deal with the second year being a player option is probably what he will go for.
One thing is for certain, Durant has been professional while dealing with the free agent speculation. He has not put any pressure on the team by saying anything outlandish. He has allowed the team to play, handling the free agency pressure by himself.
For small market basketball, it would be massive for Oklahoma City to re-sign Kevin Durant.
Twenty-nine other teams in the NBA hope that Oklahoma City cannot manage to do that.
Next: Sign Curry