Kevin Durant: 5 free agency spots that would be more fun than the Warriors
1. Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant joining the Celtics or 76ers would be fantastic, not only because he’s a great hypothetical fit on those teams, but also because he’d be creating a legitimate Finals contender to challenge his former team. However, KD joining the team that came closest to dethroning the Warriors would be the most entertaining move for the sake of the league.
Sure, we’d be getting our Finals matchup in the Western Conference Finals (just like we did this year), but it’d be more high-octane than ever before, and the final result would actually be a mystery. When Chris Paul went down in Game 5, we pretty much knew what was going to happen.
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Trot out a Rockets team built around CP3, James Harden, Kevin Durant and Clint Capela, and suddenly the 2019 NBA title is up for grabs. It’d require Durant to opt in and be traded to Houston, giving the Dubs more versatility, defense and shooting in trade pieces like Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker, but with two former MVPs in Clutch City, the scales might be tipped in the Rockets’ favor.
Stephen Curry vs. Chris Paul. Draymond Green trying to guard his former teammate. Klay Thompson vs. the reigning MVP. Capela vs. small-ball lineups. The matchups across the board would be fascinating.
The Rockets would have to shed considerable depth in order to create the room for Kevin Durant, but it’d be worth it just for this Western Conference Finals matchup and the prospect of reuniting KD and Harden from their former Oklahoma City Thunder days. Throw in a Lakers team targeting LeBron, PG-13 and Kawhi, and suddenly the West could have three legitimate title contenders.
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For the sake of entertainment, unpredictability and finding a legitimate threat to Golden State’s inevitable run to the 2019 championship, what better option is there than the team that just took the Warriors to seven games? If Kevin Durant were ever to lose his mind and consider leaving the Dubs, the Rockets would have to be the most entertaining option.