With NBA free agency set to get underway on July 1, the summer of Kevin Durant is about to begin.
Durant is the biggest fish in an unusually shallow free agent pond, and it’s anyone’s guess as to where the superstar ends up at this point. One sportsbook has released odds on which team he’ll suit up for in the first game of the 2016-17 campaign.
At Sportsbook, the Oklahoma City Thunder remain the front-runners to re-sign the small forward at -300 odds. A return to OKC has been rumored by numerous NBA insiders, although the Golden State Warriors (+400), San Antonio Spurs (+1000), Miami Heat (+1400), Boston Celtics (+1600) and Los Angeles Clippers (+2500) have meetings scheduled with Durant.
The New York Knicks (+1200), Washington Wizards (+3300) and Los Angeles Lakers (+3300) do not have any official meetings with the University of Texas product but are on the list regardless. A LeBron James-esque homecoming to the Washington Wizards was long perceived as an option, but the D.C. native appears to have no interest in joining the Wiz.
Carmelo Anthony has reportedly been aggressively pursuing Durant, which means the Knicks shouldn’t be counted out. “I do consider myself part of the Knicks, so that meeting has already taken place,” Anthony recently told ESPN.
So, where can sports bettors find value? The Warriors already feature a plethora of expensive young talent, so adding Durant could bring too many cooks into the kitchen. The Spurs are inarguably the most well-run franchise in the league, and have been in the mix in recent years when it comes to landing big-name free agents.
The Clippers – a team that can’t seem to get over the postseason hump – could be a fantastic landing spot for Durant. The allure of sunny Southern California mixed with a stable of superstars in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin might be too much to resist. I’m not sure why the Clips have such long odds, but a stab at them at +2500 is fantastic value.
Where do you think Kevin Durant will go? Let us know in the comments.
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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re likely aware Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant will be an unrestricted free agent in the upcoming NBA offseason. Many folks in NBA circles have dubbed the next few months the “Summer of Durant”, and it’s hard to argue with that statement.
Durant is indisputably the biggest fish in the free agent pond. The last two times a franchise-changing player of his quality hit the open market, LeBron James departed Cleveland for South Beach before making his grand return to Northeast Ohio two years ago.
Because you can gamble on almost anything, online sportsbook Sportsbook has opened a prop on who the Slim Reaper will suit up for by the time next season rolls around. The Thunder are heavy -290 favorites to retain Durant’s services, while the “any other team” option is available for an appealing price of +190.
The logic surrounding Durant staying in OKC is simple: he hasn’t finished the job yet. The dynamic duo of Durant and point guard Russell Westbrook has electrified audiences across the league, but they don’t have any rings to show for it. OKC recently held a commanding 3-1 lead over the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals but folded under the pressure by allowing the Dubs to rattle off three straight victories and advance to the NBA Finals.
Outside of Oklahoma, the 27-year-old has no shortage of suitors. The Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics and the Warriors are rumored to be the front-runners if Durant decides to switch things up.
The Spurs and Warriors obviously possess the most talent and would be the undisputed championship favorites if they signed the forward, but many people believe Durant will follow LeBron’s path and go home to play for the Wizards. Durant is a D.C. native, and the Wizards even hired his high school coach to serve as an assistant in an effort to lure him back.
Where do you think the seven-time All-Star will end up? Let us know in the comments.