Kevin Durant is preparing to be the most popular person in the NBA this upcoming summer. The Oklahoma City Thunder star has an expiring contract and will be a free agent in the offseason. Every team in the league is preparing their cap space with the intention of getting Durant signed to a max deal. The former league MVP says that everything is on the table right now.
The 27-year-old has not said much about his upcoming free agency run. He has maintained the idea that he is focused on trying to win a title with the Thunder this season and that the summer will come when it does. With the expanding salary caps next season, Durant will be able to cash in with a new contract. He admits that the money makes everything wide open with free agency.
"I like the fact that our game is growing," Durant said. "That's my whole thing, just to grow the game of basketball and leave my mark on it. ...You could just look it as a positive thing, that our game is growing and you can be able to do whatever you want as an owner, a (general manager) as a player, and ultimately that's what you want: to make a decision on your own and to make a decision that makes you happy. That makes everything just wide open at this point."
Durant will have plenty of options this summer. He could re-sign with the Thunder to a max contract. He could sign elsewhere for a max contract. He could also sign a two-year max deal that will let him capitalize when the salary caps increase again in. He will have to decide if he would rather have the job security or the chance to earn a lot now and a lot more later.
"I'm really not a guy for all the attention, and I know the attention is on me and the spotlight is on me as far as what's going to happen and what the future holds," Durant said.
Teams are ready to chase Durant. The Thunder will hope that the struggles of this season do not factor into Durant's decision. The Golden State Warriors would like to add to their already-impressive roster. The Washington Wizards want to bring Durant home. The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers will try to entice the star with cap space.
Recently Warriors head coach Steve Kerry and Durant were seen talking on the sidelines during a Golden State-Oklahoma City game. Kerry denied that any of the talk was about free agency, and per NBA rules, he cannot confirm whether or not Golden State will chase the former MVP in the offseason.
