The Los Angeles Clippers are mustering their resources for a planned trade deal with Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Kevin Durant when NBA goes offseason.
Durant is set to enter the free agency season which kicks off on July 1. He is expected to receive offers from various teams across the league including the clippers. However, reports indicate that the Thunders forward is likely to remain in the OKC roster with a max contract for five years.
OKC was knocked off from the playoffs by Golden State Warriors which halted their advance to the 2016 NBA finals. Currently, Durant reportedly wants to stay with Oklahoma with the hope of successfully concluding a title campaign in the next season.
The Clippers seems unfazed and will attempt to pry the former MVP away from the Thunders through a sign-and-trade deal. With Durant on the Clippers roster, the Los Angeles-based franchise will acquire a consistent scorer and would be able to strengthen the team's wing rotation. In exchange, OKC will get Blake Griffin, Morning News USA reported.
Meanwhile, LA Lakers will also be pitching an offer for NBA star. Following Kobe Bryant's retirement, the team is set to rebuild the young roster by incorporating mature gameplay from NBA veterans.
With Luke Walton as head coach and Brian Shaw as the former's assistant, the Lakers may prove attractive to Durant as well. With Bryant gone to overshadow him, Durant could establish himself in one of NBA's biggest markets in the US. With $60 million in spending power, the Lakers may be able to build an up-and-coming team built around the Thunders star player, The Blow reported.
There are also speculations of Durant being interested in a New York Knicks' offer although it remains to be seen whether the star forward would be a suitable add-on to the team's lineup as per Hall of Fame. The report thinks that the transfer seems unlikely with volume shooter Carmelo Anthony sharing the floor with the former MVP.
