Despite being two years away from free agency, one of the biggest questions heading into the new season is where Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant will sign in 2016. Basketball Insiders' Nate Duncan raises several pertinent questions Durant might be asking that could have him signing with a new team in two years.
Duncan weighs in on what Durant might be thinking when it comes to re-signing with Oklahoma City:
"As of about a year ago, KD's tweets seemed to indicate that he believed the new CBA prevented the Thunder from spending more. Will he still be under that impression? Will he hold it against Thunder management that they let James Harden go, didn't re-sign Kevin Martin, didn't offer Pau Gasol the full mid-level this year, etc etc as tax-focused moves?
"LeBron (James) certainly seemed to hold the Mike Miller amnesty against Mickey Arison and the Heat, as numerous reports have indicated. If they cannot win a championship and one does not appear forthcoming, maybe he leaves. KD's refusal to flat out deny rumors of him going elsewhere isn't helping to defuse the situation, although I admire his honesty."
Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka are a great trio, but they've already proven they're not enough by themselves to win an NBA championship. The Thunder haven't been to the Finals since 2012, and with Durant's 2016 free agency approaching, general manager Sam Presti could make coach Scott Brooks the scapegoat if the team is unable to get beyond the Western Conference finals.
There's no doubt Brooks is a quality coach, but Presti's last-ditch move could be firing Brooks to "shake up things" for the 2015-16 season, which would likely be a make-or-break season for Durant.
It doesn't help that Durant has expressed admiration for James's decision to play for his hometown team, and it also doesn't help Durant's hometown team - the Washington Wizards - are on the rise behind John Wall, a true point guard, and Bradley Beal.
