Kevin Durant could finance a mostly baseless rumor factory with his Tuesday evening babble.
Reporters pressed Durant about playing and recruiting for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the city of Washington because, Wizards. He answered quite honestly if you ask me, so you might want to buckle up. Wizards fans may even want to grab a tissue for any drivel that will be running down their chins.
But before we move forward, ESPN Los Angeles’ Ramona Shelburne offers a nice disclaimer:
Should be noted @SpearsNBAYahoo @MrMichaelLee @sam_amick @KBergCBS and myself were asking @KDTrey5 about LBJ/ DC, not the other way around
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 29, 2014
In other words, KD didn't make some speech. He was answering our questions, I thought quite honestly.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 29, 2014
Point being, Durant’s comments aren’t unsolicited sentiments. He didn’t offer them up because he hates the Thunder or because he hearts the Wizards or because he was feeling particularly destructive or because he was hoping to break the Internet.
Now…onto the good stuff.
First he called LeBron James’ free-agency decision “classy,” and you clearly need to know that:
. @KDTrey5 on @KingJames decision to return to Cleveland "I thought it was well-thought out. It was classy."
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 29, 2014
Naturally, the conversation shifted to his own free agency, because it’s two years away and we like to digest all conspiracy theories and contrived pipe dreams for at least 730 days:
KD on his decision in 2016: "I’m going to do what’s best for me. It’s hard to talk about that right now when I’ve got 2 years left in OKC."
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) July 29, 2014
KD: "I’m not going to sit here & act like I’m naïve to the fact that people think about that stuff…Look, I’m here in OKC. I love it here."
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) July 29, 2014
Real talk: I’ve always wondered how people think NBA players are completely oblivious to rumors. Or that certain people—writers mostly—don’t understand players and/or representatives and affiliates read what’s being put out there. It happens. It has to happen. One NBA player—who shall remain nameless (hint: It wasn’t Dickey Simpkins)—wanted to speak with me after he or someone who works for him saw something I wrote. The ensuing conversation never came to fruition because of some legal mumbo jumbo, but stuff like that happens.
Players know we’re talking about them. Every fiber of my being believes Durant isn’t reading this, but he’s reading and listening to other things. If the general population is going to discuss his free agency, he’ll know about it.
Anyway, Durant’s free-agent jaunt isn’t until 2016, so it’s impossible to predict what happens. Not even he himself is ruling anything out at this stage:
KD: "Who knows what’ll happen? You never can close a door on anything, but I like where I’m at right now. I can’t answer those questions."
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) July 29, 2014
“Shiiiiiiiiiiiiit,” every single Thunder fan howled in unison.
“Woooooooooooooot,” went all the Wizards fans.
Forgive me in advance for throwing water on Washington’s preemptive parade plans. This is just Durant being real, which we should appreciate, not dissect and turn into irrelevant rumor fodder. Value his candor. Don’t butcher it.
Then, finally, understand that he could leave Oklahoma City. Durant will be a nine-year veteran by the time his free agency rolls around. Although he’s loyal as they come, winning championships will take precedence—especially if he has yet to win a ring by 2016.
Ensuring that he remains in Oklahoma City demands the Thunder improve, which, lately, they haven’t. From losing James Harden to Kevin Martin, money and market appeal have had an adverse impact on their ability to climb over the title hump. And Durant indicated market appeal is a very real obstacle when recruiting:
Asked Durant how close he was to getting Pau Gasol to OKC. "Obviously not that close. But I did my work. That was my first time recruiting"
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 29, 2014
Durant "It’s kind of tough to sell OKC over Chicago. OKC, LA. But if they come to OKC and see the love they get, guys will want to come"
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 29, 2014
Thunder fans are the shiznot. Let’s get that out of the way right now. I’ve been in a few different NBA arenas, and though Chesapeake Energy Arena is not one of them, the fans there seem a zillion times louder than almost anywhere else. It’s just a matter of getting players to Oklahoma City and letting the understated allure and mystique run its course–though to do that, the Thunder need to, you know, spend. And they haven’t done that just yet. Not like other teams.
That invariably puts them at the mercy of Durant’s loyalty in 2016. Either they hope his allegiances trounce everything else and/or that he’s willing to accept a pay cut, or they spend, spend, spend whenever they can, lest their stinginess turn his free-agency exploration into a potential departure.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
