The Kevin Durant rumors will not stop until the former MVP has a new contract attached to his name. Every team is preparing to line up and make their pitch to the star who still has five months before he hits the market. With rumors flying in every day about another team preparing to chase Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder is doing his best to tune everything out and focus on the season.
Durant hears all the rumors. He is asked about them in every city he goes to play in. Focused on winning a title this season with the Thunder, Durant told ESPN that he is not listening to all the talk understanding that it comes with the contract status.
"It's out of my control," Durant said via ESPN.com. "Guys are going to write stories, write what they want to write about, but I just try to stay locked in where I am and try to be the best teammate and help my team win a championship."
Most recently, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported the Golden State Warriors were preparing to chase Durant in a situation where the rich were simply getting richer. Adding Durant to the already lethal Warriors offense would make the team unstoppable. Stephen Curry heard about the report of getting Durant, but was quick to downplay the idea instead staying focused on the current team and goal to win a title.
"Not in those terms. I hear that stuff, and it's human nature to be interested in it. I'm very comfortable with our team, and obviously being 44-4," Curry said, via Zach Lowe of ESPN.com.
The Warriors have just as good of a chance as anyone to sign Durant. Some teams might be hoping they can entice the Thunder into a sign-and-trade deal in the offseason so both parties get something in return. Wojnarowski reports the Los Angeles Clippers like the idea of a deal involve Blake Griffin and Durant. Griffin is quickly falling out of favor with the team following the incident where he punched an employee and broke his hand. The Thunder could favor the idea of replacing Durant with Griffin if they stand no chance at retaining the star.
ESPN's Marc Stein believes the Houston Rockets are going to use Durant's friends to bring him in. The Houston Rockets plan to use James Harden to recruit the star while the New York Knicks are hopeful Carmelo Antony is close enough with Durant to lure him into the Big Apple.
At this point, everything with Durant is speculation. The Thunder star has said all of the right things in front of the media. He has stressed his loyalty to Oklahoma City and has not spoken further on the matter. However, that will not stop the rumors from coming and going until he signs his name on a new deal.