The OKC Thunder have Kevin Durant set for free agency in 2016 and with teams like the Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, LA Lakers and Knicks as potential targets, Oklahoma City is hoping to keep Durant even if things go bad next season and this comes as the team has added Cameron Payne in the draft as a backup for Russell Westbrook after the Reggie Jackson trade last season.
Durant is expected to be the top free agent target next summer when he hits the market for the first time and the Thunder are hoping to keep him in Oklahoma City. According to CBS Sports, the Miami Heat are expected to chase Durant and that is one reason why the team is taking a hard line with Dwyane Wade this offseason about a new contract. The Washington Wizards have long been reported as an option for Durant since he is from the area, while the Warriors, Knicks and Lakers are also expected to chase Durant.
Oklahoma City has had issues with money before, ie James Harden, but Durant is different and his decision next summer could be a huge transitional moment for the franchise. The team has Russell Westbrook signed for a couple more years and they will have to pay him as well and that could lead Durant to look elsewhere next summer. Durant will be looking for a max deal and he could be interested in returning home like LeBron James did with Cleveland.
Miami is hoping to get Wade to sign a below market deal so the team has flexibility to sign Durant, while the Wizards are expected to clear cap space for next summer as well. Durant may not end up leaving Oklahoma City, but if he hits the market and takes meetings with teams, anything can happen. The Thunder came into the draft with reports that Cameron Payne would be a main target and the team ended up making good on that interest after taking Payne number 14 overall.
The Thunder drafted Payne and center Dakari Johnson in the first and second rounds on Thursday and now those players will get the chance to step up in OKC. Payne comes in after playing at Murray State and now he can be a backup for Russell Westbrook after the team traded Reggie Jackson last season. Jackson was looking to be a starter and now Westbrook gets a solid backup in Payne, who comes in after averaging 20 points and six assists last season for the Racers.
Westbrook has dealt with injuries over the last couple seasons and getting a solid backup for Westbrook was a priority for OKC after trading Jackson. Johnson comes in after playing with Kentucky and he should be a solid reserve option coming into next season after averaging nearly six points and over four rebounds per game last season. Payne and Johnson give OKC some depth heading into the summer and that should be a big help after trading Jeremy Lamb and Jackson this year.
The Wizards drafted Kelly Oubre Jr. and his pick got some in the media speculating about Durant again. While the connections here are no guarantee of anything, Oubre has worked out with Durant at his basketball camp over the last two summers and before the draft Durant sent Oubre his well-wishes for the night. According to the Washington Post, some in the media speculated that the Wizards may have taken Oubre to help recruit Durant after this season as a free agent.
