The OKC Thunder are hopeful that the team can keep Kevin Durant in free agency in 2016, as teams like the Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, NY Knicks, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets are expected to chase him as a free agent and this comes as Oklahoma City has signed Josh Huestis to a contract.
Durant is the top name heading into free agency in 2016 and his decision could be the biggest in the NBA offseason since LeBron James went to Miami and later came back to Cleveland. Durant has been asked about his future constantly while being out with injuries for most of last season and the media has speculated about the situation quite a bit as well. Durant said after the season that he was "not thinking about" free agency at all and the Thunder feel confident that the team can keep him.
Apart from the James Harden trade the team has been willing to spend a fair amount to give Durant a winning roster and he has a top point guard in Russell Westbrook that is signed there for a few more years. Durant has spent his entire career with the franchise, moving with the team from Seattle to OKC. Teams have been preparing for Durant to hit free agency, including the Washington Wizards, as they are hoping to get Durant to consider coming home like James did.
The Wizards have been making moves with Durant in mind for a couple years, as they have not signed many players past this season. Zach Lowe at Grantland writes that the team may try and convince Bradley Beal to take less than the max to help their chances of getting Durant as well. The Wizards are a team on the upswing and they have a young point guard in John Wall that could help convince Durant to come.
Durant dealt with injuries this season and only played in 27 games and with a new head coach coming in with Billy Donovan, there could be an opening to snag Durant. Durant reportedly was okay with the coaching move for OKC and Ken Berger at CBS Sports wrote a lengthy article this summer about Durant; future, detailing what the forward could do. Berger polled a bunch of NBA execs at the summer league and the consensus was that they "expect Durant to stay in Oklahoma City."
The Thunder have finally signed Josh Huestis to a deal, as the team announced the news last week that the 2014 draft pick has agreed on a contract. Huestis was a "draft and stash" player in the D-League and now he is getting his chance with OKC.
While that may not turn out to be the result, the thoughts of those execs is a good sign for the Thunder. Most major free agents stay with their teams and Berger writes that the Wizards, Lakers, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics see themselves as "legitimate" contenders for Durant. The Celtics are set to have cap space to sign two max players, while the Knicks and Lakers should have money to burn. The Heat also reportedly want to sign Durant, but they also have to worry about Hassan Whiteside and Dwyane Wade.
Check here for more on Kevin Durant and his free agency and more on Huestis and his deal.
