I want to preface this article by confirming that yes, I am a Philadelphia fan. Yesterday I wrote an article about the strong possibility of Kevin Durant returning home to Washington to play for the Wizards when he hits free agency in 2016.
This will be a similar article. An article that dares to be bold, even bolder than the last.
As of September 25th, 2014, what is the one team and city that would be the least attractive for Kevin Durant to take his talents to?
Most of you probably answered ‘Philadelphia’ and ‘the 76ers’.
As of right now, I’d agree with you. Anyone who has any kind of aspiration for greatness in season 2014/15 would not be signing in Philadelphia.
However, by the time the 2016 off-season rolls around, things will have changed.
Philly will have fine-tuned the Michael Carter-Williams-Joel – Joel Emiid – Narlens Noel connection, complemented by important contributions from Tony Wroten, Dario Saric and others.
Within two years, Philly have gone from NBA irrelevancy to one of the best young teams in the NBA, and one of the hottest free-agent destinations.
All they need now is that true scoring dynamo that can lift them from potential to contention.
Enter Kevin Durant.
Unfortunately, the past two seasons have not been so great for KD.
While he did manage to capture his second NBA MVP in a row in 2015, his Oklahoma City Thunder have again failed to live up to expectations and have failed to win a maiden NBA championship.
In 2015, in one of the closest Western Conference Finals ever, Durant’s Thunder fell just short to the mercurial San Antonio Spurs by a few points in Game 7, and this past season they were ousted in six by LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
Oklahoma City have tried hard to recruit the last two off-seasons but have ultimately not been able to add any one difference-maker.
As much as KD loves the organisation and the fans, it’s time for him to move on.
Obviously coming into his calculations immediately will be the Washington Wizards, as mentioned in an earlier article. But the signing back of some of their young stars has created little wriggle room for Washington and spectacularly it seems like they will fail to fit in the player they have coveted for so long.
On the other hand, the Philadelphia 76ers have literally no money committed for 2016/17, apart from the team options on their young superstars, which they will certainly pick up.
While this entire article is full of speculation, there is one thing that can be certain in 2016; there will be no shortage of suitors for the NBA’s MVP.
So what gives Philadelphia the edge over these other, potentially more attractive destinations? In one word ‘age’.
Philadelphia’s young core can assure years of contention ahead for Durant, which may be enough to tempt him away from potentially more attractive destinations.
Oh, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is not too away from his hometown of Washington, D.C.
While right now this situation seems laughable, just wait. A lot can change in two seasons.
It was just a few seasons ago that the Cleveland Cavaliers were setting records for the longest losing streak in North American sports history. A few years later, they signed back LeBron James, and the Sixers have taken that record off their hands.
In 2016, could the Philadelphia 76ers be taking a similar path?
Clark
Guest
If Durant goes anywhere it will almost certainly be washington
Myles Stedman
Roar Guru
I'm sorry Mushi, did I say I was certain about anything?
astro
Guest
Well then, lets make it 1% chance. Durant might well leave, but its a 1% chance he goes to Philly... The history of the NBA tells us that young big men who suffer serious foot/knee injuries early in their career, tend not to pan out over the long term. NBA history also tells us big men take much longer to develop than wings or backcourt players, and in all likelihood, Embiid and Noel won't hit their peak for another 5 or 6 years, assuming they stay healthy. Add to that the other essentially rookies that Philly have on their roster, and there is no way they'll be anywhere near an NBA title in the next 3 years. Durant could really go anywhere that has room for him, including Washington, Lakers, Knicks, Celtics etc. Why would he choose a ridiculously young and inexperienced team, with no playoff experience, bigs who are massive injury risks, a coach without a playoff win to his name, and a bunch of dudes on their team roster who you wouldn't recognise if you bumped into them (eg. Casper Ware? Jordan McRae? Elliot Williams? Jarvis Varnado? etc)?
mushi
Guest
So you can say - with absolutely certainty - that you know exactly what will motivate a stranger in the future because all American Sportsmen operate in a completely uniform manner but someone else can't not make a similarly hyperbolic assertion?
Myles Stedman
Roar Guru
To say something like this this is 0% chance of happening is ludicrous. I'm sorry Cameron, but Australian sports are very different from American sports - and mind you, Aussie sports are changing rapidly too. All but gone are the days of loyalty where players played for one team and played for the love of the sport. Money and success have changed that. These days, even the most loyal of players will stick out as long as possible with one team before it becomes inevitable that they will not win a championship - look at LeBron James. Egos need to be fuelled and sporting values have completely changed since the good old days. Unfortunately, if Oklahoma City prove they are not going to summit the mountain any time soon than Durant will take off. Simple as that
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
0% chance. What is so wrong with Durant staying at OKC for his career and searching for a title there?