Kevin Durant 2019 Free Agency

A month and a half removed from the 2018 NBA agency, things have already quieted down, some players are on new teams, teams have new players as they gear up for the 2018-2019 season. While the 2018 free agent frenzy was exciting, 2019 will be an even better and bigger one. Names like Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, and Kawhi Leonard all could be looking at a possibility of playing for a new team. One name that will most likely get the most attention is Kevin Durant. Durant is a two time NBA champion, two time NBA finals MVP, a league MVP, and a four time NBA scoring champion. He’ll be only 30 years old by the time the 2019 free agency pool opens up. His resume speaks for itself. So what teams are a possible destination for Durant next summer? Let’s take a look at 5 teams that Durant could play for when the 2019 season begins. Whether it could be to be the number one guy again, become a good guy and get back the love and support from the fans, Durant will have an impact no matter where he goes.

1. Golden State Warriors: Why leave a team where you will continue to win championships? Durant could stay in the Bay area and stay with Steph Curry as they continue to haunt the other 29 teams in the league. As the saying goes “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Clearly things are working well in Golden State and Durant could be a three time champion by the time free agency begins.

2. Washington Wizards: Hear me out on this one. Durant is from Washington DC, he’s a die hard Redskins fan. LeBron went to play for his home team, twice, why cant Durant do the same? Imagine a trio of John Wall, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Durant would help the Wizards advance far in the playoffs. Washington would benefit from having Durant play for them. He could pull a James and win a championship for his hometown team and make himself a Washington hero.

3. Los Angeles Lakers: Fans would lose their minds. LeBron James and Kevin Durant on the same team? Imagine the duo of Durant and James. The Lakers would have the two best players in the league on their roster. They have young players like Ingram, Hart, and Kuzma. Talk about a fun team to watch. ESPN would be showing non stop highlights of the Lakers. How would the other teams stop these two? The Lakers would have the salary and if they needed to, they have the pieces to move around to make something like this happen. LeBron’s mission is to beat Golden State and with Durant, that mission would become a lot easier. Their odds of winning a championship would increase. It is unlikely but the Lakers could use some Durant help.

4. Denver Nuggets: This one is a long shot and a story Nugget fans could dream of. Denver may not have the salary to pull off the signing without trading away one of their core players. Think about this, Durant goes to a team that has not won a championship like the Nuggets. Durant would stay in the West where he has played his entire career. The Nuggets do have a young and upcoming team that many people have as a dark horse in the playoffs. Durant could become a hero by helping a team win their first championship. Denver would welcome Durant and be celebrated. He would never have to buy a beer ever in the state of Colorado if he helped the Nuggets win a championship. It doesn’t have to be the Nuggets per se, but any team that is playoff contenders that would either like to end a drought or win their first championship, Durant could make it happen.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder: Why not? Why not, go back to where it all started? The team that drafted Durant. Why not team back up with Russell Westbrook? Durant has received a lot of backlash for what he did to the Thunder. If he wanted to make things better, he could go back and help his team win. If Durant went back to OKC and somehow won a ring there, he would be welcomed back, he would be loved again, he would be the hero to the team that drafted him. He knows the city, the team, and the coach. Oklahoma City would have Paul George there as well as a helping piece. There are some questions though if Durant did consider the Thunder. Would the Thunder fans welcome him back? How good would the trio of George, Westbrook, and Durant be? Would the second stint be the same as the first?

2019 will be an interesting year for Durant. He could be a three time champion and his options as to where he will play next will be heavily considered. For the first time, Durant will be the number one free agent on the market. Will he leave the Warriors or will he stay and continue to win more championships? It’s money versus rings, legacy vs dignity for Durant in 2019.

BruceJ