Face of Nation : Kevin Durant’s shortlist has been revealed, with the superstar forward set to “engage” four teams upon the opening of free agency.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, those four teams are the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors.
Per Wojnarowski: “There’s expected to be some combination of face-to-face meetings and communications by other means with Durant and his business manager, Rich Kleiman, front-office sources told ESPN.
“Durant’s decision-making process could extend well into next week, league sources told ESPN.”
Durant, who is expected to miss the 2019/20 regular season after rupturing his Achilles in the NBA Finals still has his choice of suitors.
Wojnarowski added: “Durant declined his $31.5M player option to become an unrestricted free agent. The Warriors are planning to offer him a 5-year, $221M max contract; the Clippers, Knicks and Nets can offer him a four-year, $146M deal.”
The Brooklyn Nets are said to be favourites to land Kyrie Irving, and will be looking to land another star to play alongside the point guard.
Los Angeles is perfectly placed to welcome a genuine superstar, and need to make moves to keep up with the Lakers, who are wasting no time in preparing for next season.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are in a tricky situation; seemingly behind the other obvious NBA landing spots in the free agency race.
And then obviously, Durant still has the option of staying with Golden State and trying to continue with a team that were a healthy roster away from a third straight title.
