K.D., stay put.
As much as I’d like you to come to Denver (I know it’s a longshot; I’ll get to that later) stay in Oklahoma City. You’re close. So close.
In fact, Kevin Durant, you’re closer in OKC than if you head to any other place. Other than Golden State, of course. But if you went there, it wouldn’t be yours. Sure, you’d have a great shot at winning one alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, but “yours” would always have an asterisk by it.
Stay put and you’ll get one more year (at least) with Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams (who, by the way, was the only player in the starting lineup who didn’t have a negative plus-minus score). And you’ve also got Billy Donovan; he was phenomenal as a first-year head coach. He didn’t cow down to the Warriors and, for once, made “them” adjust to “you” every once in a while. (He should have kept Adams in just a bit more, but the film will reveal that in plenty of time for next year’s playoffs.)
Besides not going to Golden State, don’t go to these teams either:
The Wizards. aAs long as LeBron stays with the Cavs, the title goes through Cleveland.
The Lakers. If they’re semi-decent young core was playing anywhere else, nobody would be talking about you joining them. Even with you and whoever they take in the draft, they are not close to contenders.
The Heat. D-Wade has got to be on his last leg – so don’t be fooled – and you don’t want to do what LeBron already did.
The Spurs. I’m mixed about this one. Forget about the Spurs of old – those guys are old. But you could play alongside with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, two of the best and most unselfish players in the NBA. You’d also be coached by the league’s best in Gregg Popovich; if anyone knows how to win a title, he does. So, on the surface, that might sound pretty swell. Still, don’t go there.
Hear me out on this one. If you sign a one-year deal (heck, include a favorable option if you’d like) with the Thunder, the Spurs won’t get you. As such, they’re not as serious of a contender – not like the “as-is” Thunder. Remember, you were so close. Does anyone think the Warriors can keep this up? We saw what happened when Curry was banged up.
Most importantly, the good folks of Oklahoma City need you. You’re their LeBron. Don’t take your talents to (fill in the blank). Give them one more shot with the team you have right now. If it doesn’t work, all bets are off; even they’d understand.
And remember what I said about Denver? Give ‘em another year. The Nuggets won’t contend in 2017, but when 2017-18 rolls around? They could be ready – and you could be the difference. The Nuggets have a bevy of young big men, rim protectors, who will be downright savvy a season from now. And they’ve got a fantastic, young, big point guard who wants nothing more than to get you the ball.
Maybe better yet is the fact that you and Nuggets GM Tim Connelly could practically build whatever kind of team you want in Denver. Connelly has been stockpiling draft picks and flexible contracts for a couple years, and unless you’re coming to Denver this season, it’s hard to imagine him flinging all that around wildly for an unknown draft pick or a middle-of-the-road free agent. Denver is patient (almost painfully), which could bode well for your arrival in the fall of 2017.
In the Finals, LeBron and the Cavs are going to do what you and Westbrook almost did this week. They’ll beat the Warriors (in six) and the magic of small ball and the Splash Bros. will be old news.
The NBA needs guys like you, superstars who don’t need to be in New York or L.A. or Miami. If you stay in Oklahoma City, every hoops fan in the world will be pulling for you to win it all. So, please, for all of us, take one more shot with the Thunder.
And then come here, to Denver.
