Mavericks Rumors: Dallas confident it can sign Kevin Durant in 2016
By Josh Hill
The Dallas Mavericks may lose out on DeAndre Jordan this summer, but they have high confidence they can land Kevin Durant in 2016.
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Mark Cuban is an owner who likes to get what he wants. The man is literally a shark in a tank, and he isn’t known to make bad deals or get burned in the world of business. He doesn’t always win though, something reflected long term in only having brought one title to Dallas and more short term in that he might lose out on DeAndre Jordan after having the big man commit to signing with them.
The Mavericks may be losing out on Jordan, but they already have their sights set on Cuban’s next big investment — Kevin Durant.
According to Chris Mannix of SI.com, the Mavericks are looking ahead to the summer of 2016 with wide eyes, feeling like they have a legitimate chance to sign Kevin Durant if he gets away from the Thunder.
"I’m told the Mavs now believe they are legitimate contenders in next summer’s Kevin Durant sweepstakes. Quite the turnaround in Big D."
Dallas isn’t the first against-the-grain team to target Durant. Up to this point, the popular choices for KD have been the Wizards or the Thunder, with the Nets and Knicks being outliers but still contenders. But indecent days, massive contenders like the Warriors and others have made their presence known in the Durant sweepstakes that will come next summer.
Of course, the Thunder can rain on everyone’s parade and re-sign Durant before that time arrives, but it’s looking like Durant will get the red carpet free agency treatment next summer when everyone from Dallas to New York get in on trying to sign him.