5 teams Kevin Durant should sign with next season

Should Kevin Durant leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, this could be the start of another Golden Age of NBA basketball. His arrival with the Clippers would ignite an already hostile rivalry into an international phenomenon.

The Pacific Division rivalry between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors would join that iconic level of the Magic/Bird Lakers/Celtics or Jordan/Zeke Bulls/Pistons level of rivalry. By having Durant on the Clippers, if would instantly solve their perennial issues at the three under head coach Doc Rivers. Two of the game’s brightest stars in Durant and the Warriors’ Stephen Curry would play in the same division, meeting at least four times annually.

Bringing in Durant might create some sort of salary cap headaches for Rivers who is also the Clippers’ general manager. Perhaps it could prove mutually beneficial for a sign-and-trade where the Clippers send Oklahoma City native Blake Griffin to the Thunder for Durant. In a weird way, it would probably improve both teams, as they would become more balanced in the process because of the trade.

So Rivers would have a big three in Los Angeles with point guard Chris Paul, center DeAndre Jordan, and now a superstar small forward in Durant. The spacing of the Clippers’ offense would expand with Durant’s range and not having Jordan and Griffin getting in each other’s way down in the low post.

If Durant goes to the Clippers, Los Angeles moves from the fourth best team in the Western Conference to being better than Oklahoma City, possibly better than the San Antonio Spurs, and within striking distance of the Pacific Division rival Warriors.

Next: 1. Oklahoma City Thunder