NBA Free Agency 2016: 5 destinations for Kevin Durant

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last, but certainly not least, are the Thunder. Until further notice, Oklahoma City is still the favorite team to go into 2016-17 with Durant’s remarkable talents. And really, when you slow down with the Warriors fantasy or hopes of him joining your woeful team in need of rebuilding, why wouldn’t the Thunder be the favorites?

Besides the overload of talent throughout OKC’s roster, Durant has a dear friend and superstar running mate already in Russell Westbrook. This season, they’ve looked even closer on the court, giving the ball up to each other at the right times and both maintain excellent efficiency and production. Plus, with the Thunder sitting at 3rd in the West (despite their shaky spell as of late caused by poor defense and fourth quarters issues), they remain as a potent threat and that won’t change as long as their core is together.

According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, Durant believes he has the kind of environment and connection in Oklahoma that a player needs:

"“When you get an opportunity to choose your environment, you want to be stable, you always want to have good people around you, and you always want to work with great people,” he said. “And that’s how it is in Oklahoma City. Just great people, great working environment, great living."

This is far from being the only time in which Durant has expressed his love for the Thunder. Whenever you look at comments over the last year or so about his future in Oklahoma City, Durant has nothing but praise. And as recently as last month, he iterated yet again that all he’s focussed on right now is winning a championship with the Thunder (per Royce Young of ESPN):

"“Of course the fans want to know what’s going on but I can’t control any of that. I just try to come out and work hard every single day and focus on what’s in front of me and not worry about what’s going to happen down the line. All that stuff I can’t control. Like I said, when that time comes we’ll talk about it, but for right now I’m 100 percent locked in and committed to being the best teammate and player I can be and helping my team get a championship.”"

Durant has the right approach and it’s clear that he really isn’t thinking about the summer. All he’s focussed on is the Thunder. Helping as their leader, helping them finish out the regular season strong, and helping them claim a championship.

He’s in such a good place already with OKC. Unless he really wants to become an add-on to what the Warriors already have, there’s no reason to think that it’s inevitable he’s moving in free agency. Both in terms of personal relationships and a chance to contend, he’s already got far more than almost anyone else can offer him in Oklahoma City.