5 reasons Kevin Durant stays with Oklahoma City Thunder

4) How many hands can carry the Tim Duncan torch?

Whether it’s after this season or somehow next season, Tim Duncan can’t keep playing forever. Once he’s 40 in just a few days time, the Spurs era with Duncan at the defensive helm is coming to a close. And once he slowly walks into the sunset, soon to be followed by another team legend in Manu Ginobili, those that lead the Spurs forward will be continuing his legacy.

Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge are the team’s new star duo. The former possesses two-time Defensive Player of the Year talent and highly elevated scoring ability, and the latter is one of the premier scoring big men in the NBA. Together, they lead a team filled with some of the best veterans in the game, an elite bench, and the best coach in the game, Gregg Popovich.

Once their softly spoken leader and interior defensive anchor is gone, the pieces are already in place to continue from the end of his reign. And with that in mind, does Durant want to be the second small forward next to Leonard to carry the torch into a new Spurs era?

Instead, is there not more appeal for Durant to build a legacy elsewhere? Establishing a new dynasty in a new city, rather than trying to replicate or improve upon one of the best 20-year stretches in sporting history, should have a lot of appeal.

Also, from a technical standpoint, how would the Spurs make a duo of Leonard and Durant work? KD would obviously be the more dominant ball handler, but how will they be combined, either by shifting position or playing in a small-ball lineup with Durant at the four?

When you have Kawhi already, adding another small forward isn’t the go-to move to adjust after Duncan departs.

Finally, beyond the matter of joining an already formidable team, there’s Popovich’s future to consider. There’s no knowing when Pop will choose to retire, and he may continue longer than he expected to if Durant joins, but if he steps down in a few years time, the Spurs organization becomes far less attractive in an instant.

That thought must have at least entered Durant’s mind if he’s looking for a home for the next five years or the rest of his career.

Next, a similar case, but to an even greater extent.

Next: Why be an extra for reigning champions?