One reason Kevin Durant should consider every NBA team

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan (left) instructs forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 24, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and forward Kevin Durant (35) react after leaving the court during action against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma City Thunder – Business as usual

While we are taking a look at the 29 other teams in the NBA in this space, Kevin Durant has a very nice set-up with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Russell Westbrook is one of the ten best basketball players on the planet, and that is where everything has to start. Westbrook and Durant are not flawless complements in every way, but the two work quite well together, and they clearly have a bond at this stage. Durant wants to win championships in the very near future, and there aren’t many better “number two” options than Westbrook available.

Elsewhere, Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams form a tremendous frontcourt duo, doing the dirty work, protecting the rim and rebounding in a big way. Durant’s long-term position might be as a stretch four, but playing alongside both of these big men (and Enes Kanter) proved to be very nice for Durant this season. Add to that the fact that Oklahoma City also has a development point guard in Cameron Payne and some other assets (Andre Roberson) to play with in the near future, and the big picture is pretty.

Finally, there is obviously a level of comfort for Durant in Oklahoma City and that matters. The Thunder can offer the most money and the longest contract this summer, and this is a team that was painstakingly close to reaching the 2016 NBA Finals. There might be better situations for Durant to pursue a title, but the gap isn’t very wide between those and Oklahoma City.

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