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Power ranking the Kevin Durant NBA 2016 free agency suitors

By John Buhler

Feb 24, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. The Thunder beat the Mavs 116-103. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. The Thunder beat the Mavs 116-103. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kevin Durant has stated that he will meet with six teams for sure and possibly a seventh in 2016 NBA free agency. Here are his free agency suitors ranked.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical of Yahoo! Sports, soon-to-be free agent small forward Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder has told his representatives at Roc Nation to set up formal meetings with him in Los Angeles with these six teams once 2016 NBA free agency begins on July 1st: the incumbent Thunder, the Boston Celtics, the Golden State Warriors, the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the San Antonio Spurs.

This announcement from his agency group essentially killed Durant’s likelihood of signing with teams like the Denver Nuggets, the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers, and his hometown team of the Washington Wizards.

One team, however, has emerged on Durant’s radar in the last few days. That team is the New York Knicks, who have recently acquired former league MVP Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls in a trade on Wednesday. Durant may also find a way to squeeze in a meeting with team president Phil Jackson of the Knicks, well, because he has 11 rings and Durant has zero.

Durant’s 2016 NBA free agency is going to be the most exciting free agency of any player since LeBron James made The Decision “to take [his] talents to South Beach”, to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Heat.

Durant will surely hear out all six or seven teams’ pitches to sign him for this upcoming 2016-17 NBA season. His decision in July will certainly be the first domino to fall in 2016 NBA free agency, as he has committed to playing for Team USA in August in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.

Of the seven teams he’s considering in free agency, here they are ranked on the best overall decision for him to make, including current financial implications, future money opportunities, and how signing there will impact his brand, image, and ultimately his legacy.

Next: 7. New York Knicks.

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