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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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May 8, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) brings the ball up the court against San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first quarter in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) brings the ball up the court against San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first quarter in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

5. player. 29. . West. Southwest. San Antonio Spurs

One of the three teams most likely to end up getting Durant to sign with them this summer is the San Antonio Spurs. The thought behind Durant going to small market San Antonio from small market Oklahoma City is to become a part of the best basketball organization in the NBA of the last 20 plus years.

There isn’t a better head coach in the NBA than Gregg Popovich. General manager R.C. Buford just might be the best at what he does. There isn’t a better defensive player in the game today than Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard. As the third piece in a big three, it’s almost impossible to have LaMarcus Aldridge at power forward. Let’s not forget that the Spurs still have Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili with all that knowledge of what it takes to win a championship.

Well, why isn’t San Antonio hiring on these power rankings? That’s because Durant moving from Oklahoma City to San Antonio feels more like a lateral move than anything, plus it might do the impossible and hurt the Spurs’ cultural optics.

Should Durant sign with the Spurs, that would mean that San Antonio was able to sign the best available free agent in each of the last two free agency periods in Aldridge in 2015 and Durant in 2016. San Antonio has respect from the rest of the league for its unique ability to build through the draft and international scouting.

By landing Durant, it would shake the stoic view of the Spurs organization and make them look no better than desperate teams on the decline for hired guns in the form of superstars. The lateral move and possibly hurting the Spurs’ unbreakable image makes this free agency destination slightly less than ideal for Durant and his people.

Next: 4. Miami Heat.

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