NBA Rumors: 5 reasons Kevin Durant signs with the Miami Heat

By John Buhler | Jun 27, 2016

Jan 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) pursued Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) around a screen set by Oklahoma City center Steven Adams (12) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

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MIAMI, FL – MAY 01: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat is guarded by Jeremy Lin #7 of the Charlotte Hornets during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 1, 2016 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

1. Miami plays in the Eastern Conference

The biggest thing that Miami has going for it in the Durant free agency sweepstakes is that the Heat play in the Eastern Conference. Since Michael Jordan retired for the second time in 1998, the East has been the inferior of the two conferences.

Yes, the have been champions coming out of the East since Jordan’s retirement like the 2004 Detroit Pistons, the 2008 Boston Celtics, and all three of James’ championship teams with Miami and Cleveland.

However at any given point, the East hasn’t had more than maybe two championship caliber teams at any given time since Jordan was running the league. In 2016-17, the Cavaliers are going to contend and maybe the Indiana Pacers will have a thing or two to say about it, but as it stands now, the East again will be the easier of the two conferences.

If Durant stays in West, the Thunder, the Warriors, the Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers, and maybe even the Portland Trail Blazers could vie for an NBA Championship. In the East besides Cleveland and maybe Indiana, who’s even top four caliber: Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Toronto?

By joining the Heat, it will give Durant arguably an easier time of getting to the Conference Finals and thus an easier time getting to the NBA Finals. It also helps restore the competitive balance in the NBA a tad, as the East will now have three really good teams in Cleveland, Indiana, and now Miami with the acquisition of Durant in 2016 NBA free agency.

For more NBA free agency news, please check out our NBA free agency category page.

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