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NBA free agency: 5 places we’d hate to see Kevin Durant sign

By John Buhler

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 28: Kevin Durant
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 28: Kevin Durant /
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May 11, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) go for the ball in the fourth quarter of game four of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Clippers won 101-99. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) go for the ball in the fourth quarter of game four of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Clippers won 101-99. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

77. . West. Pacific. Los Angeles Clippers. 4. player

Signing with the Los Angeles Clippers wouldn’t be a terrible move for Durant to make if he wants to win a championship. He’ll play for a top five head coach in Doc Rivers, an exciting new owner in Steve Ballmer, in a major media market like Los Angeles, and will inherit a great group of teammates.

Durant would fit in nicely into the Clippers’ starting five with Chris Paul at point guard, J.J. Redick at shooting guard, Durant at small forward, Blake Griffin at power forward, and DeAndre Jordan at center. Conceivably, that’s about as close to a championship caliber starting five as any team could have.

The biggest issue with Durant going to the Clippers is that Los Angeles is already one of the most hated teams in the NBA. With Durant going to the Clippers, Los Angeles remains the most despised team in the NBA for yet another season.

Yes, Durant is perceived as one of the most likable players in the NBA, but the same cannot be said about his potential new Clippers teammates or his head coach. Paul wears teammates and opponents out with his antagonistic approach to playing point guard. Redick still is hated from his days as the star player for Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils. Griffin punched the Clippers’ equipment manager. Jordan spurned the Dallas Mavericks in the 11th hour last summer to re-sign in Los Angeles. Rivers loves to bark at officials for not getting every call his way.

Durant would be a product of his environment in Los Angeles. He’ll play on a great team that could orchestrate a deep playoff run the next few years, but he won’t be universally praised like he is in Oklahoma City.

He won’t be blamed for the Clippers’ inability to get it done in the NBA Playoffs (history has never been on this franchise’s side). However, he will feel the effects of playing on a team that few outside of Greater Los Angeles like.

Next: 3. Houston Rockets.

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