Fansided

Every NBA team’s free agent pitch to Kevin Durant

By Chris Barnewall

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) walks on the court against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) walks on the court against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) celebrates with center Steven Adams (12) after his three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 111-97.Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma City Thunder

This is easy. The Thunder were within one game of beating the 73-win Warriors, and had the ball bounced their way here or there, they probably would have. They could have beaten the Cavs, which means they were literally that close to a title. Russell Westbrook is here. Billy Donovan turned out to be an incredible coach once the playoffs rolled around. Steven Adams is from New Zealand. This is the team that drafted Durant. The team he won his first MVP with. The team he went to the Finals with. The job isn’t done, and Durant can’t leave town knowing he didn’t accomplish what he had planned.

While everybody was swooning over how loud Oracle Arena got after Golden State got good, OKC has steadily been one of the best home crowds since the franchise moved there. Even after losing in the Western Conference finals the front office didn’t just roll it back and try again next season. They traded an aging Serge Ibaka for a young Victor Oladipo, and made a conscious effort to get better. They’re progressive, and that means they won’t ever lose because of not trying. Durant doesn’t have to worry about his long term legacy, because he’s already going to be a legend when his career is said and done. He did that in OKC. Everything he’s accomplished in his career has been with the Thunder, and if it’s not broke then why fix it? Stay in OKC, Durant. You’re going to win it all here just like you planned back in 2008.

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