Could Kevin Durant still end up on Thunder next season?

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan (left) talks to forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Thanks to a well-known NBA free agency loophole, Kevin Durant could still end up playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder next season.

It’s safe to say that Kevin Durant angered a lot of Oklahoma City Thunder fans when they ruined their Fourth of July by announcing he would sign with the Golden State Warriors. A lot of them took to burning jerseys, and one father filmed his kid crying.

A lot of people viewed this decision as a cowardly move, stating that he simply joined the Warriors after they couldn’t beat them. But perhaps he actually is trying to beat them.

Because of the moratorium period, a well-known loophole that dictates free agents won’t be able to sign contracts until July 7, Durant could still end up playing for the Thunder next season. That’s why the team hasn’t announced the signing yet on Twitter.

Six days ago, Nick Wright appeared on Colin Cowherd’s show and discussed how Durant could do exactly that. Now that he’s signed with them, it seems more likely than ever that it could happen:

Seeing as how the Warriors are a direct rival of Oklahoma City, and represent their biggest obstacle towards the NBA Finals, it would be the ultimate heel turn if Durant told the Warriors he would sign for them, then change his mind before the moratorium period, especially since they had to get rid of Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, and Harrison Barnes for him.

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This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this happen. The most well-known, and hilarious, person to take advantage of the moratorium period was DeAndre Jordan, when he announced he would sign with the Dallas Mavericks, then ended up back on the Los Angeles Clippers, leading all of basketball Twitter to engage in an emoji battle.

Kevin Durant has three days to change his mind, cc: @deandrejordan6
— Juliet Litman (@julietlitman) July 4, 2016

Despite that comedy of errors, the NBA still kept the moratorium period in place. But since Durant is a much more valuable free agent than Jordan was, seeing him take advantage of it would almost certainly bring an end to that loophole once and for all.

Visit our NBA Free Agency page for more rumors and related content.

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