What Are The Spurs’ Chances Of Recruiting Kevin Durant?

Kevin Durant is about to be heavily recruited this summer whether he wants to or not.

If he has the idea of staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder for another year or two, almost every NBA team in the league will try to recruit him heavily, and if that doesn’t work, they will salivate until his player option can be exercised again.

He has made it known that he’s not interested in going on a recruitment tour, but that will not stop teams from trying.

Let’s take a look at the Western Conference and what the chances of Durant donning their uniform are.

Mar 30, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) holds up his finger after a foul against the Washington Wizards during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Washington Wizards 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Sacramento Kings

Sacramento has a nice net of talent such as Rudy Gay, Rajon Rondo, and an all-star big man in DeMarcus Cousins. They also have shaky management, and a roster not in play for winning a title, nor has Durant expressed the desire to be in the California state capitol. Moving into a new arena and having to make sure Cousins doesn’t eventually bolt because of management decisions, the Kings are not players this summer.

Not Likely to Happen

June 2, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; General view as the Golden State Warriors defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-77 in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Golden State Warriors

Golden State, if they play their cards right, have everything in place: winning formula, great coaching and management, complementary pieces. All they’d have to do is let a few players go, but is this their plan? It’s tricky to mess with something that is already working, and ownership already feels they are light years ahead of most NBA teams, so while they have the ability, we aren’t sure they will.

April 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of balloons and confetti falling following the Los Angeles Lakers 101-96 victory against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have the cap space, but are rebuilding post Kobe Bryant and have a core of young players. It’s a great position to be in, along with the #2 pick, but they can’t guarantee being closer to winning than any team in the west unless KD is concerned about being the main featured star for the lights and attention, and the pressure to win. Los Angeles is a bottom ranked option.

Not Likely to Happen

Apr 13, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after taking a jump shot against the Los Angeles Clippers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns

The Suns team is in disarray. Management has stumbled out of the gates far too much. Their biggest prize now is a rookie guard, and an aging Tyson Chandler who ended the season injured. They also have a rookie coach in Earl Watson ready to take over, so this would not appeal to KD’s needs.

Not Likely to Happen

Mar 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and guard Chris Paul (3) react during the first half during of an NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Nuggets 105-90. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have veteran players at prime positions, and a veteran coach with an owner willing to spend to win. The problem is they don’t have much cap space, they can’t get younger through the draft because they trade most of their picks away, and there is the chance both Paul and Griffin leave when their contracts are up. KD would be a great fit here, even if the Clippers have not won a series beyond the first round yet.

Not Likely to Happen

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts during the second quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder is still a great option for KD. They lost a 3-1 lead in the conference finals and have the roster in place to possibly make it back again. They can pay him the most money and in the least bit guarantee him some stability if he chooses to stay. He has his partner Russell Westbrook still at his side and new head coach Billy Donovan seems intent on making the Thunder play as a team in every way.

Most Likely to Happen

Nov 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the third quarter at Toyota Center. Rocket won 110 to 105. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Rockets

Houston may be willing to pay the max, but with Coach Mike D’Antoni signing on to run his offensive system, it may scare Dwight Howard off, depending on his involvement. The team was a mess last year with little to no chemistry, and while management gave claim, they will heavily recruit James Harden’s good friend Durant. The roster needs cohesion, and to be built with more than analytic wins on paper.

Not Likely to Happen 

Apr 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) greet each other after the Thunder defeated the Mavericks 118-104 in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas’ roster does not offer the chance to win big, as Mark Cuban is trying to rebuild while still contending. The Mavericks signed a nice player last summer in Wes Matthews, and no longer in his prime Deron Williams. Much less appealing than Westbrook and the Roberson/Waiters combo in Oklahoma City. The Mavs do not quite have the talent, even with Durant and an aging Nowitzki, to make it out of the west beyond the elite teams. The salary offer will not be as much as he can find elsewhere, so Dallas does not have as much appeal as it should unless Durant just wants to be back in Texas.

Not Likely to Happen

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

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs have a core at minimum of two all-star players in LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard (who also plays small forward). The Spurs have fantastic management, one of the league’s greatest coaches, a fully structured team basketball philosophy, and possibly the cap space for a max deal if Durant wants to play there. The culture is already set with players who are unselfish, and the Spurs have been in the playoffs for the last 19 years straight. If there is definition of stability, this is the team.

The Spurs need to get more athletic and add more shooters, but they have veterans who helped lead them to a 67-win season. Although Oklahoma City was the team to eliminate the Spurs from the playoffs, that will be a different story with Durant teamed up with Leonard and Aldridge. It is hard to imagine with even the way they lost, but the Spurs are still among the top teams in the west and in contention to win it all at any time. Durant just makes that reality even clearer.

Very Likely to Happen

Next: Kawhi Leonard Still Considering Playing For USA Basketball