Kevin Durant is a cheat code, the major addition that took the Golden State Warriors from dynastically great to just plain unfair. So, it stands to reason that plenty of teams were looking toward this offseason and their chance to woo away the least-rooted member of the Warriors to get a little of that boost for themselves. KD's name was one of the biggest in all of free agency. And then he ruptured his Achilles.
It speaks to Durant's stature (in all senses) that teams are still willing to throw sacks of cash at him even as he's expected to miss all of next season. Though the superstar was forced to sit out much of the Finals, teams still feel that he can help them secure a few banners for their own arenas. The perennially thirsty teams in the New York market are currently gunning for KD, after Knicks fans were crushed by the luck of the draw when they missed out on Zion Williamson. Kyrie Irving and KD seem to believe it's kismet that they end up playing together and they are reportedly working on bending league executives to their will. Whether or not it pans out remains to be seen.
See below for the latest rumors and reports on Kevin Durant's free agency.
6/28/19 10:22 a.m. ET: Contrary to prior reports, the Nets are not the definite frontrunner to grab Kevin Durant, according to SNY's Ian Begley.
There have been some strong suggestions on TV/Radio lately that the Brooklyn Nets are the front runners for free agent Kevin Durant. That notion is not accurate, sources familiar with the matter say. More here: https://t.co/5g2BbJBoJ8
6/9/19 8:54 p.m. ET: Andre Iguodola thinks that the "core" of the Warriors will return next season to play.
"I'll be here next year for sure, and I'm pretty confident that we'll have our core back and we'll try to make another run at it," he said, when asked by reporters about the possibility of the team splitting.
6/11/19 10:41 a.m. ET: Kevin Durant injured his Achilles in the NBA Finals, forcing a reevaluation of the free agent market by every team that's looking. Many executives are reportedly still willing to offer him a max contract.
6/12/19 10:49 a.m. ET: The New York Post's Marc Berman reports that the Knicks are still ready to offer Durant a max-contract despite Achilles injury. His surgery was also performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley who worked with the Knicks before joining the Brooklyn Nets medical staff. Yet, insiders do not think this factors into his free agency decisions. Rather they believe he chose O'Malley because of his advanced medical techniques.
6/15/19 4:19 p.m. ET: Kevin Durant met with Kyrie Irving to discuss a move to New York, according to Ric Bucher.
"KD has moved all his stuff and will spend his summer in New York," Bucher said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. "Every indication says KD is making plans to be elsewhere because obviously Kyrie will not be joining the Warriors any time soon."
6/20/19 12:40 p.m. ET: ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that the Warriors are discussing a potential sign-and-trade for Durant. “One of the things that is being discussed right now is that the Golden State Warriors would offer Kevin Durant a five-year contract, $57 million extra than he could get signing elsewhere, let him rehab and then work with him to be traded,” he said on Get Up. “Potentially to New York, potentially to somewhere else. It would be their way to sort of take care of him monetarily after what he just went through and also protect the franchise and get some assets.”
6/24/19 9:00 a.m. ET: Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher claims Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant met twice since Boston was bounced from the playoffs to discuss joining the same team.
6/24/19 2:45 p.m. ET: Andre Iguodala laughs off the thought of Warriors teammates, Klay Thompson or Kevin Durant, signing with New York City.
"Nobody’s going to the Knicks, sorry," Iggy said to CNBC.
6/25/19 12:00 p.m. ET: According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Kevin Durant has declined his player option with the Golden State Warriors and will become a free agent.
6/28/19 09:37 p.m. ET: ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Durant will speak with four teams once free agency begins.
6/29/19 11:37 a.m. ET: Reports surface claiming Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant are considering joining forced on either the Los Angeles Clippers or the Knicks.
6/30/19 6:00 p.m. ET: Durant announced via The Boardroom's Instagram account that he would be leaving Golden State to join Kyrie Irving on the Brooklyn Nets.
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6/30/19 7:00 p.m. ET: ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will be taking less than the allowed max contract so that DeAndre Jordan could earn a $10 million annual salary.
