Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“I’m certain. I’m certain,” Durant told The Vertical about his belief that he eventually will win the championship that cements a Hall of Fame legacy. “They don’t love the game like I love it. Nobody knows much I put in the work, how much I care about my teammates, about everything. I’ve given my heart and soul into this since I was 8 years old. Whatever happens, I’m certain. I feel confident that that moment will happen. I’m 27 years old. Hopefully, I can play a long time in this league but nothing is guaranteed. I know one thing for sure, I’m going to put the work in.”
But as he walked out of the arena, flanked by his father, Wayne Pratt, agent, Rich Kleiman of Roc Nation Sports, and manager, Charlie Bell, Durant dived into another level of uncertainty that superseded when and if he will stop being the game’s most accomplished active player without a ring. Durant will become the most coveted free agent this summer and very well could’ve donned a Thunder uniform for the final time.
Durant played his final game in a Seattle SuperSonics uniform in the same building eight years ago, before the franchise moved on to the plains of the mid-South. The wounds of the loss to the Warriors were still fresh and Durant wasn’t ready to immediately speculate on his future, but he soon won’t be able to avoid the question he has effectively dodged for nearly two years.
“What I got, a month? I don’t know,” Durant told The Vertical. “I’ve got to decompress, just reflect. And I really can’t tell you. I’ll know in the next couple of weeks – if I even think about it. But as of today, I have no thoughts, I have nothing to really think about. Just enjoy, reflect on this season and all we did as a team.”
And here we are. Minutes after a bitter playoff loss, one of the league’s best players is already facing questions about his future.
Kevin Durant has most certainly thought about free agency. He’s likely had many discussions among his inner circle. I doubt any of those discussions were of substance or occurred over the last few weeks, but they’ve happened.
So now we wait…
After watching the Thunder nearly upset the Warriors, I’m less optimistic about Durant leaving OKC for any team, let alone Boston.
He stands to make the most money in OKC (anywhere from $38 to $55 million depending on when he resigns) and he’s gotta feel the Thunder are one very good role player away from a championship. Signing a one year deal makes too much sense.
Our only hope is that Durant feels extremely frustrated and wants a fresh start. Do guys start feeling their NBA mortality at age 27?
How soon is too soon to start recruiting KD? Isaiah Thomas didn’t waste much time:
Isaiah Thomas pledged to be Boston’s primary free agent recruiter. He wasn’t joking. https://t.co/TRB9zLgW7y pic.twitter.com/exXWrZkpgf
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) May 31, 2016
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Related – ESPN Insider: Will Durant leave? What moves will Thunder make? |
On Page 2, the Celtics get a peek at Dragan Bender.
The 7-foot-1 Croatian, as athletic as he is tall, impressed with great shooting form, 3-point range, world-class length and a sharp instinct to pass. He’s skinny — a bony 223 pounds — but so is Kristaps Porzingis, the improbably successful Knicks rookie who has Danny Ainge wondering if the European talent pool can produce legitimate high draft talent for the second year in a row.
The Celtics president and his son, director of player personnel Austin Ainge, watched Bender in two practices with Maccabi Tel Aviv last weekend. Bender told them he will fly to Boston for a workout once Maccabi’s playoff season ends, at the latest, on June 9.
… “It’s a small body of work, but he was very good last year as a junior,” said Austin Ainge. “Combine that with the tools he has, and you can see it all come together in 10 minutes of playing time.”
I don’t have the patience to read articles about this kid, never mind wait 5 years for him to develop.
Next.
And finally, what does Vegas think of the Celts chances next year?
Teams are still fighting for the 2016 Larry O’Brien Trophy, but the 2017 NBA title opening odds have already been released by the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. The Warriors unsurprisingly come in as heavy 3/2 favorites. The Cavaliers already punched their ticket for this year’s finals and are second, with 5/2 odds. Then there’s the Spurs, Thunder, and Clippers, as you’d expect rounding off the top five.
But then there’s the Celtics with 20/1 odds — sixth-best in the NBA — to raise Banner 18.
With eight draft picks and a chunk of cap space, the Celtics are in a position to capitalize on any opportunities that may come their way. There is a lot of uncertainty at this point in the NBA calendar, so Vegas must be hedging their bets on the Celtics making a leap towards contender status.
Can you really make a wager now on the 2017 season?
FWIW – the Brooklyn Nets are dead last at 500-1.
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