Kevin Durant: Oklahoma City Thunder claim made amid Lakers, Clippers and Knicks links
KEVIN DURANT’s decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder two years ago means he will not be fazed by what people say about the choice he makes next summer.
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That is the belief of former Thunder team-mate Derek Fisher.
Durant left OKC in the summer of 2016 to join the Golden State Warriors and faced a huge backlash given the wealth of talent already in the Bay Area.
After helping the Warriors to back-to-back titles while being named the Finals MVP both years, Durant’s future with the franchise is uncertain.
He can hit free agency in 2019 and has been linked with the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and New York Knicks.
That’s with Durant tipped to depart Golden State in order to try and win a championship with his own team in response to the criticism he has received during his stint with the Warriors.
And Fisher believes Durant will find it easier to choose to leave Oracle Arena given the controversial manner in which he departed Russell Westbrook and the Thunder.
“I wasn’t overly surprised, honestly,” Fisher - who retired in 2014 - told Undisputed on Fox Sports when asked about Durant’s Oklahoma City exit.
“I think it was not so much about leaving Russ as it was finding KD.
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Because he has practiced and done it, I feel that it’s easier
“I think he finally got to a point in his life and in his career where he was less concerned about what people thought about him and more concerned about what he thought about him and what’s most important to him.
“The situation in Golden State, that’s what he wanted to do and where he felt he would be most comfortable.
“He made the decision and wasn’t overly concerned with what people had to say about it.
“Now he’s finding himself back in that situation again where everybody is kind of anticipating at the end of this season, ‘What move is he going to make?’
“Because he has practiced and done it, I feel that it’s easier.”
Asked for a prediction one where Durant will end up, Fisher added: “New York. Totally guessing.”
ESPN insider Stephen A. Smith however believes the Clippers are the front-runners to sign the 30-year-old forward.
He said on First Take: “People in NBA circles believe that Kevin Durant, the Los Angeles Clippers have a legitimate shot of acquiring him.
“I spoke to about three difference sources today, very, very well connected who believe this is going to happen.
“They believe that the New York Knicks is a complete smokescreen. There ain't no way in hell he will go to New York to play for the Knicks.
“The Clippers are very viable because if you recall they are only committed to $47million. They are expected to have over $60m available in cap space.”