Is Kevin Durant Staying with the Warriors or Joining the Lakers in 2019?
- Speculation is growing that Kevin Durant will leave the Golden State Warriors when he becomes a free agent at the end of the current NBA season
- Rumors have been circulating in NBA circles that LeBron James has already sought to recruit Durant to the Los Angeles Lakers
- Warriors, Lakers and New York Knicks listed as favorites to land Durant
Originally, it appeared that the brass of the Warriors was willing to move heaven and earth in order to find a way keep Kevin Durant in a Golden State uniform when his contract expires at the end of the 2018-19 season.
NBA news: Golden State ready to LOSE Kevin Durant amid Lakers and Knicks rumours pic.twitter.com/BfYISk8vDp
— Sports Popular (@sportspopular24) October 12, 2018
Now, according to NBA insiders, it seems as though the Warriors are resigned to the reality that Durant is leaving and are preparing for a life without him.
There is already a prop wager on what the future might hold for Durant, and not surprisingly, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are front and center.
Odds on Which Team Will Sign Kevin Durant in 2019
| Team Kevin Durant Signs With for 2019-20 NBA Season | Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | +200 |
| Golden State Warriors | +200 |
| New York Knicks | +350 |
There are rumors that James has already been communicating his desire to have Durant join him in LA, speculation that both men have publicly denied.
Did LeBron James recruit him to the Lakers over the summer? Kevin Durant: 'Hell no, 100 percent false' https://t.co/bZ3ZFGs2KF pic.twitter.com/Rxe337ckWl
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 9, 2018
The Knicks are also given a solid chance of landing Durant, while his old club, the Oklahoma City Thunder, aren’t figured to be major players in the bidding.
Why Leave The Warriors?
He’s already playing for the NBA’s best team, and the two-time defending champs who are heavily-favored to threepeat. So why would Durant not want to stay in Golden State?
There is a strong sense that he’s got what he wanted out of the Warriors, enough championship rings to just about fill up the fingers on one hand. And there is also a feeling that the party in the Bay area may be about to break up, what with Steph Curry dealing with injury concerns and Klay Thompson also headed toward free agency.
Why LA Makes Sense
For starters, LeBron is there, and need we say more than that? Durant could see the likelihood of a similar partnership developing with the King to the 1-2 punch he and Curry formed in Golden State.
Off the court, Durant and James are friends, and cut a rap video together during the 2011-12 NBA lockout.
Why Durant Might Choose a Bite of the Big Apple
Suppose Durant wants to be the man. What better place to debut his own show than on Broadway?
Durant’s dad is a Knicks fan, his business partner is New York-based, and the Knicks will have cap space for a max contract and another free agent.
Durant could be the guy to lead the Knicks back to prominence, and that’s why we’re going with New York to land him in an upset.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
