Kevin Durant is a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Not only is he the best player on the team, he is also one of the two or three best players in the NBA today. Having just completed the second year of a five-year, $89 million contract with the Thunder, Durant will be rocking Oklahoma City through the 2015-2016 NBA season. But what happens after that is anyone’s best guess, and things may have just become a lot more interesting on the heels of the breaking news that Durant has signed on to be represented by Jay-Z and Roc Nation.
“[Durant] wants Jay-Z to handle his branding,” according to Yahoo! Sports. “He had a chance to be with his idol and couldn’t say no.”
So, Durant will leave Landmark Sports after a little over a year to sign on with Jay-Z and Roc Nation, who will partner with Creative Artists Agency [CAA] to handle all of the athletes’ contracts. So far, those clients include Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees, Victor Cruz of the New York Giants and Skylar Diggins of the Tulsa Shock.
The fear now, at least for the fans in Oklahoma City, is that Jay-Z could talk Durant into taking his brand to a major market. That could include Los Angeles, but, with Jay-Z’s strong ties to the area, it could also include New York.
That should be music to the ears of New York Knicks fans. I’m sure they would love to see No. 35 trade in one shade of orange and blue for another, beginning after the 2015-2016 campaign.
For those concerned with the numbers, here is why this could be a perfect fit.
Yes, players such as Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire signed contracts that represent an albatross for the organization. Each player will receive an average of over $22 million through the next two seasons. But, guess when they both expire? If you guessed right prior to the 2015-2016 season, then you are correct. Not only will Anthony and Stoudemire become unrestricted free agents after the 2014-2015 season, but Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby will join them. The Knicks will have rid themselves of some awful contracts, freeing up more than enough salary cap space the following offseason to put on a full court press to sign a superstar such as Durant, who will still only be 27 years old at that time.
Of course, this is a few years from even being a possibility. But, if people have been speculating whether or not LeBron James will leave the Miami Heat to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers after next season for two or three years already, why not discuss the possibility of Durant leaving Oklahoma City for New York in a few years? This is sports. Isn’t speculating and creating rumors a huge part of the industry?
That answer is also a resounding yes.
So Carmelo Anthony’s contract is an albatross for the Knicks … I swear you may not be a quitter but you don’t know shit about basketball. By the way IF Jay-Z was going to push for KD to go anywhere it would be Brooklyn not the Knicks, but continue on with your insight.
I swear the hate for Melo is real out here.
KD is not Leaving OKC , your damn article is stupid
apples and oranges. Can’t compare LJ to Durant. Soooo different. KD is not driven by same stuff that LJ is driven by…If you truly took the time to learn about KD, his priorities, his preference for living in smaller communities, etc., etc. you would realize how ridiculous your article is…those of us in OKC know SOOOO much more than sports writers from outside this state. You all have not yet figured out what makes these guys tick and why they like to be in OKC, and be a prt of this organization….clueless.
Ummm no where in your little brain had you considered the possibility of having him play WITH Melo + you have enough cash left over to surround the with really good support. Talk about two bigs going for some ring shopping, how do you defend a team like that … answer is you can’t, both need a double team and don’t tell me that they both jack up shots, look at jr and shump this season … Most of the time nothing but bricks