Kevin Durant: Could the Hawks Sign Him Next Offseason?

Kevin Durant will enter NBA Free Agency at the end of the 2015-2016 season, leading to speculation that the former league MVP, scoring champion and 6 time NBA All-Star may leave the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Among the teams that have been speculated to jockey for Kevin Durant’s services in the 2016-2017 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Dallas Mavericks, and his hometown Washington Wizards are believed to be the front-runners; but one team that has not yet been mentioned as a possible destination for Durant’s services could make a play at the star forward: the Atlanta Hawks.

While Atlanta may not be the most likely or seemingly logical place to land for Kevin Durant, an agreement between the two parties would perhaps be the most mutually beneficial relationship for both Durant and a prospective team. The question is, what would the Atlanta Hawks offer Durant that would make it a more attractive place to sign than any other of his potential suitors?

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Coming from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant has had much success in his career thus far, nearly winning an NBA Championship in 2012 as well as notching numerous 50 win seasons. The Thunder have talent, as he plays alongside one of the best Point Guards in the NBA in Russell Westbrook. After the termination of Scott Brooks, OKC has a new coach with a championship pedigree: Billy Donovan. Why would Durant want to leave Oklahoma City for anywhere else?

First of all, playing alongside Westbrook has its drawbacks. Though immensely talented, Westbrook has a predilection for not distributing the ball, evidenced this past season in leading the league in Field Goal Attempts; even after missing 12 games due to injury. Because of Westbrook’s inability to differ to Durant in certain situations and his meteoric rise to top of NBA stardom, Kevin Durant may begin to feel as if he is second fiddle. Also, the Thunder are not what they were in seasons past, as their talent level across the board has diminished. OKC is a small market, which could instill a desire within Kevin Durant to seek the brighter lights of a larger metropolis.

Feb 9, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Another potential location for Kevin Durant to sign is in Washington. Randy Wittman‘s Wizards have a lot to offer Durant, with a young and dynamic backcourt of Bradley Beal and John Wall leading the team for years to come. Having a Point Guard like John Wall is certainly attractive, as the Kentucky product would be able to consistently feed Durant on the wing. Durant would instantly become the most valuable piece on the team, catapulting the Wizards into title contention.

While Washington is a good fit for Kevin Durant, a marriage between the two would create a similar dynamic to what currently exists in Oklahoma City; with Durant sharing the limelight with another All-Star guard, John Wall (albeit Wall is a more effective passer and less selfish player than Westbrook). Another reason why the Wizards would not be an ideal fit for Durant is the lack of depth. Unless the team can add more pieces around Durant, similar to what Lebron James has done in Cleveland, there will be a significant decline in offensive production when he is spelled.

Oklahoma City and Washington certainly have their advantages for Durant, but significant drawbacks also exist. I posit that the Atlanta Hawks can provide a better fit for Durant: furnishing him with a system and a head coach advantageous to his skill-set, a large market where he would be in the forefront, a team loaded with depth top to bottom, and the best chance of winning an NBA Championship.

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This is all speculation, but why wouldn’t Kevin Durant want to sign with the Atlanta Hawks? Mike Budenholzer’s system is predicated on creating open shots and emphasizes the presence of shooters. Durant would thrive as a member of the Hawks playing alongside players like Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver. Kevin Durant has never been on a team that places such importance on playing unselfish basketball: creating a beneficial environment to become a more effective and efficient player.

Another advantage of signing with the Atlanta Hawks for Durant is the benefit of playing in a top 10 media market. Atlanta currently ranks as the 9th largest media market in the country, and is the hip-hop capital of the world to boot. Kevin Durant would instantly become the city’s biggest attraction, captivating fans from all across the region as well as becoming a focal point of pop culture. I can just imagine how celebrities like Ludacris or T.I. would react to having Durant in the ATL. The bright lights would be Durant’s for the taking.

“With Bud’s system in place, and an already loaded roster, Durant’s best chance to promptly win an NBA Championship as a member of a new organization is with the Atlanta Hawks.”

The Wizards’ and Thunder’s depth pales in comparison to the Hawks. Top to bottom, Atlanta is one of the most well-rounded teams in the NBA, not lacking any glaring holes on it’s roster. With Kevin Durant as starting Small Forward, Thabo Sefolosha would be an excellent reserve to spell Durant when on the bench, while Dennis Schroder would provide another dynamic guard along with Jeff Teague to play alongside, no matter the lineup. The Hawks front-court possesses the size and intelligence to play to Kevin Durant’s strengths, creating mismatches on the offensive and defensive end.

Durant would not have to build a team from the ground up like Lebron James did in Cleveland last year. There is already an excellent core in place, both in the starting lineup and on the bench. Imagine if Lebron James did not have to recruit Kevin Love and other players like J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert in order to create a championship caliber roster? Durant would have no such issues in Atlanta.

What every star covets most in the league is winning. Since becoming the Head Coach of the Atlanta Hawks in 2013, Mike Budenholzer has instilled a championship mentality on his team, preaching discipline and efficiency. The Hawks put the NBA on notice last season, winning 60 games and ascending to the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Spurs signing of LaMarcus Aldridge this offseason is any indication, star players place paramount importance on winning, and not necessarily being the focal point of attention. With Bud’s system in place, and an already loaded roster, Durant’s best chance to promptly win an NBA Championship as a member of a new organization is with the Atlanta Hawks

Now that I have enumerated the benefits that Atlanta would provide Durant and vice versa, what would it take for the Atlanta Hawks to sign Kevin Durant? In order to make this happen, the Hawks would have to bid adieu to the long-time leader and 3-Time All-Star Al Horford. This is the most difficult pill to swallow.

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Next offseason, Horford will likely command a max contract, putting the Hawks in a position of financial inflexibility. The decision to also let Al Horford go in favor of going after Durant would mean the Hawks would have to see goodbye to the player that has been the heart and soul of the team since being drafted in 2007.

If there is a mutual interest between Kevin Durant and the Atlanta Hawks next season, the choice between Horford and Durant is a no-brainer: the Hawks have to choose Durant. Al Horford is an excellent player — an All-Star player — but he’s not a star like Kevin Durant. Durant would instantly provide the city of Atlanta with the player they have not had since Michael Vick played for the Falcons, bringing star power back to the state of Georgia. He would give the team the player they have so desparetely needed: the player who takes the final shot of a tie-game in the playoffs.

His signing would be the key to give Atlanta its first championship since the Braves in 1995. He would still have an excellent front-court to play with in Paul Millsap and Tiago Splitter. Kevin Durant would play with an All-Star guard in Jeff Teague and a rising star in Dennis Schroder. He would play alongside one of the best shooters in NBA history, Kyle Korver. His presence would galvanize the team in a way that Al Horford cannot, and has not to this point.

With the NBA salary cap about to explode next season when the new television deal kicks in, the Hawks can sign Durant to a max contract if they let Al Horford walk. As far fetched as this may sound, the Atlanta Hawks could go after Kevin Durant — and I certainly hope they do. They may not be on the top of his list, but who knows? This is all conjecture at this point; but as a life-long fan of the Hawks, a boy can dream, can’t he?

Next: Dennis Schroder: How He Takes the Next Step in 2016

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