Series against Golden State could help recruit Kevin Durant

The LA Clippers are going to be big players in 2019 free agency with two max slots open. Could a series against the Warriors help lure Kevin Durant?

The LA Clippers are slated to begin the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors tonight, a team that’s won three of the last four NBA titles and is looking for their third straight title this season. There is no doubt that the Warriors should be favorites in this series, and a sweep could be in the books, but four games is a decent amount of time to get to know your opponent.

Knowing your opponent is obviously key to playing against them, but how about trying to recruit them? Enter Kevin Durant, an expected marquee free agent in this summer’s market with the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker and Jimmy Butler.

Durant has been with the Warriors for three seasons now and has had nothing but continuous success. He’s won two NBA titles in that span, averaging 25.8 points per game and being named to two All-NBA teams in the process.

Many did not like the way he positioned himself to go to Golden State, as the Warriors won 73 games the season before (and beat his Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs), but the move has worked out well for him.

Before signing with the Warriors in 2016, Durant had numerous meetings with Western Conference teams. Outside of Golden State and Oklahoma City, Durant also met with San Antonio and the LA Clippers. Obviously nothing ever came of that, but it’s fun to sit back and wonder what might have been.

But now, the opportunity to recruit a player like Durant is far more realistic. By playing him in the first round, the Clippers will have a chance to show him what his future team could offer — something that none of his other potential suitors (Lakers, Knicks) can.

Durant has also sent praise in the direction of the Clippers, speaking positively about Landry Shamet and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He said the following about Shamet, according to The Athletic‘s Jovan Buha:

"“He’s an amazing young player and I think he will be force in this league for awhile, especially the way he plays.”"

Durant also had this to say about Gilgeous-Alexander on the Bill Simmons Podcast:

"“Man, he got the midrange down. His midrange is so good… He’s probably the guy that stood out the most because I never watched him in college… He’s got confidence on him.”"

Most top players like Durant do not usually make comments towards young players with such praise. Durant will see both for at least four games in their first-ever playoff appearances, and if they impress, which they likely will, maybe Durant will have more to say about them.

Durant and Steve Ballmer is the other puzzle piece to this recruiting opportunity. Back in 2016, Ballmer reportedly cried during the Clippers meeting with Durant about how emotionally attached he was to the Clippers already, and three years down the road that attachment has gotten more tight as the team has continued to grow.

Ballmer was also a guest on Kevin Durant’s ESPN+ show “The Boardroom”. In the episode, which was titled “Team Ownership”, Ballmer spoke about helping the front office pick up the best talent as well as being invested enough to call himself a fan. Rick Welts, the Chief Operating Officer for the Golden State Warriors, was at the meeting as well to see Ballmer speak about various challenges he faces as an owner.

Part of this recruitment process is showing Durant that the Clippers are indeed the better team in LA and will be a force in the coming seasons. What better way to do that than by giving the Warriors a hard-fought first-round series and showing Durant that the Clippers can already be competitive without a superstar?

The Clippers can recruit Durant throughout the duration of this series by not even talking to him. By letting their unique style of play talk for itself, the Clippers can show Durant the direct impact that his addition would have on changing the landscape of the Western Conference.

To say Durant will come to the LA Clippers could be a longshot, but the Clippers have a unique opportunity to pitch to Durant that LA may be the place to be come summer.