According to rumors, superstar free agents Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard have discussed teaming up — potentially for the LA Clippers.
Both Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant are set to meet with the LA Clippers this Sunday when free agency begins, and according to rumors, the two have discussed scenarios in which they would play together for the foreseeable future.
The information comes from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who first reported the news on Saturday. Wojnarowski notes that both the Clippers and the New York Knicks are the only teams that could offer the duo the chance to play together as soon as next season.
This is something the Clippers have been preparing for all year long. Although it’s been a pipe dream, the idea of pairing Durant and Leonard — two of the best forwards in the game today — on the same team would instantly put the franchise into title contention.
Perhaps the only team that would rival the Clippers at that point would be the Los Angeles Lakers, given they currently have the best frontcourt duo in the NBA of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
That would place both LA teams among the title favorites in the NBA, something the city — or the league — has never seen before. With arguably the four best forwards playing for the Clippers and Lakers, the rivalry between the two teams would be as high-stakes as ever before.
Of course, Durant and Leonard could also combine powers for the Knicks, which might make more sense at the moment. The Clippers still need to make a move or two in order to sign two max-level free agents, both of which would involve dealing with Danilo Gallinari‘s salary, while the Knicks already have the capacity to sign both. But given that Leonard’s interest in the Knicks has hardly been reported, it seems more feasible that the duo would end up in Los Angeles rather than New York.
Free agency still doesn’t begin for another day or so, once the clock strikes 6:00 PM EST on June 30. There likely won’t be news right at the buzzer regarding Durant or Leonard, but fans of both the Clippers and the Knicks should be prepared for anything.
If Leonard and Durant choose not to team up, both will still have plenty of realistic options in free agency. Leonard is expected to meet with the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers in addition to the Clippers, while Durant will meet with the Clippers as well as the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Golden State Warriors.
Regardless of what the two forwards choose to do, it’s clear that a big shakeup is coming this summer in the NBA.