Sources: Durant to meet with OKC before frenzy
Kevin Durant will meet with his current team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on Thursday, according to league sources.
NBA rules preclude any team — even the incumbent Thunder — from discussing contract specifics with Durant or any free agent before 12:01 a.m. on July 1. Thursday’s discussions with his current employer, however, are more likely to be focused on team direction and broader topics to meet league guidelines.
Durant, who is currently in Los Angeles filming a TV commercial, will fly to Oklahoma City with agent Rich Kleiman on Wednesday night for the meeting, sources said.
The 27-year-old Durant has spent his entire nine-year career with the Thunder franchise. He averaged 28.2 points per game this past season and led the Thunder to within one victory of the NBA Finals.
He will then fly to New York to meet with the remaining five teams on his list over the first few days of July. His first meeting on the morning of July 1 will be with the Golden State Warriors.
Durant, the most coveted free agent on the market, will also meet with the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers.
Sources tell ESPN that the Spurs’ meeting with Durant is Saturday, and he will meet with the Heat on July 3.
Free agents can’t sign a new contract until July 8.
The New York Knicks are still being considered for a possible meeting, in large part because of the strong relationships between Durant and Carmelo Anthony and Kleiman and Knicks general manager Steve Mills.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who also are hoping to meet with Durant, will not get a meeting, one source said.
ESPN Staff Writer Marc Stein contributed to this report.
