Dirk Nowitzki On Kevin Durant’s Free Agency: ‘He Wants To Play To Win’

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Once the 2015-16 NBA season is officially in the books with LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers or Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the main topic of discussion in the league will be the pending free agency of superstar Kevin Durant.

The Oklahoma City Thunder star will hit the open market on July 1 with half the NBA’s teams interested in signing him. One of those teams will be the Dallas Mavericks. Owner Mark Cuban will attempt to pair Dirk Nowitzki with a fellow superstar in what will more than likely be his final season in Dallas.

Although the Mavericks will try to sign Durant, Nowitzki is going with the realistic approach as he believes the one-time NBA MVP won’t be leaving Oklahoma City, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon:

“He wants to play to win. He’s got a great group of guys there in OKC. They’ve got everything going. They’ve got youth, they’ve got talent, they’ve got athleticism. He’s got a superstar player next to him. They’re loaded where he’s at.”

The Thunder are the clear favorites to sign Durant to a contract this summer and for good reason. Durant has played for the franchise every since being drafted by the Seattle Supersonics back in 2007. Oklahoma City came one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the second time in the Durant-Russell Westbrook era. The defending NBA champion Warriors were given all they could handle from Durant and company, but Steve Kerr’s squad proved to be too much to handle and ultimately advance in Game 7.

Along with the Mavericks and Thunder, Durant is expected to be courted by the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks, and Golden State. The star forward will have no shortage of suitors trying to upgrade their roster drastically with the addition of the perennial All-Star.