Kevin Durant Will Not Sign With Boston Celtics In Free Agency

Kevin Durant‘s looming free agency is a constant NBA story, with any team that has salary cap room or is in line to contend for titles rumored as a potential landing spot. The Boston Celtics are the latest to be put into that fray, as Durant was asked about the city before the Oklahoma City Thunder took on the Celtics Wednesday night.

Kevin Durant on Boston. “It’s cold but they love sports here. It’s a family atmosphere I feel when I walk around the city.” #FreeAgency

— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) March 16, 2016

The Celtics have the salary cap space to sign Durant this summer, if they choose to. Team president Danny Ainge‘s interest seems to date back to the 2007 Big 12 tournament, when he was spotted sitting next to Durant’s mother. That led to the Celtics being fined $30,000, but it can be assumed Ainge would welcome the opportunity to make a pitch to Durant when he officially hits free agency this summer.

Going to the Eastern Conference would help Durant’s chances to win a title before his career is over, and that seems likely to be a priority for him one way or the other. The Celtics will be a good team no matter what, but they do lack a dynamic scorer like Durant. He could be the player who takes them from the top half of the conference to legitimate title contender.

There will be plenty of teams with some level of rumored interest in Durant this offseason, realistic or otherwise, but when considering all factors the pool of teams that interest him most will be shallow. The Celtics may be among that handful of teams, but it’s hard for me to envision Durant choosing Boston if the contract offers he gets are equal.