The next big name expected to have a busy offseason is current Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant.
Durant has already announced that unless any statement comes from him or his closest friends, all rumors pertaining to his future plans are nothing more than rumors and hence unreliable.
Apparently Durant wants to focus on his return first after missing almost the entire 2014–15 NBA season as he teams up with Russell Westbrook to try and adapt to the system of new head coach Billy Donovan.
And while this has already been marked on stone, don't be surprised at plentiful rumors coming out from now until 2016 surrounding the future plans of the former NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). He could be staying or not, but there are teams already being linked to him as early as now.
Washington Wizards have been mentioned before, but one team would move heaven and earth — Miami Heat.
The Heat didn't make any big time recruitment this season as they had to deal re-signing their current players. That list includes Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragić. But Pat Riley and the Heat are not yet finished as they try to clear up cap space, not just to avoid the luxury tax penalty but surely for 2016.
Kevin Durant will be a prime target and everyone knows how Riley pulls strings to do something. He did it in 2010 with Lebron James so expect him to do the same with Durant.
But things could get complicated since it would mean giving up some players. Josh McRoberts and Hassan Whiteside could be casualties, although it would depend on how their 2015–16 comes out.
Then there is the case of Dwyane Wade who may stand pat next year on being paid his proper due. It will be recalled that the Heat almost lost him this offseason and if Durant is truly a target, it could mean more sacrifices on his end. Will the Flash bite? It is pretty hard to tell at this point.
Whatever Riley has planned, it has to be good. Keeping a star-studded team and keeping it under proper budget is no easy task but, then again, he has done it before. So the proper question now is can he do it again in 2016.
