Kevin Durant: Attention from Wizards fans can be ‘disrespectful’

When C Steven Adams teams with Ibaka, the team is a plus-13 points…. He’s under contract until 2017.

Rumors and speculation about his future have been circulating for at least two years but Durant has managed to hit the mute button on most of the noise. One can only venture to guess what is happening behind the scenes of Wizards headquarters to pave the way for the savior of the Washington franchise to make his triumphal homecoming. In previous seasons, the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks have been dominant forces, as well, and the Los Angeles Lakers were title contenders just a few seasons ago. A fan stormed the court to beg LeBron James to return to Cleveland.

And then there are the “hints” and “clues” Durant himself has dropped. Beal is close at 3.5 turnovers and is questionable to play on Tuesday after leaving Saturday’s loss to the Hawks with a shoulder injury. “We’ll shoot the ball better, we had the one game that I thought would catapult us into our shooting, but we just need everybody to get on the same page in terms of how we play, and we’ll be OK”.

Or all those times he’s shown up to D.C. events, such as Washington Redskins games, to show appreciation for his hometown. Or that two of his “homies” just so happen to play for those Redskins. “Praise from people lobbying me to play for their team or whatever”. Kevin Durant had 32 points and 11 rebounds to help the Thunder. He spoke to his coaches in the area who are still in touch with Durant and they note he is the same guy he always has been.

After the Wizards passed on an extension for shooting guard Bradley Beal, they can get as far as $38 million below the projected $89.5 million salary cap for 2016-17 – enough to add Durant’s expected $25.1 million maximum salary and still have plenty of money left over.

Durant will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, and Washington will be one of the many teams chasing the four-time scoring champion. “I’m trying to learn more about myself as a person, as a leader, as a basketball player”.

When Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant made his lone visit to Washington D.C. last season, Wizards fans regaled him with cheers, signs and more in an attempt to “recruit” him back home.

“I’m really not good with attention”, he said.

Oklahoma City have a 4-3 record and are sitting third in the Northwest Conference in the West. While this may not be a direct display of how great the team is, the young season has presented challenges for OKC.

But what could be a season-long distraction for both sides should be anything but, given the way Durant and the Wizards are handling things.