The Clippers landed a meeting with Kevin Durant and apparently want to create a top heavy super team too. According to Dan Woike of the Orange County Register, the Clippers plan to pitch Durant a scenario in which he plays along side Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Deandre Jordan. The catch here is Durant would have to take less money,since the Clippers would have to clear their roster to create enough cap space to sign Durant to a lucrative contract. However, it’s important to note that even if the Clippers cleared their roster of everyone except Paul, Griffin, and Jordan, a maximum deal for Durant would not be possible.
“To make the most competitive offer possible, the Clippers would have to trade J.J. Redick, Paul Pierce and C.J. Wilcox and renounce the rights to first-round pick Brice Johnson and all of their own free agents.
The Clippers could also discuss scenarios in which they trade one member of their “Big Three,” either to a team with cap space or to the Thunder in a sign-and-trade.”
I don’t see Durant biting here, since a roster composed of Durant,Paul, Griffin, and Jordan is likely not strong enough make it out of the Western Conference. The championship window for the Clippers is almost closed, so an offer like this wreaks of desperation. I expect Durant to sign a 1 year deal with either the Thunder or Warriors, and then see what the salary cap and Russel Westbrook do in 2017.