With all the top 2015 NBA free agents off the board the spotlight is beginning to shine on Kevin Durant. With July 2016 approaching in under a year Durant’s future in the NBA will be up for discussion. The Oklahoma City Thunder star is set to hit the open market come next year and the list of teams coming after him will not be small.

Durant’s hometown Washington Wizards are expected to lead the way in pursuing the forward once he becomes a free agent and other teams such as his current team the Thunder, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors and many more are on the list to take crack at signing the star.

As an eight year veteran Durant has accomplished a lot in his NBA career; Most Valuable Player in 2014, six time All-Star, All-Star game MVP in 2012, five time All-NBA First Team, Rookie of the Year, four time NBA scoring champion and more. But Durant has yet to win an NBA Championship, something that is holding him back from being part of a historical list of NBA greats.

The 2007 second overall pick wouldn’t be the first to change teams among current NBA stars. LeBron James has gone from Cleveland to Miami and back to Cleveland; Chris Paul went from New Orleans to Los Angeles; Carmelo Anthony went from Denver to New York; Chris Bosh went from Toronto to Miami; Dwight Howard went from Orlando to Los Angeles to Houston; most recently LaMarcus Aldridge left Portland and signed with the San Antonio Spurs.

Aldridge was this year’s top free agent, like Durant will be for next year’s class. Recently Durant was asked about Aldridge’s choice as a free agent and if he was surprised by the big man’s decision to leave Portland:

“No I wasn’t. You could kind of tell once this whole thing started that he was trying to go somewhere else. But in those decisions, man, you’ve just got to respect the guy for making a decision that was right for him. I know a lot of fans were probably upset in Portland with the decision. But at this point of your life and your career, you’ve got to focus on you. I said this last year when Mr. James made his decision, it was pretty cool to see a guy do what he wants to do and not worry about what everybody thinks.”

With Durant’s free agency looming his words become even more examined and people begin to read between the lines.

He says he could tell Aldridge had plans to go elsewhere when free agency started, and that you must respect a guy for making a decision that is right for his life and career. Respect is something Durant would hope he would get if he walked away from the Thunder. This past season was Aldridge’s ninth NBA season before switching teams… the upcoming season will be Durant’s ninth season before he is set to become a free agent. Aldridge entered free agency at the age of 29… Durant will be entering at the age of 27 – both at a reasonable age to start making “decisions” right for them.

Portland traded for Aldridge on draft night from Chicago in 2006, and since the four time All-Star had been the heart and soul of the Oregon city. Before Aldridge the Blazers missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, ending a 21-year streak of the playoffs. They didn’t make it back till Aldridge’s third season, and since they’ve reached the playoffs five out of the past seven years.

For Durant, he spent his rookie season in Seattle before the franchise moved to Oklahoma City. In 2009-10, Durant’s third season the Thunder made the playoffs and consistently did so till last season’s injury derailed season ended the streak. With the Thunder, Durant has made the NBA Finals once where they lost and they lost in the Western Conference Finals on two other occasions.

Both Aldridge and Durant have given their first NBA cities their all. Going back to Durant’s quote – him saying he understands Portland being upset with Aldridge’s departure can be viewed as him knowing that Oklahoma City fans would feel the same if he were to leave.

Aldridge and Durant both went to University of Texas at Austin, in two different years. But being from the same college means the two most likely share a special bond. A bond that allowed Durant to feel out Aldridge’s desire to change teams. With Aldridge, James and other free agents taking their talents elsewhere during their free agency years it has to make Durant feel a little comfortable heading into 2016.

If Durant were to stay with the Thunder past this coming season they almost certainly need to win a championship this upcoming year. Which won’t be an easy task with the regaining champions, Golden State Warriors still a threat in the Western Conference along with the revamped San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks. Don’t count the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets out either. With Durant being one of the best in the game today and on the brink of being part of the list of all-time greats, Durant needs to chase a championship at his current age.

Still a year away from free agency saying Durant is all but gone from the Thunder would not be fair to any party involved. Saying he’ll test the market after his Aldridge quote is an understatement.

People continue to point fingers at the Wizard, Durant’s hometown team as the favourites to land the forward, but there is a team who seems to have a better chance at landing the big prize. That being the Los Angeles Clippers. This summer the Clippers missed out on their own big free agent DeAndre Jordan and are now left with very minimum cap space and a lot of roster holes coming into the 2015-16 NBA season.

Then comes the 2016 summer where the Clippers cap room clears significantly, receiving some help from the salary cap increasing. With stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin already on the roster the Clippers give Durant the best chance to win than any other team that will show interest outside of the Thunder.

The reason the Clippers come before the Wizards in Durant’s decision making is because if Durant were to leave the Thunder he would only do so to enter a situation in which he believes he has a better chance to win. There’s no reason to leave Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka only to take steps back in hopes of winning it all. A Paul-Durant-Griffin trio would give the Clippers arguably three of the league’s top eight players.

Durant with the Clippers also gives him the chance to play with a pass first point guard, which he has been missing his entire NBA career. With Griffin also expanding his game out to the mid-range it opens the paint for Durant. The three together in Los Angeles would be a solid fit if it were to happen

The last basketball reason for Durant to join the Clippers would be Steve Ballmer. The owner of the Clippers wants to win and has a desire to win. He won’t cheap out with the Clippers and is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Durant doesn’t get that with the Thunder, where ownership shy’s away from spending into the luxury tax. Lastly, Los Angeles as a city can impact Durant’s career off the court

This article is not to start any Durant to Clippers rumours – like Chris Palmer’s tweet. Durant will have many options if he chooses to hit free agency. Returning to the Thunder will be among Durant’s top options, as he, Westbrook and Ibaka are very much a championship contending trio. The Lakers young core, with Kobe Bryant likely retired could be of interest to Durant. His hometown Wizards are an option, and not just because LeBron is play for his own hometown. Heading to the Eastern Conference gives Durant an easier trail to the finals, besides having to play LeBron. Another East team could be the Heat, who with Pat Riley could steal any free agency show, as we’ve seen before.

There is still sometime between now and July 1, 2016. But with many of this year’s top free agents signed, Durant’s spotlight is coming quick.  It is easy to point fingers and start rumours for the forward who’s every word and move will begin to be watched. Two things are for sure: teams are preparing themselves to take a run at Durant and Durant after his comments on Aldridge won’t shy away from testing the open market next summer.