2014-08-06 12:00
Kevin Durant won't hit the free agent market until July 2016 but the NBA's Most Valuable Player is on the brink of landing a smash endorsement deal which could influence his future on the court as well.
Based on a person familiar with discussions, Durant, whose seven-year, $60 million deal with Nike is expiring, could make as much as $30 million annually if he signs with Under Armour Inc., whose headquarters are in Durant's home state of Maryland.
Nike and Adidas are also in discussions with Durant, whose mixture of brilliance on the court and marketability in the wake of his emotional MVP address has made him the darling of Madison Avenue.
"Nike has been part of me ever since I was in high school and have now been amazing since I've been in the league but I am simply going to let my team be the ones who manage that behind the scenes, I think," Durant told ESPN last air jordan 3.week. "When you take a look at stuff like this, it is great i air jordan 3.sues to have because individuals desire you for what you understand and do on the basketball court, the work you put in, so Iwill continue to put my work in, let them focus on that on the other end, and we'll come together at some point."
A deal with Under Armour is also good for the Washington Wizards, one of several teams, such as the Knicks and Nets, placing themselves in position financially to make a run at Durant in two summers.
Wizards owner Ted Leonsis and Under Armour Founder/CEO Kevin Plank, a University of Maryland grad, were involved in several philanthropic attempts in the D.C. place. A possible Durant deal with Under Armour doesn't ensure the Wizards landing Durant but for the star crossed franchise any link to the Maryland/D.C. area doesn't damage either.
The Wizards have two youthful guards, All Star John Wall and Bradley Beal, who could help lure Durant back home. Also, the Wizards recently hired David Adkins as a player development helper, a trade which largely went undetected. Adkins most recently was an assistant coach for the women's team at the University of Maryland. Making the leap from women's college basketball to the NBA is unusual until you consider that Adkins was also an assistant coach at Montrose Christian when Durant attended the high school.
"I grew up observing the Wizards, (the) Bullets-Wizards," Durant told the Washington Post last week in Las Vegas. "I grew up taking the train to that stadium constantly. I saw Georgetown, I watched the Bullets, I observed the (WNBA's) Mystics, in order that entire city is part of me, is in my blood. Like I said, I love going back home to see my family and stuff and playing there, but I love Oklahoma City too."
Durant's feelings for Oklahoma City and the Thunder organization were apparent during his MVP speech when he choked back tears several times when discussing his teammates, coaching staff and Thunder owner Clayton Bennett. The Thunder will have the opportunity to offer Durant the most money and if the team were to win an NBA title within another two seasons that would make it that much more challenging for Durant to walk away.
But teams will also be planning for chance of Durant leaving for a bigger marketplace and many consider that they have an edge over the competition. The Knicks are coached by Durant's former teammate Derek Fisher while club president Phil Jackson will be selling Durant on the chance to play alongside Carmelo Anthony.
The Brooklyn Nets could have a buddy in Jay Z, who once held a minority stake in the team and is currently the creator of Roc Nation, the service that signed Durant as a customer. Yormark's twin brother, Brett, is the CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center.
The Lakers will have the cap space to sign Durant in two years which is additionally when Kobe Bryant's present contract expires. In the span of 13 months, the Lakers lost Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol to free agency and neglected to land either LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony. Their brand has taken a significant hit but the inclusion of Durant, who spends part of the offseason in L.A., w air jordan 5 black white.uld alter the direction of the franchise.
The Heat lost James last month but team president Pat Riley has already said that Miami intends to be big players in free agency in two years. That is code for "Kevin Durant" the player apparel companies need endorsing their shoes in addition to the MVP that a dozen or so teams are desperate to sign.
