The LA Clippers have emerged as a serious threat in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes

The Los Angeles Clippers know a bit too well how good Kevin Durant is. Now, the little brother LA team is going to make a run for him this offseason.

Let’s be honest here. The news of a team wanting or emerging as a candidate for the Golden State Warriors superstar is far from shocking. Every team in the NBA should want a chance to sign the four-time scoring champ.

After all, Durant was the NBA’s MVP and is still playing at that incredibly high level. Prior to his calf injury this postseason, Durant was on a tear that the NBA hadn’t seen in almost a decade, averaging over 34 points per game.

That included a 50-point bomb against the LA Clippers to end their season for good. In a close-out Game 6, Durant took over that game and just put on the obviously inferior opponent. However, that domination may have open their eyes to his stardom even further.

New York Times reporter Marc Stein recently noted that his insiders believe that the Clippers have an almost equal chance to secure Durant.

"Within the last month, very smart and plugged-in people I have consulted say that the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as an equally dangerous threat to the Knicks to sign Durant away from Golden State. And I believe it."

However, Stein’s insiders are still banking on Durant heading to one of the two teams in New York.

"Problem is, at various points during the season, I have heard trusted insiders state with conviction that Durant is already planning to join the Knicks … and then that he is likely to consider the Nets as well … and now that he is eyeing the Clippers just as intently as New York."

At the beginning of 2019, Stein reported that he was clinging to the fact that Durant would return to Golden State for one more season. That said, it’s difficult to take any of this insider information for fact.

In his 12 years in the NBA, Durant averaged 26 points, 6.4 rebounds and a career-high 5.9 assists. He elevated his play even further in the postseason, averaging 34.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

That said, he can still play at an elite level.

At the same time, he’s also 30 and will be 31 by the start of next season. Durant, with his time left, may have one more season before looking for that four-year max contract similar to what LeBron sought when he started to age.

The Knicks, Clippers, and Nets can offer him that. Golden State, with a younger Draymond to pay next season, may not. Durant will likely eventually leave Golden State, but this upcoming offseason may not be the time.