The Golden State Warriors could be in the mix to pursue OKC Thunder superstar Kevin Durant next summer, when teams have plenty of room to sign players due to the NBA’s massive TV deal.

ESPN’s Chris Broussard speculated on Monday at SportsCenter that one surprise team that could join the sweepstakes in landing Durant come free agency is the 2015 NBA champs. According to Broussard, the possibility for the Warriors to land the two-time scoring champ is there, but the Dubs have to let go of Harrison Barnes in free agency and trade Aussie big man Andrew Bogut.

“When you talk to executives, a name that will shock people is Golden State,” Broussard claimed. “People have to remember with the cap going up to $90 million or even higher, just about everyone is going to have cap room.”

While it is certainly too early to speculate about Durant’s future, it “does” makes sense for Durant to join the Warriors next season, according to Sports Illustrated’s Josh Hill, who first reported about Broussard’s speculation bomb. Hill noted that Durant fits Steve Kerr’s style of offence and would form a big three alongside reigning MVP Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Moreover, Durant would probably want to join a team that has a legitimate chance for a title run rather than join a team for the sake of brand, which the Los Angeles Lakers, also one of the teams in chase of a superstar, would probably sell to Durant when he hits the open market. However, according to Baxter Holmes and Royce Young of ESPN, the Lakers do not have much to present to KD35 once free agency begins.

“How much weight does the Lakers brand still carry? Because what Durant wants is his best shot at winning championships, and the Lakers aren't likely to provide that, at least in the immediate future, unless something drastic changes,” Royce said. “So if they were going to pitch him, the sell would have to be on picking up the Kobe torch and leading the Lakers into the next era as the new face of one of the greatest organisations in sports.”

Meanwhile, the Warriors do not look like they need any additional help from a superstar this season or in the next one, although they may consider only minor change to an already elite squad if they fail to defend their title. However, if Durant really decides to head to Oakland, the rest of the NBA’s nightmare could happen.

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