A direct route to title for KD

Insiders look at process of landing star

SALT LAKE CITY — As schizophrenic as Kevin Durant’s free agent process may have looked from the outside, it was perhaps even more unpredictable for those involved.

Despite the fact those around him were indicating early on the choice would most likely come down to Golden State and the incumbent, Oklahoma City, there were twists and turns on the way to selecting Oakland as his next place of employment.

Multiple sources said the Celtics made a late rush with a strong presentation and the news shortly afterward that they had won the chase for Al Horford. And the Clippers, despite the fact they would have to gut the club’s support players, were very much in the picture early after their talk with Durant, but pulled out when faced with the potential of losing some of their own key free agents.

One involved source said he was told Saturday by Durant’s people that at that point no Eastern Conference teams were being considered.

“But I think that might have changed a little bit when the Celtics came in with (Tom) Brady and all that,” he said. “He likes the way Boston plays, too.”

While Durant was said to have enjoyed the presence of the Patriots quarterback, he may have been more impressed with the chance to not just join a winner but be the major part in building one.

“He’s told people for a while that he likes that whole Celtics thing and the tradition and the way the people there are into the team — all the teams up there,” said a league source. “But I still think he was looking out West. The part I don’t know is how much the Horford signing made him stop and think again about Boston, but I think it had to be some.”

Ultimately, Durant took the most direct route to a potential championship. While people around him were saying during the year that he would not choose the Warriors because he did not want to be seen as jumping on a bandwagon — a speeding bandwagon, at that — he obviously made peace with that concept.

Interestingly, some of the teams in the hunt were told that Durant was turned off by something he heard in the Warriors’ initial presentation.

“They were telling him about how they were going to win championships even if he didn’t come there,” said a coach. “I don’t think they came right out and said he wasn’t going to win if he didn’t sign with them — that would be crazy — but I was told that’s how he kind of took it.” Said another source, a call from Warriors exec Jerry West smoothed over any issues Durant may have had.

“I think that was important,” he said. “I think Kevin was interested in Golden State big time as the playoffs went on, but if he had any doubts, I think hearing from someone of Jerry West’s stature was important. When Jerry talks, you listen. Some young guys may not get how big a deal Jerry West is, but Kevin is a bright guy and he’s into the history of the game. He knows what Jerry West is to basketball.

“I think that (call) made him feel more comfortable about leaving OKC and coming to a team that was already great.”

In a pure basketball sense, the Warriors sold Durant on the idea that he, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson could fit well together. They reportedly explained in great detail how their games are complementary.

The club might also have had the idea that concerns in that area were a big part of why Durant was seriously thinking about leaving the Thunder in the first place. One person close to Durant and Russell Westbrook said their relationship is “kind of complicated.”

Said another Western source, “Look, KD and Russ are friends. They get along great off the court. They’re good guys. But Kevin feels like no one can control Russell when he’s on the court — not even Russell. Everyone sees it. It’s no secret. I think that’s been hard on Kevin. Russ is one of the top players in the game, but things have to fit.”

Durant didn’t address the issue directly in his brief announcement, choosing to spend more time thanking the Thunder and the community. But he did appear to touch on it when he wrote, “The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player.”

And we do not believe he is talking simply about a better opportunity to win a championship.

There is also to consider what the future would have been in Oklahoma City beyond this coming season if Durant had chosen to sign a one-and-one (a two-year contract with an option to leave next summer). With Westbrook set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2017, the long-term prospects for continuity did not appear great.

“He’s gone after this year,” said one league executive. “A hundred percent. I think that’s the case no matter what (Durant had decided). I guess people can always change their mind, but I think this season was going to be it for him there no matter what.”

Durant could have stayed in OKC on the aforementioned contract for one last hurrah and then walked out with Westbrook. But there’s no telling how that would have worked out under such circumstances, and Durant essentially chose to get on with the next chapter in his basketball life.

As for what happens in Boston, there are still more shopping days until free agents can formally sign on Thursday. And Danny Ainge is still very much in the trade market.

Losing out on Durant also makes it almost certain the Celtics will pick up their one-year options on Amir Johnson ($12 million) and Jonas Jerebko ($5 million).

And unless Ainge can swing a major deal, it would appear they’ll be looking at the big options in free agency again next summer.