Is the Kevin Durant Situation Helping the Dallas Mavericks?

With teams lining up to meet with Kevin Durant, could it benefit teams like the Dallas Mavericks?

These are new times in the NBA with the new raised salary cap, and nearly every team has enough cap to sign a max contract player. This offseason, the ability to pay a big name free agent will almost be a no-factor.

With that being the case, many immeasurables will be the deciding factors for free agents. How good is the head coach? Will I like my teammates? Do I feel wanted? How much of a priority am I to this organization?

The most notable free agent this summer is Kevin Durant. Durant is perhaps the best scorer in the NBA, a versatile tool, and easily the most sought after player this summer. He is priority number one for every team who has the cap space and thinks they may be able to land him, every team except the Dallas Mavericks.

Durant has scheduled meetings with the Warriors, Spurs, Heat, Celtics, Clippers, and of course the Thunder. Other teams hoping to give a pitch to Durant are the Knicks, Nuggets, Lakers, Rockets, and Wizards.

Dallas, however, hasn’t attempted to lure the 6’10” marksman. We have announced that our first priorities this offseason are Mike Conley and Hassan Whiteside.

Rumors are spreading that Whiteside wants to continue to play in Miami, however the Heat are wavering on whether he is worth a max contract, or if they will be able to pay him and potentially Kevin Durant. For now, the Heat have put Whiteside on the back burner, waiting to see how their pitch with Durant goes.

Also, Conley said that his two favorites this summer are most likely San Antonio and Dallas. If the Spurs are aggressively pursuing Durant, it could effect the way they go after Conley. Not to mention that the fit with the Spurs would be iffy with Tony Parker being relatively firmly in place as the starting point guard.

All of this can only bode well for Mark Cuban and the Mavs, as we can pitch the opportunity to be “the man” in Dallas to both Conley and Whiteside, an idea which other teams can’t exactly offer while courting Durant. This offseason free agency will be different than it ever has before, and so far the Dallas Mavericks are looking to take advantage.

Next: Dallas Has Emerged as Serious Suitor for Whiteside

Recently Dallas fans haven’t had much to thank Kevin Durant for aside from another first round exit in the playoffs, however we can now appreciate him distracting other potential landing spots for our favorite free agents. Thanks Kevin, keep it up.