Kevin Durant, on paper, was the best NBA free agent available this summer, assuming he would opt out of the final year of his deal and hit the market.
But he ruptured his Achilles and his teammate, Klay Thompson, tore his ACL on Thursday night. It might take a full year for both to recover, so any team that signs either runs the risk of losing them for 2019-20.
So who’s the No. 1 player available instead? As our Charles Curtis argues, it’s NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, of course, and he’s the most intriguing free agent simply because we have no idea what really motivates him.
