Assessing Durant's 6 suitors

Kevin Durant has the pick of the litter.

Every team wants the five-time scoring champion, but Durant said he's only interested in making a "basketball decision." In accordance with that goal, Durant's only taken meetings with six of the best organizations in the league.

Here's the case for - and against - each team trying to land him.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant has been more than loyal to the only franchise he's ever known, and he's extended that courtesy to the free-agency process. OKC is the only team to get a second meeting, and they have plenty to offer.

The pitch starts with the opportunity to play with a fellow top-five talent in Russell Westbrook. There's also a strong supporting cast that includes Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo, Enes Kanter, and Andre Roberson.

Although they have yet to win a title in nine seasons with Durant, the Thunder have made the Western Conference finals in four of the last six years. They're right on the cusp.

The Thunder can also offer Durant the biggest contract. They can either ink him to a five-year deal (no other team can offer more than four), or offer him a one-year deal that would allow Durant to hit free agency again with the opportunity to earn a bigger share of a bigger salary cap.

OKC feel like they're in a "strong position" to re-sign Durant, and they're right to be confident.

Golden State Warriors

Imagine if a 73-win team replaced its shakiest starter with a former MVP.

The Warriors already have an established core that includes three All-NBA players. They're young, they're healthy, and they're championship-tested. They have depth, a devoted owner, the Coach of the Year, and the Executive of the Year.

Golden State is a top-notch destination, and if Durant is serious about winning, the Warriors deserve a long look.

Oakland's proximity to Silicon Valley also offers him a bevy of business opportunities - something that reportedly intrigues the business-minded Durant.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers' pitch is similar to that of the Warriors: multiple All-NBA players, connections to the tech sector, and California weather.

Their pitch to Durant - a presentation that lasted four hours - focused on forming a Big Four that includes Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Jordan. That would give the Clippers enough talent to rival any team in the league.

The Clippers could also offer connections to Silicon Valley. The franchise is owned by Steve Ballmer, who was CEO of Microsoft for 14 years. The opportunities are there for Durant if wants to explore the tech sector.

The only problem with jumping to Los Angeles is that they might not have enough cap room to accommodate both Durant and their depth pieces. That Big Four would require the team to shed just about every other player on the roster, which doesn't seem likely given that Austin Rivers just agreed to re-sign for another three years.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics were the least formidable suitor for Durant, but everything changed Saturday night when they signed Al Horford.

Suddenly, there's an immediate path to a title. Horford and Durant joining a 48-win core should strike fear into the hearts of Cleveland Cavaliers fans, as the Celtics have depth, scoring, top-tier coaching, and boatloads of assets to flip into more pieces.

Boston also comes with the added bonus of playing in the less competitive Eastern Conference, which would be a nice breather for Durant following heartbreak after heartbreak in the West.

Miami Heat

Reports suggest the Heat didn't bring any players to their meeting. They didn't have to call in Tom Brady - all Pat Riley needs to do is dump his sack of rings on the negotiation table.

Miami has won three rings since 2006 - no other team matches that. Those championships stand as a testament to Riley's ability to build contenders. There's no such thing as rebuilding in Miami - only reloading.

And, of course, it's warm all year long, there's the nightlife and the Biscayne Bay, and no state income tax.

The talent base, however, won't be as strong. Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic make for a nice start, but Dwyane Wade remains a question mark, and there's almost no depth left on the roster.

San Antonio Spurs

It's the farthest thing from a glitzy destination, but the Spurs aren't about pizzazz - they're about winning. San Antonio's program needs no introduction.

The Spurs' roster stacks up with any other team on the list. They have a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in Kawhi Leonard, a five-time All-Star in LaMarcus Aldridge, a Hall of Fame-worthy point guard in Tony Parker, an elite 3-and-D wing in Danny Green, and a deep bench that could include Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.

The only problem with the Spurs is that they're old - something Durant saw firsthand when his Thunder eliminated the Spurs in six games this season.