5 Reasons Why Kevin Durant Will Leave Oklahoma City Thunder

By Greg Sacidor

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5 Reasons Why Kevin Durant Will Leave Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder — Kevin Durant, the NBA's most prolific scorer, is scheduled to hit the free agent market at the end of the 2015-16 season. Although a lot could happen within the next two years, here are the top five reasons why Durant will leave Oklahoma City.

5. Lack of Roster Depth

Oklahoma City Thunder Bench

5. Lack of Roster Depth

Oklahoma City Thunder Bench — Unlike most of the other 30 teams in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder have two of the league's best players on their roster. However, outside of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant himself, the depth of the roster is severely lacking. In the playoffs, this often ends up costing the Thunder a shot at the NBA Finals.

4. Russell Westbrook

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook

4. Russell Westbrook

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook — Speaking of Russell Westbrook, he is another reason why Kevin Durant may be inclined to leave after the 2015-16 season. Despite Durant never giving into the media-driven criticism of Westbrook, he just may when he finally has a chance to break free.

3. Money

Jay-Z Roc Nation Sports

3. Money

Jay-Z Roc Nation Sports — The NBA recently just signed a nine-year, $24 billion TV deal. For the players, this means higher salaries. In the past, the Oklahoma City Thunder have proven that they are willing to sacrifice talent in order to not go over the NBA's luxury tax limit. But based on recent endorsement contracts that Durant has signed, his agent Jay-Z and Roc Nation Sports are going to demand that Durant gets every last penny they believe he deserves.

2. Hometown Appeal

Kevin Durant and John Wall

2. Hometown Appeal

Kevin Durant and John Wall — This past summer, LeBron James left the Miami Heat in favor of going home to Cleveland. We almost saw Kevin Durant do the same thing with his recent sneaker deal, when he almost signed with the hometown Under Armor over Nike. When Durant becomes a free agent in two years, the appeal of going home to the Washington Wizards may just be too strong for him to pass up. The young backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal doesn't hurt either.

1. Chance at a Title

Kevin Durant NBA Championship

1. Chance at a Title

Kevin Durant NBA Championship — Ever since he came into the NBA in 2007, Kevin Durant has always lived in the shadow of guys like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. In 2014, Durant took home his first MVP award. However, he is still missing that ever-elusive NBA Championship. If another franchise such as the Lakers, Knicks or Wizards can offer Durant a better chance at winning his first title, he may just have to leave Oklahoma City in the dust.

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