Report: Hawks want meeting with Kevin Durant
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The Atlanta Hawks are the latest team to angle for a meeting with free-agent star Kevin Durant, ESPN’s Marc Stein reports.
Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed the report.
The Hawks have been among the teams still working to schedule a face-to-face with the Thunder forward when free agency opens at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, joining the Knicks and Lakers. Durant has reportedly scheduled meetings with the Thunder in addition to the Celtics, Clippers, Heat, Spurs and Warriors. Oklahoma City is “widely seen” as having a strong chance to keep Durant on a two-year deal with an opt-out, Stein reports.
Although the Hawks are prioritizing retaining free agents Al Horford and Kent Bazemore, the team hopes to make a bid for Durant and will let former NBA All Star Grant Hill, a member of Atlanta’s ownership group, lead the effort.
• MORE NBA: Durant free agency hub | Top 50 free agents
The Hawks also reportedly have interest in signing Atlanta native Dwight Howard to play center should their pursuit of Durant fall through, hoping to pair him with Horford, if they retain him. Horford is expected to draw wide free-agent interest from around the league.
