Suitland's Kevin Durant Picks Golden State Warriors

By Mike Carraggi (Patch National Staff)

The Warriors may have lost Game 7, but they just pulled off the greatest victory of the NBA offseason.

Kevin Durant, the former MVP and scoring champion who was reportedly mulling between returning home to Oklahoma City Thunder, jumping to upstart Boston, or forming a "super team" in Golden State, has chosen the Warriors.

Durant's contract is for two years at $54.3 million, ESPN reported. The second year is a player option.

Oklahoma City was on the verge of dethroning Golden State in the Western Conference Finals, holding a 3-1 series lead, but let it slip away. Instead of saddling up for one more ride with Russell Westbrook and Co., he's off to Oracle Arena.

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For the Warriors, it likely means the end of Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes, the latter of whom has been courted by other teams and reportedly been offered a max contract by Dallas. It also means becoming even more of a favorite to reach their third straight NBA Finals.

Durant, 27, was drafted second overall by Seattle in 2007 after winning College Player of the Year in his lone season at Texas. He became the face of the franchise as it moved to Oklahoma City the following season, and has since made seven All-Star teams, won one MVP, and has led the league in scoring four times.

Durant last season averaged 28.2 points, a career-best 8.2 rebounds, and 5 assists. He missed 10 games the year after losing most of his season to a foot injury.

For his career, Durant averages 27.4 points per game - more than any active player - along with 7 assists and 3.7 rebounds.

Photo courtesy of Keith Allison via Flickr