Exploring the domino effect of a potential Durant/Kawhi pairing for NBA, Celtics

The balance of power across the NBA landscape may be experiencing a seismic shift when free agency kicks off on Sunday. Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard will be the two most highly sought after free agents on the open market this summer and a report from ESPN.com indicates that the duo has discussed teaming up with the Clippers or Knicks, two teams that can open up enough salary cap space to sign both outright.

Leonard and Durant are believed to be considering all kinds of options once they are open up start negotiating with teams on June 30th.

Durant is set to meet with the Warriors, Knicks, Nets and Clippers in the New York area according to multiple reports. Meanwhile, Leonard will hold meetings with the Knicks, Lakers, Clippers and Raptors.

Durant has been primarily connected with Kyrie Irving as a potential new duo to this point when free agency begins but there’s no question that Leonard would serve as a better running mate for Durant, creating the league’s potentially best frontcourt immediately once Durant gets healthy.

So how would this package deal work in both destinations? And what could be the domino impact on the Celtics, Kyrie and the rest of the league? Let’s dissect the possibilities.

Knicks: They already have enough cap room to sign both players outright. Durant has been long connected to the Knicks and although there isn’t much of a supporting cast there right now, some young talent (RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson) and bringing the Knicks back to prominence could be appealing for both Durant and Leonard.

Clippers: This should be the most appealing spot based on the talent level. The Clippers would have to find a dumping ground for Danilo Gallinari (or stretch him) in order to open up the cap room needed for both stars, but the supporting cast is pretty much already in place. Montrezl Harrell, Lou Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Landry Shamet are all on team-friendly deals and Patrick Beverley could be retained as well with Bird Rights in the right scenario.

What about the Nets and Kyrie?

This will be a fascinating conundrum for the Brooklyn front office to manage. There has been plenty of smoke surrounding Irving signing with the Nets immediately once free agency begins, but they also have the ability to open up two max free agent slots with a couple of other minor moves. Irving and Durant seemed to be the dream scenario for the franchise but if Durant is set on teaming up with Leonard, I would imagine the Nets would try to get into that mix with the Knicks and Clippers. They don’t have a supporting cast as good as the Clippers, but it’s far better than the Knicks.

In that scenario, what happens with Irving? Would the Nets front office make him wait in the wings while they try to sign Durant and Leonard? Or if that duo has no interest in Brooklyn, how much appeal would Irving have in going to New York alone? The Lakers are believed to have interest so Irving could set his sights out West if he wants a better chance at forming a super team with James and Anthony Davis. There won’t be another appealing alternative for him in Brooklyn if he wants to win. The Nets could try to bring in a second-tier max guy (Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris) to team up with Irving but it’s hard to envision that team being a true contender. With so many options at their disposal between Irving, re-signing D’Angelo Russell or chasing other stars, Brooklyn’s future could go in all kinds of directions if either Irving or management get cold feet.

How do these possibilities impact the Celtics?

With Kemba Walker all but locked up, the Celtics are probably just watching all of these developments with a strong rooting interest. The Eastern Conference suddenly opens up a lot more if Durant and Leonard head to the Clippers. The uncertainty surrounding Harris and Butler re-signing in Philadelphia as well could make the C’s suddenly look like a candidate for the No. 2 team in the East (behind Milwaukee) depending on how the game of star musical chairs finishes up.

Durant and Leonard teaming up in New York feels like a long shot (since Leonard has always been linked to LA) but even if it happens, the East should still be wide open with Durant out with the Achilles’ injury for much of next year. However, Leonard going back to Toronto remains the favorite at this point, which would put the Celtics back towards the middle of the pack with their East chances behind the Raptors and Bucks. A mass exodus towards the West for all top free agents is what the C’s should be rooting for here, as long as a third star does not team up with James and Davis with the Lakers (since that would emerge as a top title favorite due to the Warriors injuries).