For whatever reason, I have a fascination with Kevin Durant. And for months I have been talking to sources of all kinds about, specifically, the many agents who have been jockeying for the rights to represent the Texas freshman when it's time for him to play in the NBA.
I first wrote about it in January, when it became clear that, from an agent's perspective, the athletic Durant was the big "get" of this draft. I have checked in again from time to time, including a pretty big post last week.
For the record, this is a big deal, in no small part because by some estimates Kevin Durant's initial shoe contract alone could earn his agent close to eight figures.
Throughout this period, my various sources -- people with first-hand knowledge of the recruiting process as it unfolded in real time, including agents -- have consistently disagreed about which agent was going to win this particular recruiting battle. Certain leading contenders generated buzz, and then fell back into the pack.
Over the last few days, however, the tone has changed. Now every source I talk to agrees. And what they all agree on is that Kevin Durant will announce in the near future that he will be in the 2007 draft. And either at that announcement, or shortly afterwards, my sources say, it is expected that Aaron Goodwin -- the agent who represents Dwight Howard, Chris Webber, and Damon Stoudamire, and who negotiated the biggest sponsorship in basketball shoe history for LeBron James before James fired him nearly two years ago -- will become Durant's agent.
One other thing I have heard, by the way -- which theoretically could render all of this moot -- is that in Durant's heart, he would prefer to stay in school for another year. ESPN Insider Chad Ford has heard the same thing, and just published a blog post that is in step with what my sources have been saying:
Several NBA agents, one prominent shoe rep and a couple of NBA executives told me they believe that both Greg Oden and Kevin Durant will declare.
In Durant's case, one source felt the decision was imminent. A word of caution, though. As the Julian Wright case shows, kids can change their mind, and both Oden and Durant would prefer to remain in school another year.
But it looks like the financial implications of foregoing the draft are so significant that they're both leaning toward the NBA.
TUESDAY UPDATE: Want to see Kevin Durant for yourself? Here are some highlights (and more), and here's a good video feature HoopsTV made a year ago. Who to compare him to? Some say Dirk Nowitzki, because he's long and he can shoot, but watch those highlights. I put it to you that Nowitzki's next alley-oop dunk off an inbounds pass will be his first. Ditto the steal, followed by beating everyone the length of the court, gazelle-like, in a footrace. I don't know exactly how to describe him, but he can play on my team.
TUESDAY UPDATE: ESPN's Andy Katz reports that there will be a Durant press conference this afternoon.
