Kevin Durant to sign with Golden State Warriors

Coveted free agent Kevin Durant has finally decided where he plans to take his talents for the 2016-17 season. 

The 27-year-old all-star forward announced Monday on the Players' Tribune that he would be joining the Golden State Warriors. 

"The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction," he said in the article.

"But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth."

His decision has been the most highly anticipated move of the summer and the announcement caused the website to temporarily crash. 

ESPN's Marc Stein reported that Durant will sign a two-year deal worth $54.3 million US that includes a player option for the second year. 

Players can not officially sign until July 7, when the league's off-season moratorium on player movement expires. 

Durant has spent his entire NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder organization. The American was drafted second overall in 2007 by the Seattle SuperSonics before they were relocated to Oklahoma in 2008. 

The 2014 MVP and four-time scoring champion led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012, and to the Western Conference finals in four of the past six years. He recovered from a broken bone in his right foot that cost him much of last season to post one of the best years of his career.

According to the Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, Durant informed Thunder general manager Sam Presti of the move prior to posting the announcement. 

Bolsters dominant Warriors squad

He will bolster an already dominant Warriors squad that fell just short of repeating as champions after falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

Golden State is coming off a record-breaking 73-game winning regular season. Durant has had to carry much of the scoring load for the Thunder over the years, but having MVP Stephen Curry and all-star Klay Thompson next to him would open up space to operate that he hasn't had during his tenure in Oklahoma City.

Durant has been a difficult adversary for the Warriors — he averaged 30 points per game against them in this year's Western Conference finals and dropped a career-high 54 points on them in 2014.

Durant hosted offers from the Thunder, Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat before making his choice. 

Golden State make moves

The Warriors will have to make a decision on the future of restricted free agent Harrison Barnes. Centre Andrew Bogut is reportedly being moved to the Dallas Mavericks in order to clear cap space for Durant. 

Meanwhile, the Thunder addressed the potentially devastating loss in a public statement. 

"Kevin's contributions to our organization during his nine years were profound, on and off the court," Thunder Chairman Clayton I. Bennett said. "He helped the Thunder grow and succeed in immeasurable ways and impacted the community just the same.

"We thank him for his leadership, his play, and how he represented Oklahoma City and the entire state of Oklahoma."

Also Monday, the Warriors reached a one-year agreement with unrestricted free agent centre Zaza Pachulia, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said. He spent last season with Dallas, averaging 8.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists.