With the end of the 2020 NBA season comes the unofficial start of free agency. While this year’s group of free agents does not have a Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, or Kyrie Irving like last year, it still boasts some talented players who can help teams looking to add more talent. Oklahoma City Thunder veteran forward Danilo Gallinari is one of those free agents.
The 32-year-old, who is back in his native Italy, talked about his future during “ Il Festival dello Sport,” and he revealed his primary consideration when picking a team this offseason. When asked if he wants to play for a championship more than securing a big contract, Gallinari answered that he wants a championship more, adding that he is not 20 years old anymore and is not the same player that he was.
Gallinari, the sixth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, played for the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Clippers before being traded to the Thunder as part of the deal that sent Paul George to the Clippers. In his first season in Oklahoma City, Gallo averaged 18.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc. His strong season with the Thunder has therefore made the Italian forward one of the more coveted free agents on the market.
The veteran was the the team’s third-leading scorer. Alongside Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder, Gallinari helped the Thunder finish with a 44-28 record and the fifth seed in the Western Conference, with their season ending after a first-round loss to the Houston Rockets.
If Oklahoma City decides to rebuild, which is the rumor after parting ways with head coach Billy Donovan, Gallinari will likely want to look elsewhere and join a team with championship aspirations.
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