According to a person familiar with the negotiations, members of the Thunder's front office affirmed their allegiance to Durant by meeting the 21-year-old at his new Oklahoma City-area home seconds into the free agency period, which began at 11 p.m. Wednesday night.

But on the first day the Oklahoma City Thunder could officially speak to its star forward about a new deal, Durant acknowledged that negotiations got off on the right foot.

"They're just letting me know I was the first priority, I guess," Durant said when asked about the team's show of support. "I always told them I wanted to be here, and they feel the same way. So we're going to get something done."

It's unclear whether an official offer was made late Wednesday night, but the details of the deal are considered to be a foregone conclusion. Durant, who last season became the youngest player ever to lead the league in scoring after averaging 30.1 points per game, is expected to receive a five-year deal upwards of $80 million, or the maximum allowed under the league's collective bargaining agreement.

Durant, though, did his best to downplay his imminent deal. He took the same "nothing's-official, anything-can-happen" approach he had in the days before he wrapped up the scoring title and just prior to his widely anticipated selection as a first-time All-Star last season.

"That's one thing I haven't really been worrying about," Durant said. "I've just been worrying about my camp in Chicago and (Oklahoma City). That's all I've been occupied with.