NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers To Sign Kevin Durant in 2016?
By Marcus Bass
Today’s NBA rumor comes from NBA TV’s analyst Peter Vecsey. According to Vecsey, Kevin Durant could consider joining the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2016 when he’ll be an unrestricted free agent. Vescey commented on the reigning MVP of the league and his possible change of scenery on CLNS radio.
"I say if Durant goes anywhere I look for him to go to the Lakers because they’re going to have a tremendous amount of money to give him. Kobe will be on the way out at that point and they won’t have anybody. A guy like him might want to start with the Lakers, or maybe he might want to go a team where he can win a championship."
Kevin Durant’s demeanor has been nothing but professional his entire career. Mock his “you’re the MVP” speech all you want, he’s been completely transparent during his tenure in the league, giving us a glimpse into who he is as a player and a man.
He’s steered away from the off-the-court antics that can occasionally make the game more entertaining than what happens on the hardwood. Players like Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James took advantage of their first summers as unrestricted free agents. Durant is cut from a different mold, it’s unlikely he does the same.
That’s not to suggest that Durant won’t entertain pitches from teams other than the Oklahoma City Thunder, especially if the Thunder haven’t won a championship by the time he’s no longer under contract. Bottom line, Durant wants to win, and while he’s not a league mercenary for hire, he’ll give preferential treatment to the team that can pay him and provide the greatest opportunity to be the last team standing.
That could be the Lakers, but Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak might as well get in line. There will be 30 out of 30 teams who will want to pitch Durant on sporting their uniform, and most likely barely a quarter of the teams in the league will get the opportunity.
It’s not a foregone conclusion that the Lakers will be one of those teams, however they’ll be one of a small minority in a position money-wise to take on Durant and his large salary that’ll be commensurate to his talent.
Depending on whether the NBA decides to implement a gradual increase of the salary cap or one big splash representative of the league’s new tv-deal, the Lakers could have a large stash of loot. It all depends on if they decide to undergo the summer free agent game, playing it conservative with their cash and waiting on Durant the following season.
As of right now, the only players who will be under contract when the summer of 2016 hits are Nick Young and Julius Randle. Forward Ryan Kelly and guard Jordan Clarkson will be restricted free agents.
It’s too early to tell if this rumor has legs, and at the moment there’s no real connection between Durant and Los Angeles. If the Lakers are one of the team’s in his realm of consideration, they’ll be sitting in third place behind the Thunder and Washington Wizards who will make every attempt to push the return home campaign, made famous overnight by LeBron James.
It’s not out of the question, but it’s too early to consider it a valid conversational topic. The Lakers have greater fish to fry at the moment.