Los Angeles Lakers: What Do Kevin Durant’s Comments Mean?
On Tuesday, Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant made comments suggesting that he would like to play with Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant if given the opportunity to do so.
When the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player speaks, specifically when the words can be connected to his seemingly inevitable free agency tour, the media will listen.
Stories were written and posted on nearly every outlet that covers basketball, and of course the Internet was abuzz about the possibility of Kevin Durant leaving the Thunder to team up with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles when his contract is up in the summer of 2016.
For Lakers fans, these types of fantasies will be talked about for the remainder of the miserable 2014-15 season.
Landing Kevin Durant would send the current rebuilding process into hyper speed, netting them arguably the best player in the league with cap space available to bring along a player of Durant’s choice to help him chase a ring in sunny California.
Recruiting complimentary players to come take a pay cut to enjoy the weather and play with such a star player would be easy in theory, and it’s easy to see the Lakers ascend back to the top of the Western Conference.
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Perhaps the most intriguing scenario, assuming the Laker fantasy of Kevin Durant jumping ship to come play in Los Angeles has any weight, is one that has Kobe Bryant (the same Bryant that will be coming off an extremely rich two-year deal) taking a massive pay cut to make the duo playing together a reality.
Kobe Bryant has suggested that he will retire following the expiration of his current contract, but would the ultra-competitive Black Mamba walk away from the possibility of joining forces with Kevin Durant and competing for titles?
Given that he’s effective and relatively healthy, it is hard to see Kobe making that decision, specifically if Durant truly desires to play with him.
With a multitude of other factors in play, mainly Bryant’s pursuit of the all-time scoring record, Kevin Durant could actually draw Kobe Bryant out of a potential retirement if he wants to team up with him.
The sobering news of all this is that Kevin Durant’s comments absolutely mean nothing in terms of him moving on from his current situation. Rather, the comments should be seen as words of appreciation from a peer, or a defense of the accusations against Kobe Bryant that he has been driving potential teammates away.
Kevin Durant was simply giving props to Bryant for his competitive nature, stating the he appreciates that kind of mentality and would love to play with a player that demonstrates those qualities.
Kevin Durant, demonstrating many of the competitive qualities that Kobe Bryant does, also would love to win multiple NBA championships. If his motivation to leave the talented Oklahoma City Thunder is to team up with an aging Bryant on a roster that currently is devoid of championship talent, then something simply is not adding up.
Lakers fans may ultimately get their wish, and Kevin Durant may decide that the best situation for him is to head to Los Angeles, but these comments should not be referenced for any type of foreshadowing. Kevin Durant was giving support to a fellow competitor, and nothing more.