NBA Rumors: Teams Kevin Durant Has Been Linked To
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers will be tied to every big-name free agent until kingdom come. Past free agency and trade acquisitions include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Pau Gasol, and Shaquille O’Neal, which makes it easy enough to see why fans are so adamant in their belief that anything is possible.
In a segment on ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith revealed that Durant’s preferred destination in free agency is Los Angeles—specifically the Los Angeles Lakers (h/t Steve DelVecchio of Larry Brown Sports).
"“Regardless of how senseless it may (sound), in one breath I’m hearing that if Kevin Durant doesn’t stay in Oklahoma City, L.A. is his primary objective and landing spot as opposed to South Beach or even his home of Washington, D.C.,” Smith said."
Durant has since vehemently opposed Smith’s report, claiming that neither he nor anyone around him speaks to the ESPN reporter.
Whether or not Smith’s report is true, there’s no question that the Lakers will be in play come free agency. The young roster has promise with the likes of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and D’Angelo Russell, and cap space will exist with Kobe Bryant’s $25 million and Roy Hibbert‘s $15.6 million coming off the books.
The question is, can the Lakers make an attractive enough offer beyond the money and history the organization possesses?
The roster has loads of potential, but it’s far from championship-caliber in its current state. Thus, the only way for Los Angeles to come through on the potential of signing Durant is by bringing another star-caliber talent to town with him.
It certainly has the cap space and allure to do so, whether Smith’s report was accurate or not.
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