Los Angeles Lakers: Attainable Big-Name Free Agents

6 of 6

Dec 23, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) during the 2nd quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Kevin Durant, Unrestricted Free Agent*

Position: Small Forward
Age: 27 (9/29/1988)
Slash Line: .505/.386/.898
Season Averages: 35.8 MPG, 28.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.2 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 2.6 3PM

There are two—and only two—scenarios in which Kevin Durant considers signing with the Los Angeles Lakers. The first of which is if the Lakers sign one of the four players on this list, thus strengthening the rotation with a star-caliber talent.

The second is if the Lakers trade some combination of its draft pick and young core to land a genuine star. Happy hunting.

Durant’s resume speaks for itself as an MVP, four-time scoring champion, and five-time All-NBA First Team selection with an NBA Finals appearance. The list of players who have achieved what was just listed is brief: Durant, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain.

There’s no one else to add, so don’t bother debating whether or not Durant is headed to the Hall of Fame; he is, and on the first ballot.

If the Lakers were to sign Durant, it wouldn’t matter what was placed around him; Los Angeles would be a postseason-caliber team. With that being said, signing Durant is nothing but a pipe dream if the Lakers can’t sign one of the previously alluded to players, and potentially trade for another.

That’s a tall task, but the current roster isn’t exactly appealing to a superstar hoping to win a championship in 2017.

must read: Will the Los Angeles Lakers select the next Kevin Durant in the 2016 NBA Draft?

If any team can do the unthinkable and remove the proverbial asterisk, it’s the Los Angeles Lakers.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers