LA Lakers Rumors: Kevin Durant Leaning Toward Lakers For 2016 NBA Free Agency
The LA Lakers are looking at a season that includes a number of young players and possibly the future of the franchise. Still, there are others that the team would like to add and 2016 NBA free agency looks to be the biggest chance to do that. Rumors are now swirling that the Lakers have a very good chance of landing Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, but nothing is set in stone just yet.
According to Christian Post, when Durant hits free agency next summer, reports have him leaning toward heading to the LA Lakers. Should he decide to leave the Thunder, the Lakers are reportedly the No. 1 team on his list with the second choice being that of the Washington Wizards.
Of course, nothing is set in stone and is purely speculation at this point, but seeing Durant play alongside Kobe Bryant is something that a lot of people want to see. That is, of course, if Bryant doesn’t retire after the 2016 Olympics.
The LA Lakers are rumored to be very eager to bring in Kevin Durant, but which team wouldn’t be? The six-time All-Star forward is going to get a lot of attention when he hits free agency and rumors will keep on going, but official word will come from Durant, his agent Charlie Bell, or his manager Rich Kleiman when something happens.
Now, the rumors flying are always going to be shot down and then start back up again until things actually take place, and that means even from the NBA experts. As reported by SB Nation, Stephen A. Smith of ESPN said that he appears to know where Durant is heading next year.
Durant was not too thrilled with those assumptions.
Kevin Durant on the Lakers rumors: “I don’t talk to Stephen A Smith at all. No one in my family, my friends do. So he’s lying.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 2, 2015
Things went in an entirely different direction at this point and it got kind of ugly. USA Today reported that Smith took Durant’s tweet and decided to respond to it on ESPN’s First Take on Monday morning. It came off more as a threat instead of just a response.
“You don’t want to make an enemy out of me. And I am looking right at the camera.”
Smith then continued on and said that if he was lying in his original report, then Durant should sign a long-term deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Smith said that would go about proving him wrong in his reporting.
Even if Durant doesn’t sign an extension with the Thunder, then it really still proves nothing. He can sit and wait until next summer and then sign an extension or go to the Lakers or the Wizards or the New Orleans Pelicans or any team he chooses to fancy.
For now, it’s a waiting game as there will likely be very little to no movement at all on where Kevin Durant will actually play after this season until it’s over.
The LA Lakers do still have Kobe Bryant, but for how much longer? They’ve gone out and started a youth movement with Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell, and Jordan Clarkson, but veteran leadership is needed and a former MVP like Durant would easily provide that on and off the court.
If the LA Lakers are going to sign Kevin Durant in NBA free agency next summer, it’s going to take a big deal and a lot of cash, but rumors have it happening that way. The Oklahoma City Thunder star could stay where he is or end up somewhere else, but only time will tell what exactly is going to happen.
[Images via Getty Images – Ronald Martinez/Kevin C. Cox]
