Fansided

Report: Kevin Durant would sign with Lakers if he leaves OKC

By Cody Williams

Mar 13, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) handles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Wesley Johnson (11) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) handles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Wesley Johnson (11) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kevin Durant free agency bonanza has already begun

Kevin Durant is one of the two best players in the NBA when he’s healthy. The Oklahoma City Thunder star missed the majority of the 2014-15 season with a foot injury, but there’s no denying his talent and impact when he’s on the floor. He’s obviously hoping for a title alongside Russell Westbrook in OKC in the 2015-16 season now that he’s healthy again, but the real questions lie in the summer of 2016 when Durant will become a free agent.

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Despite Durant not becoming a free agent almost a year from now, teams already spent some of this offseason posturing for the possibility of landing the services of the forward. Coming out of this past summer, it seemed like the two most likely possibilities for Durant next summer were staying with the Thunder or a return home to play with the Washington Wizards. However, the Wizards reportedly wouldn’t be Durant’s first choice if he does leave the Thunder.

On ESPN’s First Take this morning, Stephen A. Smith said that sources have told him that the Los Angeles Lakers would be Durant’s first choice if he were to continue his career somewhere other than Oklahoma City. That’s certainly a shocking revelation to those already getting engulfed in the Durant free agency saga bound to ensue.

With Kobe Bryant on his last legs in the NBA, there’s no doubt that the Lakers will indeed be looking to land a major target in free agency next summer, especially with the salary cap jumping up. There’s unquestionably no bigger fish in the 2016 free agency pool than Durant.

This is the first we’ve heard of anything connecting Durant to the Lakers other than hopeful fans tossing out the idea as a pipe dream. Giving Smith’s revelation, though, it may not be so much of a pipe dream after all.

More than anything, we should all buckle in after this news. This isn’t going to be the last buzz-worthy moment regarding Durant leading up to his free agency. It’s going to be one crazy ride.

H/T to Larry Brown Sports

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